1. Praise:

   In Shabbat's prophetic portion, God states that He Himself is His priests' inheritance and their possession (Ezek. 44:28; cp. Num. 18:20; Deut. 10:9). As priests under Messiah Yeshua, God is also all-in-all to us and despite what we may lack, ultimately He is more than enough.

   • Thank You God for promising to supply all our needs through Messiah Yeshua (Phil. 4:19).

   • Lord, we bless You for knowing exactly what we need much more than we do (Phil. 4:11-13).

   • Father, You feed the birds and clothe the flowers, and Your Son tells us we are much more valuable than them – so we ask You to supply all of our daily needs as well (Matt. 6:25-33; Luke 11:3).

   • Lord Yeshua, our Good Shepherd, we glorify and praise You (Psa. 23:1; John 10:14).

   • Thank You for enabling us to hear Your voice (John 10:16, 27-28).

   • We praise You that as a loving Shepherd, You never leave or forsake us (Matt. 28:20b).

   • We rejoice because while the future looks bleak, You already know that future (Isa. 42:9).

   • We bless You for being so faithful to Your promises to Israel and to us (Num. 23:19; Tit. 1:1-2).

2. Government & society:

   God is today fulfilling many end-time prophecies. So it is vital that we hear our Shepherd's voice as we pray, especially concerning Israel. We are asking God to give Israel's leaders an urge to seek Him which goes along with our requests for God to create many more sons and daughters of Zion in Israel's government, its military and its society.

   • Lord God, guide us to pray according to Your will for Israel at this season (Isa. 55:11; Amos 3:7).

   • Move upon Israel's leaders to seek You for direction for their nation today (Prov. 16:1, 9).

   • Abba, again we appeal to You to raise up more sons and daughters of Zion in Israel, and then anoint them to be very influential in Your nation, impacting it for Your name's sake (Jer. 29:12; Zech. 9:13).

   • Also God, please remove all influence of every child of Greece from inside Israel (Psa. 94:8-11).

   • Lord, we confess that while we do not trust in Israel's current government, we do trust in You who has created and ordained its current government at this time (Jer. 27:5).

   • Protect PM Bibi Netanyahu as he takes a very strong and righteous stance against those people, both inside and outside of Israel, who basically demand Israel's surrender to Hamas (Psa. 80:17; 89:21-23).

   • Surround him with sons of Zion and Issachar as his advisors (Ex. 18:19a; 1 Chr. 12:32; Prov. 1:5).

   • Give him wisdom in dealing with Defense Minister Gallant who just openly rejected Bibi's biblical stance of having Israel maintain overall security control of Gaza after Hamas is defeated – in the same manner as Israel has done for years in Judea and Samaria (Psa. 1:1; 55:12-14).

   • Protect him from all internal forces trying to intimidate him, whether through some of the hostage families or those who are wanting to reverse the results of Israel's last democratic election (Psa. 43:1).

   • Let the voices of hostage families who see the defeat of Hamas as more urgent for Israel than doing whatever it takes to set their loved ones free get much more attention – especially in the media.

   • Lord, expel the spirits of rebellion and arrogance from Israeli society (Ezek. 20:38a; Mal. 3:3).

   • Arise, Lord, and deal with the media's lies about Israel – both in Israel and globally (Isa. 44:24-25).

   • Abba, release waves of divine comfort on all Israelis who desperately need it now (Isa. 61:1-3).

3. Foreign relations:

   If God is watching over Zechariah 12:2-3 today, then it should not surprise us to see many nations and international NGO's attack Israel diplomatically as it defends itself and extends sovereignty over its God-promised inheritance. In line with this, this past week the term "global storm" was impressed upon us. This could be another title for the great tribulation which breaks forth on both Israel and the nations; on Israel in order to draw them closer to Him and on the nations as part of His judgment for their denigration and persecution of His nation.

   • We are amazed at the speed with which Numbers 23:9b is being fulfilled, and ask You to use the "global storm" to further isolate Israel from the nations and closer to You (Isa. 4:6; 32:2; Nah. 1:3).

   • God, stand up and fight against those who persecute Israel – politically, physically, through lawfare, or by constantly attacking its leaders, its army, or the Jews in general (Num. 10:35; Psa. 35:1-3).

   • Fulfill Psalm 33:10-12 and 83:15 against all gentile nations' who condemn, manipulate, threaten and plot against Your chosen nation (Deut. 7:6-8).

   • Since US President Biden's administration's backstabbing attitude towards Israel has not taken You by surprise, give Israel's leaders courage and clarity to know how to relate to them (Isa. 8:9-10).

   • Use Biden's manipulations to turn Israelis away from looking to America as their main shield and ally, and turn them to trust in You alone (Psa. 118:8-9; Isa. 31:1).

   • Let the land provide all Israel's needs so that other nations can no longer threaten it (Ezek. 36:8-12).

   • Defend Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan as he condemns almost weekly the UN obsession with Israel and its war against Hamas or a Palestinian State on Your land (Prov. 28:1, 5; Dan. 4:35).

   • Better yet, Lord Yeshua, King of Israel, breathe on that anti-Christ infested UN, and strip it of all authority it has over Israel (Psa. 50:16-23; 2 Thess. 2:7-12; 1 John 2:18; 4:3; Rev. 5:5).

   • Download a fearlessness and boldness upon all Israeli diplomats and spokespeople, professional or laypersons, to declare Your Word as they speak (Psa. 119:89; Mic. 7:20; Hab. 2:3).

   • Lord Yeshua, teach believers about their biblical responsibility to pray into their nation's relations with Israel today (Deut. 32:43; 1 Tim. 2:1-2a; Rev. 19:2).

4. "Operation Swords of Iron" against Hamas in Gaza is a continuation of Israel's 1948 War of Independence. Israel just celebrated its 76th anniversary, so despite this, so far, 76 plus year war that has raged against it, we can thank and praise God for guarding over His nation (Psa. 121:4).

   • Notwithstanding the unrelenting attempts to destroy the Jewish Nation, we give You the glory for maintaining its existence (Jer. 31:35-37)!

   • We praise You Lord for creating the IDF out of the ashes of the Holocaust (Ezek. 37:1-9), and then forming it into that exceedingly great army of Ezekiel 37:10.

   • As a part of completing that prophecy, shake up the IDF's top leaders and enable more sons of Zion to have authority and to lead Israel's current and future battles (Job 34:24; Zech. 9:13-16).

   • Encourage Israel's political and military leaders to fulfill their promise to destroy Hamas and its rule over Gaza – even in the face of growing global resistance (Deut. 25:17-19; 33:26-29; Psa. 119:119a).

   • Remind them of the close to 300 IDF soldiers who have died so that Israel could win this war and how they need to make sure those deaths were not in vain (Psa. 79:10; Jer. 51:35).

   • Do not let Israel be more merciful to Your enemies than You would be (2 Chr. 19:2; Jer. 30:23).

   • Almighty God, be a shield over Israel's soldiers, protecting them physically, mentally emotionally, and spiritually – especially those inside of Gaza today (Gen. 15:1; Psa. 91:3-13).

   • Intensify their protection against friendly fire and other deadly accidents (2 Sam. 22:3; Psa. 121:4).

   • Thank You that last week Israel invaded parts of Rafah, Hamas' last stronghold on Gaza's Egyptian border, and took control of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt (Psa. 44:4-8).

   • As Israel clears out more civilians from Rafah, do not allow any terrorists to escape by hiding among them, but instead gift IDF soldiers with battle-field discernment (Job 34:21-22; Obad. 1:6).

   • Lord, as You did with Joshua at Jericho, and others in Scripture, impart precise directions about the timing and tactics of the IDF's battle against Rafah (Josh. 5:13-6:5; 2 Chr. 20:14-17; Amos 1:6-7).

   • Let the final stages of this war be accomplished as swiftly as possible (Joel 3:4; Rom. 9:28)

   • After the war, let Israel maintain control over Gaza, Judah's inheritance, permanently (Psa. 69:35).

   • Lord God, please set free all living hostages miraculously (Psa. 69:33; Isa. 42:6-7) or guide the IDF to where they are hidden and use the IDF to release them from their bondage (Num. 21:1-3).

5. Internal security:

   Even before Israel declared independence in 1948, Jews were under attack by Muslim terrorists. Israel's battle to live securely in its land has been raging at least since the early 1920s, and continues today. It will not stop until the Palestinians are either saved (Jer. 12:14-17) or driven out of God's land (Psa. 10:16).

   • Let Hamas' Oct. 7th massacre sway more Israelis to see the "two-state solution" as absurd as they see that the Palestinians' support for Hamas has now increased (Psa. 64:2; Isa. 7:6-7).

   • May Leviticus 23:10 the Torah portion remind Your people that You have gifted them with all of the land of Israel to possess – from "the River to the Sea" (Obad. 1:17-20).

   • Prompt Israel to react in a biblical manner against the push to create a "Palestine" terror-state on Your land by extending its authority over more of that land (Judg. 2:1-5; Psa. 105:5-11)!

   • Expose to the light all terrorist plans or tunnels of which Israel is unaware (Job 12:22; Prov. 15:3).

   • Continue to prevent successful kidnappings or drive-by shootings in Israel (Psa. 35:4-7; 121:8).

   • Let Israel start using its death penalty against terrorists who are convicted of murder, which would enable it to obey Your directions in Leviticus 24:17 in Shabbat's Torah portion.

   • Use the hatred and suspicion that already exists between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas (Psa. 55:9; 129:5) to cause them to physically fight against each other (Judg. 7:22; Zech. 14:13).

   • We thank and praise You for Your angelic hosts guarding over Israel at this time and ask for many Israelis to have their eyes open to see them (2 Kin. 6:16-17; 2 Chr. 32:7-8; Psa. 59:5; 148:2).

   • We ask You to let the Palestinians see them as well and use that to save many of them (Matt. 5:44).

6. External security:

   Iran's radical Shi'ite form of Islam cares more about destroying Israel than the welfare, or even the life, of its own citizens. Its leaders poured money into taking over Lebanon through creating Hizbullah, and also support Hamas in Gaza. Yet most Iranians do not hate Israel or the Jews, but would favor a peace treaty between their nation and Israel. So interceding for the Iranian regime's destruction is praying for the good of both Israelis and Iranians!

   • Lord, as Moses stood in the gap for Israel because Your Name and Your Word was in the balance, so do we as the stakes are the same, and plead with You to preserve Israel and scatter Your enemies – Iran and its various proxies who delight in war (Ex. 32:11-13; Psa. 68:1, 30; 83:1-4).

   • Let the pride of Israel's various Muslim enemies drive them to destruction (Prov. 16:18; 17:19).

   • Almighty King, completely tear apart all ties between Iran and Hizbullah (Psa. 129:5).

   • Lord God, sovereignly and suddenly wipe out Iran's nuclear programs (Psa. 3:7-8; 140:1-10).

   • If not sovereignly, then guide the IDF on when and how to do this (Jer. 50:25; 51:20-25).

   • Messiah, we thank You for Your growing Body in Elam [ancient Iran] (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

   • Again, we pray for them to persist in praying for Iran (1 Tim. 2:1-4), and for Israel (Psa. 122:6).

   • And again we plead with You to fulfill Jeremiah 49:38b as quickly as possible (Luke 18:1).

   • Abba, as a kingdom of priests in Messiah Yeshua, we intercede for Israel, and remind You of Joel 2:17-20, asking You to deal with Hizbullah, the northern army threatening Israel today.

   • If, as it seems inevitable, Israel wars against Hizbullah, watch over Isaiah 41:10-16.

   • Magnify Lebanon's internal strife between many of its people and Hizbullah (Psa. 129:5).

   • Since South Lebanon up to the Latani River is part of the inheritance that You gave to the tribes of Asher and Naftali, please show Israel when and how to reclaim it (Deut. 11: 24; Josh. 13:2-7).

7. Aliyah:

   Jews are being drawn home by God's covenant-love (Jer. 31:3) or being chased home by His sending forth of the hunters (Jer. 16:16). Either way, this return of His chosen people to the land He has promised them is the sign that we are at the close of this age. Of course, this also means that King Yeshua's return is closer than many of us have thought.

   • Raise up more sons of Zion in Israel and in the diaspora [the captivity] who will clearly and openly proclaim that the captivity is over and it is time to come home (Deut. 30:3-5; Jer. 51:9-10).

   • Let them also speak of a biblical relationship between Israelis Jews and Jews in exile, as we sense that You Lord no longer want Israel to help Jews remain in the nations (Isa. 48:20-22; Jer. 51:6).

   • Thank You for revealing to us that the aliyah bring You glory (Isa. 43:5-7; Ezek. 36:21-24).

   • Lord Yeshua, enable the biblical links between aliyah, Israel's salvation and Your return to become much clearer and dearer to Your Body (Psa. 14:7; 102:16; 106:47-48; Zech. 14:1-4; Matt. 23:39).

   • Use the malicious anti-Semitic demonstrations raging in the West against both Israel and Jews to scare the "captivity" out of Your people who still reside there (Ezek. 20:33-38).

   • Do not allow Jews in pride to say, "They will not chase us out of here," when in reality You are the One doing the chasing and the drawing (Prov. 18:12; Jer. 16:16; 31:3-5).

   • Challenge Jewish parents with the choice of seeing their children hiding before anti-Semitic hatred, or seeing them in the IDF fighting to defend their homeland (Ex. 17:9; Deut. 20:1-4).

   • Prepare the "righteous gentiles" – believers or not – who will hide the Jews as needed and help them to make aliyah in whatever way they can (Psa. 31:20; Prov. 28:12).

   • Accelerate Israel's plans to receive and settle millions of new immigrants (Ezek. 36:8-12).

   • Remove every hindrance from making aliyah, whether in Your people's minds or with Israel's bureaucracy, or in any nations where Jews are not free to leave (Isa. 62:10).

   • Overturn Israel's rabbinical standards of "who is a Jew?" to make it line up with Your definition so that everyone You see as Jewish can freely obtain their Israeli citizenship (Mark 7:9, 13).

   • Deepen the roots in the land of every Jew who has returned (Psa. 80:8-9; Isa. 27:6; 37:31).

8. Salvation:

   Paul wrote to believers in Rome, most of who were gentiles, Brothers, my heart's desire and request to God for Israel is that they might be saved. (Rom. 10:1) Since this verse was written by the Holy Spirit through Paul, Israel's salvation should be included in every believer's prayers and also lifted up in all congregational meetings. After all, God has said that all Israel will be saved, yet He waits for us to persistently ask Him (Luke 18:1; John 15:16).

   • Lord, speak to believers to pray for Israel's salvation (1 John 5:14-15).

   • God, please strip away the partial blindness that You have put on Your people (Rom. 11:25-26).

   • Reveal to Israel's sons of Zion the true King of Zion (Gen. 45:1-4; Psa. 149:2; Zech. 9:9).

   • We ask You to open the eyes of the following groups to see that Yeshua is their Messiah and King: Holocaust survivors, inside and outside of Israel; terror attack survivors; every hostage, ex-hostage, and their loved ones; IDF soldiers wherever they are positioned and their families; loved ones of soldiers who died or are severely injured; all widows and orphans, especially those who have become so since Oct. 7th; rabbis and anti-missionaries; Jewish politicians, diplomats, teachers and professors; university students, in particular Jews frightened to go to class and face the anti-Israel demonstrations; medical personnel; yeshiva students; Jews and Israelis in exile; Jews provoked to jealousy by gentiles; unsaved Jews married to believers, whether a Jew or a gentile; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews (Psa. 25:22; 28:9; 80:3, 7, 19; Isa. 40:11).

9. The Body of Messiah needs to be more conversant with all of God's Word. As major prophetic events are occurring more frequently and with increasing ferocity, if the Body is ignorant of the place of Israel in Messiah's kingdom, it will be confused by the usually anti-God news headlines. We know that His Word runs from Genesis through Revelation, but apparently many believers do not, otherwise they would have no problem to pray for and stand with Israel today.

   • Lord, teach Your Body that when the word "scripture" appears in the New Testament, historically it means the Tanach (Matt. 21:42; 26:53-56; Mark 15:28; Luke 24:27; John 5:39; 17:12; Rev. 17:17).

   • Messiah Yeshua, heal Your Body of its biblical anorexia by giving it a deep desire to read and study Your Word (1 Sam. 3:1; Job. 23:12; Jer. 15:16; Amos 8:11; 2 Tim. 2:15; Rev. 6:9).

   • Lord God, reveal to us what You are doing to close out this age by permitting this sudden rise of global anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism (Psa. 2:1-3; 83:1-4; Isa. 34:1-8).

   • Also reveal to the Body that these actions are an attack against Israel's cultivated olive tree into which all true believers are grafted and if that tree dies, our faith dies as well (Rom. 11:17-18).

   • Give to the sons and daughters of Zion in Your Body more authority – especially when they preach and teach from Your Word (Acts 14:3; 1 Cor. 1:17-18; 2 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 2:4).

   • Expel every anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirit and the anti-biblical teachings of replacement and fulfillment theology (Gen. 21:10; Psa. 5:10; 144:6; 2 Tim. 4:1-4).

10. IFI:

    We covet your prayers for us to know specifically how to intercede for Israel today. We do not take this responsibility to lead others in prayer lightly, and know that without His leading our efforts would be a waste of time. So please pray for us in this area. Thank you.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

Psa. 121:1-8