by Steve Lewis
Because they remain eternally loved by God:
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 7-6-8
God calls the Jewish people His “treasured possession,” holy to Him. He set His affection on them and He loves them because of the covenant He made with Abraham. In Deuteronomy 32 He calls them “the apple of His eye.” He declares in Jeremiah 31 that only if the sun, moon and stars disappear will Israel cease to be a nation before Him. In other words, they will always be His chosen people. He delivered them from Egypt and did glorious miracles which, until today, haven’t been done for any other people.
In the book of Revelation God speaks of the prominent role of Israel in the future New Jerusalem. He names the foundations of the city according to the twelve apostles, and the gates of that holy city are named after the twelve tribes of Israel. It’s clear throughout the entire bible, God has a loving father’s, covenant-keeping heart for Israel and the Jewish people.
If we say we love God then we should love what He loves. Therefore, loving and praying for Israel becomes an act of loving and serving our heavenly Father.
We benefit when we pray for Israel
God said to Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (ESV)
Genesis 12:3a
God promises to bless us as we bless Abraham’s seed with prayer. Conversely, God said He would “curse those who dishonor him”. Other versions say “curse those who curse him”. In Hebrew, it actually says God will curse those who take Abraham’s seed lightly. Praying for Israel helps us to develop an attitude of taking Abraham’s descendants seriously and loving them as God does. In doing so we can receive a blessing from the Lord rather than a curse.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.”
Psalm 122:6
In Hebrew this passage actually means “Ask about the peace of Jerusalem”. The implication is that one would pay attention to the condition of the city and its’ inhabitants. The psalmist offers a blessing to those who care about and pray for Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.
“But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!… For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
Romans 11:12,15
The Apostle Paul understood that the Jewish people were eternally chosen by God to be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. When the Jewish people receive Yeshua as their Messiah and step into their prophetic calling, the benefit to mankind will be akin to life from the dead! The salvation of Israel will undeniably demonstrate that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the result will be immeasurable blessing to the world.
Praying for Israel reminds us Yeshua is coming back.
Yeshua looked over Jerusalem and declared He would not return until the Jewish inhabitants would welcome him saying “Blessed is He who comes in the name of The Lord.” (Matthew 23:39)
The Lord is bringing the Jewish people back to the promised land. Ezekiel prophesied that this return would precipitate the reign of Yeshua over the people of Israel and the establishment of His holy dwelling place in their midst.
They will live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there forever with their children and grandchildren, and My servant David will be their prince forever. And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling placed will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is among them forever.
Ezekiel 37:25-28
Already tens of thousands of Israelites have received Yeshua as their messiah. His return is near. Interceding for the salvation of Israel helps us remember that Yeshua is returning to rule the earth from Israel.
HOW TO PRAY FOR ISRAEL
The easiest way to pray for Israel is to use the bible as a guide. Many examples of God’s heart for Israel as well as His future plans for them can be found in His word – especially in the prophetic writings. Start by using these types of passages as a prayer guide or even reading them as prayers. In doing this you are lifting God’s own words up to Him and interceding for Him to bring them to pass. Here are some example scriptures for you to pray:
“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 39:25-29
Sample prayer for this passage: “Father we lift Your own words up before You concerning the restoration of the Jewish people. We can see that You are fulfilling part of Your word in our time as You gather them back to their promised land. We pray that now, Father, You would forgive and forget their shame and that You would reveal Your face once again, and the face of Your son Yeshua. We pray for the outpouring of Your Spirit on all Israel. You, oh Lord said that Your holiness would be known in the nations through them. These are Your words, Father, that You spoke through Ezekiel and we pray for them to come to pass today.”
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.”
Micah 7:18-20
These verses from Micah can be read word for word as a prayer.
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”
Ezekiel 37:11-14
Sample prayer for this passage: “Father it’s clear you are restoring Israel to the promised land. We pray that you would now put your Spirit into the Jewish people that they may live. Open the eyes of the sons of Abraham that they would know you, Yahweh, and your son, Yeshua. Raise them up to be your army that you revealed to Ezekiel.”
The bible is filled with God’s prophetic blessings and promises of restoration for Israel. God speaks frequently about His love for the Jewish people. Here are just few more references that can be used for intercession:
Deuteronomy 10:12-15
Isaiah 43:1-13
Isaiah 63:7-9
All of Jeremiah 31
Amos 9:11-15
Romans 10:1-4
HOW TO BEGIN PRAYING FOR ISRAEL
Make Israel part of your regular prayers.
- Set aside regular times for intercession for Israel.
- Find a friend or friends with whom you will gather monthly or weekly to pray for Israel.
- Some Houses of Prayer have set times to pray for the Jewish people. Find out if such prayer is happening in your area and connect.
Ask The Lord to develop in you His heart for the salvation of His chosen people. He will respond.
