Why pray for Israel? What’s so important about this tiny nation and her people? What does it have to do me and my church? We see in the Scriptures that God over and over again speaks with affection and intention about Israel. God chose Israel as way of showing His nature and love to the world. When we understand His dealings with Israel, we can better gain a deeper understanding of His covenant nature to us. The enduring love and covenant commitment that He shows to Israel throughout the Bible is a testimony to His character. Let’s go straight to the Word to see how God speaks about Israel.
Pray With Understanding. He Calls Israel…
Pray for Israel with an understanding of how the Word speaks about God’s love for her.
A special treasure. “For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.”
His special possession. “For the people of Israel belong to the Lord; Jacob is his special possession. He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.” Deuteronomy 32:9-10
His Wife and Bride. “I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.” And Isaiah says Israel is like a bride. ” Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.” Hosea 2:19
Ezekiel shows us that God has entered into a marriage like covenant with Israel. “And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine. Ezekiel 16:8-14
Pray As The Bible Instructs Us To Pray
From before Jesus’ first coming until His second, Israel has a part to play along with the Church. Praying for Israel as we are instructed to do so is an important piece to see His eternal plans come to pass. The prophet Isaiah directs us to, “Give the Lord no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.” Isaiah 62:7
King David in this chapter tells us to, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” Psalm 122:6 The Hebrew word for pray here is “sha’alu”. Here it is written in it’s imperative form, exhorting every believer to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray And Bless
Pray for Israel. Genesis 12:3 says, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you”. God has welcomed us all into the covenantal blessing he makes with Abraham in Genesis 12. Those who bless Israel and do not curse her partake in blessing. There is also a curse for those who curse Israel. This promise still applies just as God’s promise to Israel and the Jewish people still applies.
The Apostle Paul echoes the same picture of covenantal love in the New Testament when he refers to all of Israel being beloved of God and possessing an ongoing calling. “Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.” Romans 11:28-29
Learn more about Israel on GOD TV here
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