“…My people shall know My name…they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks…” How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8 Your watchmen shall lift up their voices…they shall sing together; they shall see eye to eye when the LORD brings back Zion…The LORD has made bare His holy arm [His power] in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
(Isa. 52:6-10)
In the last two days during this fast we have seen 800 rockets hurled into Israel. Most have been shot down by a weapons defense system, some landing short in Gaza, a few making it through. We have seen Israel retaliate with the targeted assassinations of Islamic Jihad leaders. Yet, in Israel tonight, there is peace. In the next three days we will be exploring and praying for the peace of Jerusalem. He is our peace. The Rabbis are telling the congregations to pray the Psalms tonight: Psalms about protection from the enemies, songs that remind the people to put their trust in God. They know from the writings [scriptures]….the only time Israel has had true success is when God was fighting her battles. He is our peace.
To really internalize that, we need to understand the threat. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities in the heavenly realms. I am talking about Israel’s spiritual enemy, Satan, whose goal is to steal, kill, and destroy everything the God loves, including and especially God’s chosen people. But Satan will not succeed. After escaping the terrors of the demonic genocide of World War 2, Israel was created and not long after, forces both within and surrounding her began plotting her destruction. In 1967 the six-day war was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab States. In six hours, Israel won the conflict in the air. Outnumbered Israel was divinely protected and literally hidden from their enemy.
Lord, we know you have your plans, but we ask you for mercy in the following days, to hide Israel once more from the enemies surrounding her. We want YOU come to her defense! We want all of Israel to know you are God. We are hoping not for an earthly peace (although yes, one day) but for now, peace that comes from knowing you and resting in your protection. We do not trust in our defenses. We only trust in you. May Israel put their trust in you, whether Jewish, Palestinian, or international, when we do not know what to do, let us put our hope in you. Yeshua, be honored in this land tonight. Lord, we are your people and you are our God.
Let’s Pray!
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. At the uproar of your army, the peoples flee; when you rise up, the nations scatter. …5 The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. 6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
You said Lord in your Word:
13 You who are far away, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge my power! 14 The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” 15 Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—16 they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them.
17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar. 18 In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror: “Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue? Where is the officer in charge of the towers?” 19 You will see those arrogant people no more, people whose speech is obscure, whose language is strange and incomprehensible.
20 Look on Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken. 21 There the Lord will be our Mighty One. It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them. 22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.
23 Your rigging hangs loose: The mast is not held secure, the sail is not spread. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided and even the lame will carry off plunder. 24 No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”; and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven. (Isaiah 33)
“…darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light…5 Then you shall see and become radiant…the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. (Isa. 60:2-5)
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
2 The nations will see your vindication,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—
a splendid crown in the hand of God.
Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City”
or “The Desolate Land.”
Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight”
and “The Bride of God,”
for the Lord delights in you
and will claim you as his bride.
5 As a young man marries a young woman,
so will your Builder marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so will your God rejoice over you.
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.
8 The Lord has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
“Never again will I give your grain
as food for your enemies,
and never again will foreigners drink the new wine
for which you have toiled;
9 but those who harvest it will eat it
and praise the Lord,
and those who gather the grapes will drink it
in the courts of my sanctuary.”
10 Pass through, pass through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people.
Build up, build up the highway!
Remove the stones.
Raise a banner for the nations.
11 The Lord has made proclamation
to the ends of the earth:
“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your Savior comes!
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.’”
12 They will be called the Holy People,
the Redeemed of the Lord;
and you will be called Sought After,
the City No Longer Deserted. Isa. 62
