1. Praise:

   Isaiah 54:5 from Shabbat's prophetic portion applies to Israel and believers as we are grafted into Israel's olive tree: For your Creator is your husband; YHWH of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel – the God of the whole earth shall He be called. (Isa. 54:5)

   • We rejoice that once again Your total reign over all the earth is declared (Deut. 4:39; Matt. 11:25).

   • Thank You for being in complete control – even when it does not appear that way (Psa. 103:19).

   • We praise You for Your amazing creation which testifies of You (Psa. 19:16; Rom. 1:20).

   • Thank You for being Israel's Redeemer (Psa. 78:35; Isa. 41:14; 44:6).

   • Lord Yeshua, we bless You for being our Kinsman-Redeemer (Job 19:25; Luke 24:21).

   • Thank You for giving us Your Word which You firmly establish in eternity (Psa. 119:89, 111, 162).

   • We are very grateful for how You have taught us to use Your Word in prayer (Psa. 145:18).

   • We bless You for Isaiah 33:22 which applies to Israel and also to us who trust in Israel's King: For YHWH is our Judge; YHWH is our Lawgiver; YHWH is our King; He will save us.

   • We are greatly comforted and encouraged because Your essential nature never changes (Mal. 3:6).

   • You have told us to trust in You with all our hearts, and to not lean on our own understanding, so we praise You for working all things together for good (Prov. 3:5; Rom. 8:28).

2. Government & society:

   Without God's promises to Israel, its current chaotic state would pull all hope out of us. Yet knowing that Israel will be the head of the nations (Deut. 28:13), that all the nations will come up to Jerusalem to worship Israel's King (Isa. 2:3; Zech. 14:16), and that at least until the new heavens and new earth Israel remains a nation before God (Jer. 31:35-37), inspires us to press on in prayer regardless of the negativity of most of the mainstream news about His nation.

   • As You work out in heaven the fulfillment of all the above promises to Israel, open our eyes to see some of that being worked out here on earth (Luke 11:2b).

   • We trust in You who scattered and who is also gathering Israel – will also guard Your nation against the demonic forces trying to destroy it (Jer. 31:10).

   • Judge of all the earth (Gen. 18:25), overrule Israel's High Court's plans to decide on recently passed "basic laws" which do not come under their judicial responsibilities (Psa. 9:19-20).

   • Prepare Israel to deal with the anger from some sections of its citizens the day after any High Court decisions – regardless of what they decide (Psa. 51:15; Isa. 46:9-10).

   • Use Deuteronomy 25:1 and 25:15-16 in the Torah portion to convict Israeli judges and all others in society of how You hate unrighteous conduct in Your people.

   • However You do it, we ask for You to fulfill Isaiah 1:25-27 and to bring good out of the months of chaos and threats from the anti-government demonstrators (Isa. 45:3; Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 14:33).

   • Let Israel's governing coalition complete everything You have ordained for them (Prov. 8:15-16).

   • Allow those politicians, and other public figures, who actually believe in by Your Word to become stronger influencers for the rest of the nation (Psa. 119:98-100).

   • Remind all of Israeli rulers of King David's last words: The Spirit of YHWH spoke by me; His word was on my tongue. Israel's God, Israel's Rock said to me, 'He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God'. (2 Sam. 23:2-3)

   • Hedge in PM Bibi Netanyahu to be only able to do that which is Your will (Prov. 21:1; Hos. 2:6).

   • Show Bibi and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen how to respond to the constant threats from many of its so-called Western "allies" and from Ukraine's leaders (Psa. 118:9; 146:3-5).

   • We thank You that despite the warnings from the anti-government agitators – inside and outside of Israel – its economy is growing, and inflation and unemployment are down (Deut. 23:5).

   • Increase the Haredi's [ultra-Orthodox] integration in the IDF and into Israeli society (Psa. 133:1).

   • Move on both Haredi and secular Israel's to work with and respect each other (Lev. 19:18b).

   • Grant wisdom to the Israeli government and Israeli-Arab leaders to know how to effectively fight against the crime wave that is devastating Arab-Israeli communities (1 Kin. 4:34; Dan. 2:21-22).

3. Internal security:

   God continues to urge us to intercede for Israel to extend its tent-pegs over all its land west of the Jordan River. This is His will as per His Word, so we pray in confidence for Him to lead Israel to accomplish this as soon as possible (1 John 5:14-15).

   • Lord, stir up Your nation to do this in obedience to You, using Isaiah 54:2-3 in Shabbat's prophetic portion to let them know that the time to possess their possessions is now (Obad. 1:17).

   • Cleanse Israel's political and military leaders from any fear of man or other anti-biblical tendencies, and place in them a biblical fear which leads to obeying You (Prov. 29:25).

   • Speak to them that extending sovereignty over Your land is more vital than "normalizing relations" with Saudi Arabia, or bowing down to the will of America (Jer. 6:14; 8:11; Joel 3:1-2).

   • Use the recent increase of deadly terror attacks to convince Israeli leaders that the need to extend sovereignty is now a life or death decision – and let them chose life (Deut. 30:19-20; Obad. 1:17-20).

   • Show them it is time to declare war against Palestinian Jew-murderers with the aim to gain a clear victory over them in all of the land – including Gaza (Psa. 18:34; 144:1; Isa. 11:11-14; 14:29-32;).

   • As Israeli leaders read the Torah portion – and we thank You that many actually do that – speak to their minds that the spirit of Amalek rests on Palestinian terrorists today, and then let them draw the right conclusion from Your admonition to Israel in Deuteronomy 25:17-19.

   • Replace all politicians and military officers who are blocking a more aggressive stance in the face of this massive murderous terrorist wave (Deut. 20:8; Neh. 7:2; Psa. 18:6).

   • May the lessons of Joshua not clearing out all inhabitants of the land as Israel took possession of it teach Israel's current leaders that Your warning of not obeying You is still valid today (Num. 33:55).

   • Forbid Israel from trusting in the Palestinian Authority to deal with Palestinian terrorists (Isa. 31:1).

   • When Israel acts against the Palestinian terrorists, let the attack be so overwhelming that all of Your enemies know that You, Israel's God, are greater than Islam's Allah (Josh. 2:9-11; Ezek. 35:10-13).

   • Deafen Israel to the guaranteed over-the-top-condemnation from the world against its right to defend its citizens from demon-inspired Islamic murderers (Ex. 4:11; Psa. 38:12-15).

   • Block all kidnapping attempts of any Israeli citizens, especially its security people (Ex. 21:16).

   • Protect every IDF soldier and reservist physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually (Isa. 54:17).

   • Comfort the survivors and families of recent terror victims in Your nation (Psa. 23:4; 94:19).

   • Watch over the proposed plan presented by the settler leadership to double the population of Judea and Samaria, and let these homes be built and filled and prosper (Isa. 65:21-23; Jer. 31:5).

4. External security:

   God is Israel's defender (Jer. 31:10), so while its external situation grows more worrying and dangerous, God is the One who determines Israel's destiny. Yet it is vital for Israel to fight alongside of God in its battles – just as we read about throughout the Tanach.

   • Lord, we know that You can use Israel to trap Your/Israel's enemies (Ex. 14:1-4; Mic. 4:11-13; Zech. 12:2-3), and so we look to You to guide us in prayer at this time (Gen. 18:17; Amos 3:3, 7).

   • As the pride and hatred of Israel's foes increases daily, use that arrogance that is in reality aimed at You to bring them to destruction (Psa. 12:3; 94:2; Ezek. 35:11-13).

   • Use the centuries' old hatred of Sunni Islam vs. Shiite Islam to prevent any anti-Israel peace-deal to be worked out between Iran and Saudi Arabia (Prov. 10:12a; 26:24).

   • God, reinforce Your angelic guards on Israel's land and sea borders (Psa. 59:5; 91:11).

   • Israel's Shepherd, guard over Your flock for Your glory's sake (Psa. 80:1; 115:1-3; Jer. 31:10).

   • Restore to Israel the goal of aiming for a total victory in all of its battles (Deut. 33:26-28).

   • Impart to the IDF's Iran Command unique plans to deal with the Iranian threat (Isa. 55:8-9).

   • If Israel needs to pre-empt Iran or its proxies, guide it in both the method and timing (Prov. 21:31).

   • Arise and forcefully shake Iran physically, socially, and financially (Psa. 7:6; 9:19-20; 68:1; 82:8).

   • Break the bow of Elam through the destruction of its proxies surrounding Israel (Jer. 49:35).

   • Release Your "little foxes" with their tails on fire into the midst of all of Hizbullah's weapons caches and hiding places throughout Lebanon (Judg. 15:14-15; Song 2:15).

   • Block the billions of dollars which US President Biden is planning to give to Iran – or if he does, use the money for Your purposes and not the purposes of Iran's leaders (Job 5:12; Prov. 13:22b).

   • Guide Iranian believers to intercede for their nation (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and for Israel (Psa. 122:6).

5. Aliyah:

   The Jewish nation's God-ordained captivity is over and so for Jews living outside of Israel, it is imperative that they at least have plans in place to return home.

   • Since You are not holding Your people back from coming home to Israel, please clear out whatever blockages are hindering them from making aliyah (Isa. 57:14; 60:11; 62:10).

   • Speak to Your people, especially in the West, that the oath in Psalms 137:5-6 applies to them today: If I forget you Jerusalem, let my right hand forget [+wither]. If I do not remember you, let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth; if I do not lift up Jerusalem above my chief joy.

   • Show Jews who think they are supposed to live among the gentiles to repair the world [tikkun olam] them that Babylon is beyond fixing and they need to return home (Jer. 51:9-10).

   • Draw Jews home by Your love (Jer. 31:3) or chase them home by increased persecution (Jer. 16:16).

   • Increase the number of Jews making aliyah from Central and South America (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • Plant all new immigrants deeply in Your land so that they will never be uprooted again (Amos 9:15).

   • Change Israel's Law of Return to be in line with Your Word and away from the limited definition of 'who is a Jew' that the rabbis have decided on today (Prov. 22:17; Jer. 8:9).

   • Place it on the hearts of more believers to not only share the gospel, but to also share the good news of aliyah with as many Jews as possible (Jer. 32:41; Zech. 8:16; Gal. 4:16).

6. Salvation:

   Paul told Timothy that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures which have the power to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in the Messiah Yeshua (2 Tim. 3:15). In its historical context, the "Holy Scriptures" Paul refers to is the Tanach as there was no New Testament yet, and these are the same Holy Scriptures that the Jews read today.

   • We thank You God that Your Word has both power and life to save unsaved Jews through Yeshua, their Messiah and Lord (John 5:39; Acts 10:36-43; Heb. 4:12; Jam. 1:21).

   • So we ask You to break their habit of "speed-reading" through Your Word, and as they slow down, let them truly consider what Your Word is saying to them today – especially Deuteronomy 23:5 from the Torah portion and Isaiah 54:8 from the prophetic reading.

   • Do not allow Your Word that the Jews read return to You empty (Isa. 55:11), but watch over Your Word and accomplish that for which You sent it out for in the first place (Jer. 1:12).

   • Confront unsaved Jews of their obligation to let Your Word speak to them (Psa. 119:9; 2 Pet. 1:19).

   • Use the current Hebrew month of Elul, the time of preparation for Your fall feasts, to turn Jewish hearts by Your grace back unto You (Psa. 80:3, 7, 17-19).

   • YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel (Jer. 31:7b), and make it a huge remnant. Amen!

   • Abba Father, as You pour out Your Spirit on Your people (Acts 2:17-21), we specifically ask for many salvations in the Haredi, Religious Zionist, Conservative and Reform communities; secular Jews in Israel and in the nations; Jewish politicians in the coalition and the opposition, and all Jewish politicians in the nations; IDF personnel in all of its branches and all of its ranks; Jews in the medical and teaching professions; Israeli bus and taxi drivers; pro-life Jews both in Israel and in the nations; survivors of terror attacks and their families; families of terror attack victims; Holocaust survivors and their families; and unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

   • Distribute Israeli believers throughout Israeli society to be Your light (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15).

7. Body of Messiah:

   The world is drowning in information and news which is available almost instantaneously. Information-overload is a very real danger for believers as well. The one way we can discern truth from lies is by His Word being active in our lives all the time. Yet that requires us to have a commitment to read and know the entire Bible. Yet how many believers do that?

   • Pour out by Your Spirit a deeper understanding of Your Word so that we are able to discern the truth of what You are saying and doing today (1 Chr. 12:32; John 17:17).

   • Lord Yeshua, use Deuteronomy 21:22-23 in Shabbat's Torah portion to prove to believers that the essence of what happened to You on the Cross has its foundational teachings in the Tanach.

   • Cleanse the Body from false teachings (Eph. 4:14-15; Heb. 13:9), especially from all false doctrines concerning Israel (Num. 24:9b; Deut. 7:6-9; Hos. 8:12; Luke 1:54-55, 68-75; 2:32).

   • Nourish Your Body on spiritual food that is found only in Your Word (Psa. 23:5a; 34:8; Jer. 15:16).

   • Shield Your Body in Israel, and in the nations, from joining with those claiming to be "Christians," yet are not, and who thus destroy the unity of Your Spirit (Eph. 4:3; 1 Pet. 2:7; 2 John 1:7-11).

   • As Israel is the central focus of Your work on the earth today (Jer. 32:41-42), open the eyes of more believers to perceive this and pray for and stand with You in this area (Psa. 119:18; Isa. 29:18).

8. IFI:

   We have been battling both big and little foxes and it is very draining on us spiritually, emotionally and mentally. We covet your prayers for this so that we have all the grace we need to complete the race our precious Messiah and Lord has set before us. Thank you.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Isa. 54:10