The Jerusalem Marathon takes place this Friday morning and causes a big disruption to transport. As a result we are not holding a prayer meeting and this week's prayer points are being written on Thursday. We are only 5 days away from Israel's Election Day and Eliyahu's appeal is:

We are only a few days (17 March) from critical elections. According to polls (that may be accurate or not), the Labor conglomerate (Zionist Union); is ahead of the Likud party and might be tasked with forming the new government.

I cannot emphasize enough what a disaster this would be. I truly believe that both Herzog and Livni are not competent to be Prime Minister and some in their party have: encouraged mothers to NOT send their children to the army, and another has said that the National Anthem "Hatikvah" is racist and disgusts him. This is not a Zionist party as they have labeled themselves but an anti-Zionist party.

According to reports in the Israeli press, Obama has sent one of his campaign advisors to Israel to see Netanyahu defeated. With all of his faults and weaknesses we still believe that he is God's choice for the job.

Please pray that when the house of Israel goes to vote that they would vote according to the big picture and not their own economic condition. Housing is important, the price of cottage cheese is important but stopping an Iranian nuclear bomb is of prime importance and of all the candidates only Netanyahu has the vision for this.

  1. Praise

    • God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.

      Psalm 47:8

    • Thank You Lord that You are still on Your throne. You don't make mistakes. None of the events which disturb or shock us take You by surprise.

    • You continue to watch over Israel and keep her. (Psalm 121:4)

    • Thank You that You are on the side of Your people Israel. (Psalm 124)

  2. Israeli Elections

    In this election voters choose one from the 24 lists available. Each list is put forward by a party or alliance of parties. According to the proportion of votes received, Knesset seats are allocated to the people on each list starting at the top. E.g. a list receiving 10% of the national vote will receive 10% of the Knesset seats (12 seats) for the top 12 names on the list. This electoral system leads to a large number of parties in the Knesset and the formation of coalition governments which tend to be weak and unstable. Pray:

    • For the election of a government which will give glory to God.

    • Lord, give us the government we need in this country rather than the government we deserve.

    • Bring the people out to vote on March 17th. Drive away the apathy and disillusionment with politicians of all persuasions. Watch over the weather on Election Day.

    • Guide those who are voting for the first time and those who are undecided how to vote.

    • Give the people of Israel wisdom and discernment and guide them to vote according to Your purposes.

    • Break the manipulative power of the media as they seek to influence the outcome of the election. Let the people see through all the spin and recognize the truth.

    • Guard over the voting process on Tuesday. Protect against corruption and cheating.

    • Watch over the weather on Election Day.

    • Give us leaders of integrity. Expose the corruption in government and root it out.

    • May our rulers rule in justice and righteousness (Psalm 72:1-2).

    • I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning.

      Isaiah 1:26

    • And I will give you shepherds according to My heart.

      Jeremiah 3:15

    • Please give us a government which will care for the well-being of the nation and will not allow the creation of a Palestinian state.

    • Please give us a strong government to lead Israel at this crucial time.

    • Please Lord, have mercy on Israel and turn the nation around before Tuesday!

  3. Prime Minister Netanyahu

    It seems that much of the political process, the media and the leaders of the world are determined to see Binyamin Netanyahu removed from the position of Prime Minister. We continue to see him as far the best candidate to lead the country.

    • Give Mr Netanyahu courage and strength and refreshment in the face of this immense opposition against him.

    • We continue to ask for the miracle of a convincing victory for Netanyahu and his Likud Party on March 17th.

    • Give words of encouragement from friends and family. Let him turn to You and would You speak to him from Your word even this weekend.

    • Expose the true motives behind the "Anyone but Bibi" campaign.

    • Protect Netanyahu and his family from attempts to harm them.

  4. Post-Election

    Once the election is over the process of forming a coalition government begins. The President invites one of the party leaders (usually the leader of the largest party) to try to form a government. This process involves much negotiation and compromising between the different parties and their policy priorities. This (usually messy process) can take a number of weeks and is possibly just as important as the election itself in determining the direction the nation will take.

    • Lord, please watch over this process of building a government. Make it clean and righteous. Guard against compromising on those things which are Your priorities.

    • Please give us a government which will be strong and will last.

    • Give us leaders who will put the needs of the nation before the needs of any particular interest group.

    • Give us leaders who will be like …the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. (1 Chronicles 12:32)

    • Protect Israel against including in the government politicians who are set on the destruction of the State of Israel. (There has been talk of including the Arab parties in government, most of whom are actually anti-Israel.)

  5. Security

    Israel continues to exist in the middle of an increasingly turbulent neighborhood with horrific acts of destruction being carried out by the forces of Islamic State and Iran negotiating its way towards freedom to create nuclear weapons. The Palestinian Authority cracked down on Hamas in areas under its control in order to reduce the risk of a terror attack before the election helping Netanyahu's chances of re-election. However, this did not prevent another apparently "lone-wolf" attack last week injuring a number of Israeli police officers.

    • Protect the nation against those seeking to work evil to disrupt the elections.

    • Anoint Gadi Eizenkott the IDF Chief of Staff and the leaders around him to have wisdom in deployment of forces and to act strongly against our enemies.

    • I will make the generals of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves.

      Zechariah 12:6

    • Give us a government which will give right priority to proper funding of the military.

    • Keep all the soldiers alert on their watch. If they are weary refresh them. Give power to the weak and renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:29-31) Cause them to look to You.

    • Expose the plans of the enemy. Reveal tunnels being dug to infiltrate Israel. Give us the technology to help us do this.

    • Place godly leaders in key roles in the IDF who will turn the eyes of their soldiers towards You.

    • Use the Messianic believers You have placed in the IDF as an example to those around them. May their lives bring You glory. May they be recognized for their courage, their faith and their integrity.

    • Awaken the people of Israel to the responsibility we all carry to be alert against the dangers which lurk round about us seeking to destroy. (1 Peter 5:8)

  6. Messianic Body

    Let us take our responsibility seriously!

    • Raise up more prayer from Your people even in these few days remaining before the election.

    • Help us to see that the battle we are in is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), but help us to see the selection of a new government through Your eyes.

    • Prompt leaders to call for prayer.

    • Give Your people faith in You which recognizes that You hear prayer and You answer.

    • Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me.

      Psalm 143:1

    • Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

      Psalm 20:6

Shabbat Shalom from the IFI team