1. I will lift up my eyes to the hills-
    From whence comes my help?
    My help comes from the Lord,
    Who made heaven and earth.

    He will not allow your foot to be moved;
    He who keeps you will not slumber.
    Behold, He who keeps Israel
    Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

    The Lord is your keeper;
    The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
    The sun shall not strike you by day,
    Nor the moon by night.

    The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
    He shall preserve your soul.
    The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
    From this time forth, and even forevermore.

    Psalm 121

    • Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

    • Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:23)

    • Your name is a strong tower. (Proverbs 18:10)

    • Thank You that we can dwell in peace and security because You neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:4-5)

    • You are our shepherd (Psalm 23:1)

    • Thank You that there is peace within your walls and security within your towers for Jerusalem (Psalm 122:7)

    • We sang, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord. Great is Thy faithfulness!"

  2. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu

    In an article in "The Atlantic" this week, a senior member of the Obama administration in the USA is quoted calling Netanyahu a coward. This publication is widely accepted as an unofficial mouthpiece for the White House. In the light of this week's Torah reading which includes I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. (Genesis 12:3) this curse upon Israel's Prime Minister spells danger for the United States. In contrast, we want to bless Benyamin Netanyahu:

    • Give Netanyahu the skin of an elephant to withstand this cursing.

    • May his sense of identity depend upon who he is in God rather than upon the opinions of America or any other nation.

    • Give him wisdom regarding whom he listens to. May he choose his advisors with wisdom and receive wisdom from their advice.

    • Let such words not be a distraction for Netanyahu. Keep him focused on the task You have called him to do.

    • Bring words of blessing and comfort from elsewhere in America and the nations.

    • Put to shame those who seek to shame Israel and its leader. (Psalm 44:7)

    • Netanyahu was called a coward for his reluctance to create a Palestinian state. We declare this not as cowardice but as wisdom.

    • He was called a coward for fearing to attack Iran. We declare that it is not too late if this is what You are calling Israel to do. Give Netanyahu Your wisdom and understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. (1 Chronicles 12:32)

  3. Israel - US Relationship

    In a speech this week President Reuven Rivlin addressed the supposed crisis in the relationship with the USA: "Three principles bind Israel's foreign policy - US ties, US ties, US ties." This is not, however, a Biblical ideal, though it does follow a Biblical pattern where Israel sought help and support throughout history from Egypt and other nations. Israel needs to be weaned off its dependence upon the US. God has brought Israel back to the land to depend upon Him alone! (Ezekiel 36:24-28)

    • Lord, You have brought us back to this land, so we shall be Your people and You will be our God. (Ezekiel 36:28) Turn us to You!

    • Thank You that You are the one who neither slumbers nor sleeps and we truly can depend up on You. (Psalm 121:4)

    • Wean us off our dependence upon the United States and the other nations we run to when You made us to be those who would run to You. (Proverbs 18:10)

    • Deliver us from our fear of isolation.

    • Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.

      Psalm 23:4

  4. Coalition Government

    The Israeli government continues to be shaky. Leaders of the coalition parties are not maintaining the discipline of shared responsibility and are quick to criticize Netanyahu rather than support him. There is much talk, including talk of going for early elections (elections are not due until 2017). Election campaigns tend to make politicians take their eyes off the real matters of the nation and the world around them while they focus on getting re-elected. Ultimately, setting the date is the decision of the Prime Minister.

    • Lord, give Binyamin Netanyahu great wisdom regarding the timing of elections. Make him strong and courageous with the good of Israel at the forefront of his decision-making.

    • As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

      Proverbs 26:21

    • Bring a new standard of governance in Israel causing the members of the government to put the nation first above their own political ambitions. Silence the contentious voices.

    • Bring Netanyahu into alignment with Your will and the other leaders into alignment with him.

  5. Jerusalem

    This week an attempted assassination has led to more rioting in certain neighborhoods of the city. The recent violence has been termed the "Children's Intifada", because of the number of children and youth involved on the front lines of rioting, throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and firecrackers. This is a clear tactic to create world headlines of how Israel is targeting children. This violence needs to be brought to an end using both strength and wisdom:

    • Lord, give Your wisdom to Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, to Netanyahu, to Police Chief Yohanan Danino and to all those seeking to control this violence and bring it to an end. - - May they seek Your wisdom: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

    • Give an anointing to Nir Barkat to bring calm to Jerusalem.

    • Expose the hidden ones in this conflict who are plotting, planning, directing and financing this violence in secret. Let them be found and brought to justice.

  6. Day of Rage

    Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas added fuel to the flames with his description of Israel's closure of the Temple Mount on Thursday as a "declaration of war". His Fatah Party (which the world considers Israel's 'Partner for Peace' in negotiations) has called for a 'Day of Rage' over this issue.

    • Lord, silence this man, and let the world see him for who he is!

    • Expose the evil plans giving good intelligence to the security forces.

    • Prevent any of the so-called 'price tag' attacks - Jewish vigilante groups exacting violence against the Arabs.

    • Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.

      Deuteronomy 32:35

    • Lord, Israel is called to be a holy nation. Root out this evil from our midst. Silence all incitement to violence and revenge. (Exodus 19:6)

  7. Building in Jerusalem

    With horrors being committed around the world, thousands killed in wars and acts of genocide, etc. the world continues to be outraged when Israel announces plans to build homes in Jerusalem its capital city. This week approval was given for 1000 more housing units. Two years ago the Levy Report found that building settlements in Judea and Samaria is legal. The government has yet to adopt these findings as official policy.

    • The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

      Psalm 147:2

    • As Binyamin Netanyahu said in response to the world's screams: 'Like French in Paris, British in London, we'll keep building in Jerusalem' Amen, Lord!

    • Thank You, Lord that the building is continuing and the number of building cranes on the Jerusalem skyline is a testimony to the faith of the people that Jerusalem will continue to be built up. Thanks that people are putting their money where their mouth is!

    • Give boldness to Israel's leaders to continue to build.

    • Let the Levy Report be adopted as official policy.

    • Then I said to them, You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalemlies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach. And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, Let us rise up and build. Then they set their hands to thisgood work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king? So I answered them, and said to them, The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.

      Nehemiah 2:17-20

  8. Christ at the Checkpoint Conferences

    These conferences which have taken place three times in Bethlehem over recent years are an attempt to undermine Christian Zionism, blame everything on Israel and turn the Church towards a Palestinian agenda. The next conference would be due in 2016. Pray:

    • Open the eyes of the supporters of these conferences among the nations that they may hold fast to the purposes for Israel which You have revealed in Your word.

    • Thank You for raising up Israel to carry Your name. Thank You that this nation is a work in progress. You will pour out clean water upon us and give us a new heart. (Ezekiel 36:25-26)

    • Expose any compromise within Your body.

  9. Rain

    We woke up this morning to a few showers of rain. There is some more forecast but only for a few days. We need to petition the Lord to transform this into rain which will soak the land. Maybe He wants to use this to bring calm to Jerusalem!

    • Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

      Psalm 147:7-8

  10. American Congressional Elections

    This Tuesday 4th November is Election Day in the US. We feel that if Obama gets his way, he will so lead America into a place of opposition to Israel that this will bring a greater measure of God's judgment and will also affect the rest of the world. Congress is the only check or balance to Obama, so the elections are an opportunity for God to turn America around from the direction she is apparently going.

    • Lord, if it is not yet the time for judgment, use the elections to bring America back into line.

    • Bring the people out to vote on Tuesday. Let them see what critical days we are in. Motivate them and let them allow themselves to be guided by Your Holy Spirit even while they are casting their votes.

    • Appoint men and women of integrity to the vacant seats in Congress who believe in the US Constitution and have the will and courage to oppose the President where he is leading America in the wrong direction.

Shabbat Shalom!