1. Praise:

   Isaiah 66:1-2 in Shabbat's prophetic portion warns us against serving God in pride or in thinking that He really needs us. Meanwhile the rest of the Bible says if we are weak and foolish, lame or even crushed, God can use us for His glory as then we truly understand that He is doing it and we give Him all the glory (1 Cor. 1:27-31).

   • Thus says YHWH, 'The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that you build for Me, and where is the place of My rest? For all these has My hand made, and all these have been, says YHWH. But to this one will I look – to the one who is humble and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My Word'.Isaiah 66:1-2

   • We bless You Lord for revealing to us that the lame take the spoils (Isa. 33:23) which explains so much as we consider Jacob's transition into Israel (Gen. 32:28, 31-32).

   • We stand amazed and praise You that we are actually more useful to You when we are weak and foolish compared to the wise and mighty and proud people of the world (1 Cor. 1:19-29).

   • We rejoice with Paul who took pleasure in his weaknesses – because then by God's grace he was made strong through the power of Messiah Yeshua resting upon him (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

   • We are so very grateful that You can use us whatever state we are in, because it is not us, but You Who is acting through us to bring about Your purposes (Jer. 1:6-9; Zech. 4:6; Phil 2:12b-13).

   • Lord Yeshua, we praise You that You are all we need, since You have now become our wisdom and righteousness, our sanctification and redemption – unto the glory of God (1 Cor. 1:30-31).

   • Thank You for Your amazing grace which enables us to walk in those good works that You have ordained for us from before the creation of the world (Eph. 2:8-10).

   • We rejoice that when we are in trouble and cry out to You, Your help brings You glory (Psa. 50:15).

   • We know Your thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are Your ways our ways (Isa. 55:8-9), so even when we do not understand what You are doing (Prov. 3:5) – You still reign (Psa. 93:1; 96:10; 97:1).

   • What we do know, and for this we give You all of the praise and honor, is that You are faithful to Your promises to Israel and to us (Psa. 89:1, 5; 119:75; 143:1; Rom. 15:8). Hallelujah!

2. Government & society:

   More often than not, headlines in the mainstream media are twisted versions of the truth. At times they do not even agree with the story they introduce, but editors know that most people today desire their news in little bites and do not spend time to read and understand the full picture. Sadly, this is what most of Israel's media does so that what is emphasized in the headlines manipulates the thinking of Israelis, as well as its allies and enemies in the nations.

   • Speak to more Israeli believers to pray for their government as a high priority today (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

   • Grant us much wisdom and discernment concerning the spiritual warfare that is trying to destroy Israel– and then guide us as to how we are to intercede for Your nation (Psa. 25:9; 31:3; 32:8).

   • Lord God, as the media continues to report on tens of thousands of Israelis who demonstrate against the democratically elected government, we thank You for the many millions who stand with it and are wanting to see both judicial reforms and a stronger response to terrorism (Rom. 13:1-4).

   • Almighty God of truth, arise and expose all lies and deceptions (Psa. 57:3; 86:15; Zech. 8:8)

   • Block every humanistic lie the media tries to get the people to believe in (Deut. 11:16; Prov. 25:5).

   • Lord, please stop the anti-PM Bibi Netanyahu hate propaganda that is constantly being pushed by both the media and the political opposition (Job 34:35; Prov. 6:16-19).

   • Strengthen Netanyahu and his coalition to move forward in achieving every one of their campaign promises that is in agreement with Your Word (Prov. 19:21).

   • Yet hinder any that is not in Your will, or is being done in a way that displeases You (Prov. 16:9).

   • Let Opposition Leader Yair Lapid's radical actions and hateful words downgrade his credibility in the eyes of the Israeli people (Job 34:17-18; Psa. 36:2).

   • Use next week's Memorial Day and Independence Day to heal and unify Your nation (Isa. 46:8-9).

   • Lord God, please fulfill Isaiah 1:25-26 as it relates to the judicial reforms (Mal. 3:3).

   • As negotiations continue over this, do not allow the coalition to compromise so much that the end result turns out to be an appeasement and the reforms turn out to be useless (Psa. 119:29-31).

   • Encourage Israel's leaders to fear You more than man or the nations (Neh. 7:2; Psa. 118:8-9; 146:3).

   • Anoint Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to speak Your words of wisdom constantly (Prov. 18:4).

   • Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance: shepherd them and carry them forever.Psa. 28:9

3. Internal security:

   Ramadan finally ended this past week. It has been a hard battle and we pray for Israel to learn its lessons and remove all self-imposed and world-imposed restrictions which end up preventing it from winning its war against terror.

   • As in the prophetic portion, God hasten the day when You repay Your enemies in full (Isa. 66:6).

   • Lord, let Israel's coalition see that regardless of what they do to protect Israel the world condemns it, so they might as well extend Israel's sovereignty over all of the land west of the Jordan River in one fell swoop and be done with it (Psa. 33:10-11; Isa. 48:3; Obad. 1:17).

   • Guide Defense Minister Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Halevi to deal with Judea and Samaria and the Israeli residents there in a biblical manner (Jer. 33:10-14).

   • We thank and praise You that the award-winning wines being produced in Samaria is a sign of Your everlasting love for Israel (Jer. 31:3-5).

   • Abba, let Israel be that exceedingly great army which You declared it would be – not only against its outside enemies but also against the terrorists in its midst (Ezek. 37:10).

   • Send massive confusion into the camps of every Palestinian terrorist group – and so shame them that they end up seeking Your face (Psa. 35:4, 26; 40:14-15; 83:16-18).

   • Continue uncovering and destroying every evil plot against Your people (Obad. 1:6).

   • Give the IDF Your strategy to deal quickly and devastatingly with all terrorists (Eccl. 8:11).

   • Thank You for Operation Break the Wave which battles against terrorists nightly (Psa. 55:23).

   • Protect and guide those who do the face-to-face fighting with terrorists (Judg. 7:9-11; 1 Sam. 23:16).

   • Show Israel what to do with all of the terrorist prisoners that they now are holding (Deut. 6:18-19).

   • Give Israel's security forces wisdom on how to use their limited resources to cover ever increasing security challenges – and to let them look to You as their main supplier (Psa. 20:7-9; Isa. 41:15-16).

   • Bless and use Itamar Ben-Gvir's plan to encourage and build-up Israel's police force, both in their numbers and by a well-deserved increase in their salaries (Luke 10:7).

   • Root out the spirit of hatred in the hearts of most Palestinians towards the Jews (Psa. 109:1-3; Ezek. 35:5) and replace it with Your Spirit through the salvation of many of them (Prov. 10:12; Gal. 3:14).

4. External security:

   Rumors abounded that Iran was about to launch a full-scale war against Israel last week. Even believers were concerned and prayed much into this. Is that the reason why it never came to pass – or were the war threats just rumors? Yet an Iranian threat to attack Israel is real and needs to be continually covered in prayer.

   • We read in the prophetic portion (Isa. 66:14-15) how You will be victorious over Your enemies in Your return (Rev. 19:11-16), and we ask You to be victorious over Israel's enemies today (Jer. 31:10).

   • Lead us as we pray so that in the midst of Your judgment and wrath there is much mercy (Hab. 3:2).

   • Deal with Israel's enemies in such a supernatural way that most of them realize that Israel's God is God and bow the knee to You (Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11).

   • Let Israel be very cautious in its restoration of diplomatic relations with Turkey (Jer. 9:8).

   • Confront the King of Jordan who has become a hindrance to Israel's security efforts (Isa. 36:6).

   • Impart wisdom and discernment to Israel in its relations with Russia, Ukraine, China, and with all other nations as well – especially its so-called friends in the West (Isa. 40:5-17; 60:12).

   • As Muslim nations in the Middle East seem to be all cozying up to Iran, reveal to Israel what it needs to understand in order to protect itself (Isa. 30:30-31; Prov. 21:31).

   • Change Israel's military strategies as it is clear that it cannot depend on America anymore (Isa. 36:6).

   • Prepare and equip the IDF to be Your weapon of war against Your enemies (Jer. 51:19-24).

   • Exalt Israel as the head of the nations in all areas of digital warfare (Deut. 28:13).

   • As Israel's enemies perceive weakness because of its internal strife, we proclaim Micah 7:8-10.

   • Bless the Shah of Iran's son who visited Israel on Holocaust Memorial Day (Gen. 12:3a).

   • If he is to be Iran's next leader once You destroy the current regime (Jer. 49:38b), prepare him for that role and use him to establish peace between Iran and Israel (Isa. 44:28; Dan. 2:21).

   • Use Iran's internal troubles to hinder its regime's war against Israel (Isa. 37:6-9a).

   • Encourage Iranian believers, protect them and teach them how to pray (Psa. 3:1-3; Matt. 6:9-13).

   • Dry up the Iranian leaders finances (Rom. 2:5) and deal harshly with all nations who have financial dealings with Iran – yet all the while knowing of its plans to annihilate Israel (Num. 24:9b).

   • Confound the relationship between China, Russia and Iran (2 Kin. 19:25-28).

   • Destroy Iran's nuclear facilities miraculously and so receive the glory (Num. 16:28-32; Jer. 4:24).

   • Yet if Israel needs to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, create unity between its politicians and military leaders, and provide all the intelligence it needs to do the job completely (Isa. 41:15-16).

5. Aliyah:

   We often pray for aliyah before we pray for salvation as there are strong indications in the Scripture that it is in the land which God promised to Israel's forefathers where all Israel is saved. Yet as we pray for the Jewish people to be saved, if they are destined to receive Messiah Yeshua in Israel then that will "release" God to bring them home to answer those prayers.

   • Lord, bless You for showing us that the regathering of Your scattered people is for Your holy name's sake (Ezek. 36:21-24), and that it does not depend on their spiritual condition (Ezek. 36:31-32).

   • Therefore, for Your sake quickly complete their regathering (Psa. 107:3; Isa. 43:5-7).

   • We lift up the Jews trapped in Iran, and any other nation that prevents them from leaving freely, asking You to set them free like You once did when they were trapped in Egypt (Ex. 9:1; Neh. 9:10).

   • Abba, please empty Turkey of its Jewish community (Ezek. 39:28-29).

   • Gather all Jews who have left their birth-nations but have gone to live in other nations rather than in Israel (Deut. 30:3-5).

   • In righteousness, bring all Israelis who are now living among the gentiles back to Zion (Isa. 1:27). [Note: in the KJV "converts" can also be translated as "repentant ones" or "those who have returned".]

   • As Jewish tourists visit Your land – let them realize that they are home (Ezek. 28:25-26).

   • Marry many of the young Jewish men and women who tour Israel to Your land (Isa. 62:4-5).

   • Give all new immigrants a realistic expectation of life in Israel (Job 21:34; Prov. 12:17).

   • Reveal to the Church how central and important aliyah is to Your plans today (Jer. 32:41), and then guide them to support it fully – in pray, financially and even physically (Isa. 49:22; 60:3-11; 62:5-6).

6. Salvation:

   This past week Israel observed Holocaust and Martyrs Memorial Day. This day creates some very negative emotions in many Holocaust survivors – of which Israel still has almost 150,000. We are praying for their salvation as it is never too late to meet Yeshua,

   • Thank You for every Holocaust survivor who has been saved (Isa. 63:9).

   • Add to their numbers exponentially during this season, revealing to them Messiah as their brother and King and Redeemer (Gen. 45:1-9; Isa. 33:22; Luke 1:68; Acts 5:14).

   • Cause every Holocaust survivor and their family who lives outside of Israel to come home this year and then to be saved (Jer. 31:7-9).

   • Bring in a harvest of souls among families of those who perished through terrorism (Acts 16:31).

   • Speak to Your people on Independence Day that true freedom is only found in Messiah Yeshua who can set people free from their bondage to their sin nature (John 8:36).

   • Reveal to Your people that in the Torah portion the two doves used as one sacrifice in the cleansing of the leper represent both the death and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua (Lev. 14:2-7).

7. Body of Messiah:

   In the Torah portion the ceremonial cleansing of a leper includes placing of the oil on the blood that was already applied to the right ear, the right thumb and the big right toe of the cleansed person (Lev. 14:17, 28). As oil is often symbolic in the Tanach for the Holy Spirit, this teaches us that God's Spirit will only abide on those areas of our lives where He sees the blood of the Lamb.

   • Lord, apply Your blood to our ears afresh so that as You promised in John 10:3 we Your sheep will hear Your voice and follow You.

   • God, "circumcise" our ears to hear You as clearly as possible in these days (Jer. 6:10).

   • Protect the Israeli Body from the divisions caused by Israel's current internal situation (Rom. 16:17).

   • Pour out the gift of the discerning of the spirits that cause such divisions (1 Cor. 12:10b).

   • Let every genuine move of Your Spirit – both in Israel and in the nations – be accompanied by a renewed hunger for all of Your Word (Psa. 119:105, 130; Jer. 15:16)

8. IFI:

   Thank you for continuing to cover all aspects of this ministry in prayer.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Rom. 16:27