1. Praise:

   There is this wonderful and challenging verse in the prophetic portion: Thus says YHWH, 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool; where is the house you will build for Me, and where is the place of My rest? For I have made all these…but to this one will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My Word. (Isa. 66:1-2)

   • Lord God, we praise You that as the Creator, nothing is too difficult for You (Jer. 32:17, 27).

   • It is awesome to consider that You have chosen us to be Your house, although most of us are not yet spiritually mature enough to also be where You can find complete rest (1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 2:5; 4:17).

   • Thank You for encouraging us to be honest with You and confess our struggles and weaknesses as we see that You look to those who do so, yet turn away from the proud (Prov. 18:12; Rev. 2:16).

   • We are blessed to read that You choose to dwell with the humble and contrite (Isa. 57:15).

   • We praise You for Your Word which is full of life and power (Psa. 119:130; Jer. 23:29; Heb. 4:12).

   • In this age when people say there is no ultimate truth, we rejoice that Your Word – both living and written – is true and the truth (Psa. 119:160; John 14:6; 17:17).

   • We rest in the reality that You are totally sovereign despite what we see, hear or feel (Psa. 103:19).

   • We trust in You even when we do not understand what You are doing or allowing to be done (Prov. 3:5) as You did say that Your ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isa. 55:8-9).

   • What a joy to know that You are a prayer-answering God (Psa. 50:15; Prov. 15:8b).

2. Government & society:

   The international pressure to bring the war with Hamas to a quick close has not yet turned Israel's leaders aside from their goal of destroying that terrorist group. Part of the reason for their steady stance is the prayers of the saints and part is their recognition that most of Israel's citizens will accept nothing less.

   • God, we again plead with You to raise up Israel's sons of Zion, those who trust in and fear You and Your Word, and use them to replace the sons of Greece, those who trust in man, from the government, the military and from its society (Zech. 9:13).

   • Stop the anti-biblical ideas of the sons of Greece from having undue influence over Israelis and also silence most of Israel's mainstream media which supports these ideas (Psa. 46:10; Dan. 6:22).

   • Sustain Israel's current government by Your grace and for Your purposes (Zech. 4:6-7; Luke 11:2).

   • Move on them to cry out to You when they are faced with overwhelming circumstances and must make life-and-death decisions (Psa. 61:1-2).

   • Maintain PM Bibi Netanyahu as Israel's leader until You deem his time is over (Dan. 4:17, 25, 32).

   • Surround him with sons of Zion and sons of Issachar as his advisors (Prov. 19:20; 1 Chr. 12:32).

   • Shield him from personal attacks from both inside and outside of Israel (Psa. 3:1-3).

   • Abba, we again pray for divine comfort to descend upon all Israelis whose loved ones have died, or will die, who are still held hostage, or whose fate is still unknown (Psa. 23:4; Isa. 49:13; 51:3).

   • We thank You for strengthening Bibi and other Israeli leaders to reject the totally ludicrous demands from Hamas in order to have them release the hostages (Deut. 10:17).

   • Let those absurd demands change the attitude of the hostages' families and Israel's media to finally see that Hamas, and not Bibi and his government, are the real hindrances to the hostages' freedom.

   • Lord God, cause Israel's economy to miraculously grow at this tiime (Gen. 24:35; Deut. 8:18).

   • Protect and prosper the businesses of all IDF reservists who are fighting to protect Israel (Gal. 4:7).

   • Thank You for the tens of thousands of foreign workers who will replace Palestinians (Isa. 60:10).

3. Foreign relations:

   Israel is under immense international pressure to agree to the creation of a Palestinian State on God's land which He has promised to Israel over 200 times in the Tanach. Today the pressure is political, yet if Israel continues to resist this – and we are praying for it to do exactly that – then we could soon see Zechariah 12:2-9 and 14:2 being fulfilled militarily.

   • Lord Yeshua, remind believers of their spiritual responsibility to cry out for mercy over their nation's negative, or even lukewarm, dealings with Israel today (Isa. 60:12; Ezek. 22:30; Zech. 12:9).

   • God, lead us in prayer so that we do not resist what You are doing to fulfill Your Word today (Psa. 32:8; Amos 3:7).

   • Raise up prophetic voices in America to warn both the Church and the nation's leaders that President Biden's goal to create a "Palestine" on Your land drives the US deeper into Your valley of judgment as it will divide Your land and scatter many of Your people (Joel 3:1-2; cp. Isa. 66:4; Ezek. 36:1-5).

   • Maintain Israel's resistant to this demonic and anti-biblical plan that would reward the Palestinians for murdering Jews (Neh. 2:20; Prov. 24:20; Isa. 3:11; Jer. 20:11).

   • Do not let the bait of "normalization" with Saudi Arabia that America is tempting Israel with trap Your nation to agree to anything that is not Your will (Psa. 124:1-8).

   • Hedge in the nations' foreign ministers, especially America's Blinken, who try to pressure Israel to agree with their "suggested" anti-biblical schemes and plans (Num. 23:23; Isa. 33:7).

   • Anoint Israeli diplomats to speak truth irrespective of the world's response (Ezek. 33:9; Gal. 4:16).

   • Help Israel to finally perceive that it has no real friends among the nations and then use that reality to turn Your nation to look to and trust in You alone (Num. 23:9b; Psa. 80:3; 118:6-9)

4. Israel's "War of Independence" is still being fought today. Despite times of less active warfare, modern Israel has not had a season of real peace. Today's phase against Hamas, "Operation Swords of Iron," needs to go on for at least several more months. Yet the world's constant pressuring of Israel to agree to a permanent "ceasefire" places Israel's victory and Hamas' defeat in jeopardy.

   • Protect Israelis' hearts against all the unbiblical "proposals" from Western nations and NGOs who are no longer able – or willing – to recognize good from evil (Prov. 17:15; 24:24; Isa. 5:20-23).

   • Lord God, judge those nations and NGOs who are pressing Israel with unreasonable demands, yet have still not demanded of Hamas to yield and set free the hostages (Psa. 9:19-20; Prov. 3:7; 12:15).

   • While Israel did not start this war, sustain Your nation to finish it (Psa. 44:4-6)!

   • Strengthen Israel's leaders to refuse any ceasefire that leaves Hamas intact (Prov. 16:9; 19:21).

   • Shield IDF soldiers physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, and supply all their needs in order that they can fight as Your war club and exceedingly great army (Jer.. 51:20; Ezek. 37:10).

   • Anoint them to fight as Sons of Zion and not in any politically-correct manner (Zech. 9:13-15).

   • Increase the effectiveness of the IDF's tunnel warfare strategy and tactics (Isa. 41:15-16).

   • Show the IDF how to control the Egyptian-Gaza border while upholding its relations with Egypt.

   • Abba Father, miraculously set free all remaining living hostages (Isa. 49:24-26; Jer. 31:15-17).

   • Alternatively, direct the IDF to find them or their bodies (Num. 21:1-3; Judg. 5:12b).

   • If it is time to kill Hamas' leaders living outside of Gaza, release Israel to do just that (Deut. 33:29).

   • Let all members of Israel's intelligence services seek You for wisdom in order to know what is vital and what is not in all the intelligence data that they collect (Deut. 29:29; Psa. 25:14; Jer. 33:3).

   • Thank You for upholding Israel's rejection of many nations' desire to see the anti-Semitic Palestinian Authority rule in Gaza after the war (Prov. 22:23; Isa. 8:9-10).

   • Lord, imprint Your "day-after" scenario on Israel – which is for it to repossess all of Gaza as Gaza is a part of Judah's biblical inheritance (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18).

5. Internal security:

   Terrorist attacks throughout Israel, especially in Judea and Samaria, are a daily occurrence. Israel's security forces stop most of them, and also pre-empt many by seeking out and capturing or killing terrorists and terror cells. We bless God for these physical guardians of Israel.

   • Use the war in Gaza and the fight against terrorists in Judea and Samaria prove to Israel that dividing Your land never ends well – and most definitively does not result in peace (Lev. 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).

   • Anoint the sons of Zion in Israel's political and military realms to move ahead with efforts to have Israel extend its sovereignty – from the river to the sea (Psa. 10:16; Jer. 32:41-44; Ezek. 36:1-12)!

   • Lord, let the above prayers be reinforced through Exodus 23:27-33 in Shabbat's Torah portion.

   • Conceal most of Israel's actions against terror internally from the world's attention (Psa. 27:5).

   • As per Your Word, curse all of those who curse Israel (Num. 24:9b; Job 4:8).

   • Guide Israel as to what to do with the thousands of terrorists that they are incarcerating.

   • If deportation is Your solution, show Israel exactly how to do that (Ex. 34:24; Psa. 5:10).

   • Lord, by grace and in Your mercy, save a huge remnant of Palestinians (Rom. 12:14).

6. External security:

   Iran's oft-repeated goal of destroying Israel influences so much of their decisions (Psa. 83:1-4). Yet today, Iran is not doing this directly, as it uses its Middle East proxies – Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, terrorist groups and its own activities in Syria – to threaten and attack the Jewish Nation.

   • Prepare Israel's army and society to fight a multi-front war in the near future if this is Your will, and if it is also oversee the timing of it (Josh. 1:11; 4:13; Psa. 23:5; Ezek. 37:10).

   • Turn Israel away from looking to America to deal with the Iranian threat, and draw Your nation to look to You to guide them with how to deal with Iran (Psa. 20:7-9; 44:4-6).

   • Watch over Isaiah 8:9-10 in relation to Israel's current international security situation.

   • Every time the IDF attacks Hizbullah, divinely exaggerate the effects (Psa. 144:1; Ezek. 25:14).

   • Lord, as we pray for Israel, recall Joel 2:17-20 and chase off Hizbullah, the northern army of today.

   • God of Israel, continue to shake Iran with hundreds of earthquakes, directing the larger ones to occur under or very near all of Iran's uranium enrichment facilities (Ex. 15:12; Job 9:4-6; Joel 3:16).

   • If not, please show Israel when and how it needs to destroy this Iranian threat (Psa. 18:34, 39).

   • Hallelujah! We bless You for the growing Body in Elam [ancient Iran] (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

   • Lord, please fulfill the rest of Jeremiah 49:38 and suddenly terminate Iran's demonic leaders.

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

7. Aliyah:

   One of the main reasons why we believe we live in the prophetic end-times is God's regathering of His scattered people (Jer. 31:10). Yet it is sad and inexcusable that the one group who should be totally supporting this and shouting aloud of what God is doing so openly today, the Body of Messiah, is for the most part silent and even blind to Aliyah's prophetic implications.

   • Wake up Your Body to comprehend what You are doing in and with Israel and the Jewish people in preparation for Your soon return (Psa. 126:1-4; Jer. 32:41; Matt. 23:39).

   • God, help Israel to be totally prepared to receive and absorb the millions of Jews whom You are about to bring home (Isa. 54:2-3; Jer. 30:3; 31:3-5).

   • Let Western Jews, including believers, understand that their comfortable nests are being torn up in order to chase them home (Jer. 16:16) – and that this is for your glory and praise (Isa. 43:5-7, 21).

   • Remove all false hopes of this being only a temporary inconvenience, and instead let them learn the lessons of history that gentile nations were never supposed to be their permanent homes (Jer. 51:45).

   • Lord of heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18), move on the mainstream media to emphasize the upsurge of anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish attacks (Neh. 6:13; Isa. 28:19).

   • May the increase in interest among Jews to make aliyah turn into action (Jam. 2:17, 20).

   • Let more Jewish children ask their parents why they cannot live this year in Jerusalem (Zech. 8:3-5).

   • Magnify the voices, both in the Jewish community and in the Church, that see what is happening and are encouraging Jews to make aliyah today (Isa. 2:3; Jer. 31:6).

   • Convict more believers to help the Jews to return – through prayer, finances, physically carrying them, or by speaking to them about aliyah (Isa. 49:22; 60:3-11; 66:19-20a; Rom. 15:26-27).

8. Salvation:

   All Israel will be saved before Messiah's return. Thus there will be a remnant in Jerusalem to greet Him, declaring, Blessed is He who comes in the name of YHWH (Matt. 23:39). If all Israel is saved after His physical return, as many believers think, then that means Gentiles are saved by faith but Jews by physical sight – and that is obviously an unbiblical theory.

   • God Almighty, for Your name's sake, shed forth that prophesied clean water into the hearts of Jews who are now on Your land, and save them for Your holy name's sake (Ezek. 36:24-32).

   • Abba Father, by the grace that is available through Your Son, Messiah Yeshua, save a large remnant of Holocaust survivors; survivors of Hamas' massacres, and of previous terrorist attacks; all hostages still alive; all ex-hostages, including those struggling mentally and emotionally; hostage families and friends regardless of if the hostages are released or their state is unknown; IDF soldiers and families; soldiers and civilians severely wounded; all medical personnel; Jewish politicians; members of Israel's war cabinet; Israel's international diplomats; Israelis not living in their homes from the Gaza area and in the north near Lebanon; pre-October 7th peace activists; Jews in exile who are suddenly afraid of their safety; Jews who rejected Rabbinic Judaism but not You; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Psa. 9:14; 20:5; 95:1; Isa. 33:22-23).

   • Use both Jewish and gentile believers in Israel to provoke many Jews to jealousy (Rom. 11:11, 14).

   • Messiah Yeshua, lead secret Jewish believers to openly confess You (Matt. 16:24).

   • Cause more born-again gentiles to see that Romans 1:16 and 11:11 are still valid today.

9. Body of Messiah:

   It is crucial for the Body to allow God's Word to form our worldview. Yet that requires knowledge of, and trust in, the Old Testament [Tanach] as still being His Word since so many of today's prophetic fulfillments relate to Israel and are mainly found in the Tanach.

   • Lord, we need the guidance of Your Spirit in order to read Your Word and have some clue of what You are doing to fulfill it in our time (Psa. 43:3; 118:27a; Prov. 6:23; Eph. 1:17).

   • Yeshua Lord, promote more sons of Zion and replace all sons of Greece in Your Body – especially in the ranks of the teaching elders who have much sway in it (Zech. 9:13; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 2:19).

   • Use every Christian Zionist to be like leaven and impact their circle of fellowship (Matt. 13:33).

   • Lord, cast out of Your Body every anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirit (Gen. 12:3a; Isa. 5:20-23).

10. Water:

    Israel is in a season of cold, wet weather, for which we bless and praise God. In fact, for the first time in 30 years there has been rain in Israel daily for more than two weeks.

    • Lord, we thank You for sending the latter rains on Israel at this time (Zech. 10:1).

    • We rejoice as this is one more proof more that You are a merciful Father (Matt. 5:45b) and ask that many Israelis would see this as well (Isa. 41:17-20).

    • Lord, use the weather as a blessing for Israel but a calamity for its enemies (Isa. 30:30).

11. IFI:

    Thank you for praying with us for Israel and praying for us to be led by Him. While we often are forced to pray by faith and not by sight, at times we can look back and see that it was God leading us to intercede in line with His will. Hallelujah!

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Isa. 66:10-13 from the prophetic portion