How Do We Pray for Israel?

How do we pray for Israel? People ask me this everywhere I go. I find however as the conversations continue some are really asking, “What do we pray for Israel?” and others are asking how. What we pray for Israel can be answered by the many publications that give readers pertinent information about the political and material needs of the land. How we pray for Israel, on the other hand, I believe is the fuel that fires our intercession. I believe it can only be understood if you are willing to take the time to get into the Word and into God’s heart.

This article is about the big picture – the prophetic picture presented as God’s heart in His Word. This perspective is what helps me to pray accordingly for today’s current events. What I want to do in this article is to encourage you to develop the discipline of meditating on scriptures before the throne until your heart beats with the heart of the Father. I can only give you a taste of the richness God has put in His word about Israel and His heart for the Jewish people. I hope it makes you hungry for more.

I plan to bring you with me as I travel through the Word and show you how I use scriptures to pray. I want to show you the patterns the prophets and apostles have set for us and let you and the Holy Spirit take it from there. My desire is to lead you to understand, through spending time in His Word, what it means to have mercy upon Zion. From that vantage point we can follow God’s heart in intercession. We can be the watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem that God has appointed for such a time as this.

How do I pray? I pray the Word. I go to the source to find out what He has to say and then let the Holy Spirit enlarge the eyes of my understanding to release God’s written will into each situation. I worship to make place for the Holy Spirit and then allow Him to use me as an instrument of intercession to war in the heavenlies and establish victory on the earth.

The Word instructs us to pray with compassion:

13 Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favor her, yea the set time is come. – Psalm 102:13 [KJV]

God shows us over and over in His word His compassion for His people, even when they have been disobedient. His desire is to bless them. His covenant with Israel is forever! The following scriptures give us some insight into His passion for Israel and the Jewish people. Let me note here it is important when we read scriptures that contain words like “the seed of Israel, Zion, Jerusalem or My people,” God and the prophets are referring to the Jewish people and the land He gave them as a people. Teachers through the years have appropriated these terms for the church; however, they cannot be taken out of context and be spiritualized until we first recognize their initial meaning. God is talking about Israel, Abraham’s descendants – His covenant people.

35 Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night. Who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (the Lord of Hosts is name): 36 If those ordinances depart from before me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.” 37 Thus says the Lord: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done says the Lord. – Jeremiah 31:35-37 [KJV]

16 “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it says the Lord of hosts…. 17 My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; the Lord will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem – Zech 1:15,17 [NKJV]

18 And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you for the Lord is a God of judgment blessed are all they that wait for him. 19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. Isaiah 30:18,19 – [KJV]

The prophets and apostles set an example in their prayers of how they had embraced God’s passion. Jeremiah pours out his heart in Lamentations for God’s intervention.

48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. 49 Mine eye trickleth down and ceaseth not without any intermission. 50 Till the Lord look down and behold from heaven. – Lamentations 3:48-50 [KJV]

Paul in Romans reveals his heart cry for his brethren:

1 “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost. 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites: to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God and the promises. 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever, Amen. – Romans 9:1-5 [KJV]

After we have taken time to read and understand what God says about His people; when we have allowed the Holy Spirit to take the word and illuminate to our understanding; when that Word becomes real to us and our heart beats with the heart of the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; then we can begin to take the Word and turn it into prayer. The following is a process I went through that may help you understand.

Psalms 122:6-9 tells us to:

6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall proper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions sakes, I will now say Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.” – Psalm 122:6-9 [KJV]

This verse had caused me great frustration. Why do I pray for peace when I know, according to the Word of God, all nations are going to turn against Israel? So, I cried out, “God what is your definition of peace for today? Help me make some sense of this.”

These two scriptures came immediately to mind.

First:

27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. – John 14:27 [KJV]

“Okay, Father,” I responded, “that peace only comes from knowing Yeshua. Yes, I get it. I should pray that their eyes would be opened to see the truth of the prophetic revelation of your son.” Then, I remembered the following scripture declaring that was exactly God’s intent long before Yeshua was born.

10 “And I will pour upon the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” – Zechariah 12:10 [KJV]

So, I agree with God’s heart and His will and I pray, “Father, pour your grace – great grace – upon the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Pour the spirit of supplication upon them that they may know whom they have pierced.”

Second:

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

Reading the current daily events in Israel; the bloodshed caused by terrorist, the economic challenges; I can turn this into a prayer:

“Father, stay their mind on you in all the pain and terror of the day. Turn their eyes on you. Grant them the grace to trust you. Send your laborers into their fields with words of life that they can know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in a tangible reality for their situation. Let the love of the Father lead them to the son Yeshua.”

Often people ask, “But why Israel? Other people groups are hurting! What makes it so important to single out this people group?”

Let us accept that God did the singling out. He chose this people to be a kingdom of priests and kings unto Himself. He did not choose them because they were better than anyone else, in fact, He choose them so He alone would get the glory. Israel became a people to God by His choice. He has made it very clear both in the Old and New Testament, (covenant), that He is a God who chooses us for His purpose and His glory.

6For 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. 7The 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. – Deut 7:6-7 [KJV]

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other. – John 15:16 [KJV]

He chose Israel and the Jewish people to be a picture of who He is and His ways to the world. He gave them His written Word and then the Word made flesh, His son. He also held them accountable and they suffered greatly for their disobedience. He also blessed them greatly for their obedience. In that way He revealed how we too are to respond to our heavenly Father. They are to Him the apple of His eye. Their life biblically revealed and practically revealed to day is the lens He wants us to see through in to His heart. He created them as a people group from the existing humanity of the day so the Gentile( Nations of ) the world would know Him. Yes, they are the apple of His eye, His firstborn, the lineage of His only son. Yet from the beginning their existence was for the salvation of the world. He was looking forward to the One New Man, Jew and Gentile one in Messiah. The One New Man would be the second time He would create a people group out of the existing humanity. This work this time would be through the cross according to Ephesian chapter 2. The end of the chapter tells us the work of the cross would create a dwelling place for the Lord. This dwelling place would be built on the apostles and the prophets with Jesus the cornerstone. Thus two groups, the believers of the Nations and of the Jewish people would be One New Humanity. In that Jesus prayer of John 17 would be fulfilled ant the world would know God the Father sent Jesus as the Redeemer.

James Goll tells us seven reasons why we should pray for Israel in an article you can find on our web site under teachings. In his article he shares with us a visionary encounter he had with the Lord during a time of worship:
“I had a visionary encounter. I saw an eye looking at me. I looked into the eye and in the pupil of the eye was a Star of David. In this vision, in the middle of the Star of David, in the pupil of this eye looking at me, there was a scripture that was written. It said Zechariah 2:8. I didn’t know what Zechariah 2:8 was. I had to look it up. “He who touches you touches the pupil of my eye.”

This is rendered either the apple of my eye, or the pupil of my eye. What is the pupil of the eye? The pupil is the very center of the eye. It’s what gives you sight. It is what you see through; you have focus; you have clarity of sight and insight. When you touch Israel – I am talking now in a godly way – you are going to touch a passion of God. If you want to have proper Biblical interpretation of the Word of God, you are going to have to get Israel in proper place, which is in the middle of God’s eye. God looks through the lens, Israel is in the middle of God’s eye. Why do I pray for Israel? I really want to be able to have God’s sight, so I pray for Israel because Israel is still the apple of God’s eye.”

From the beginning of time, Satan has wanted to prove God to be a liar. If Satan can destroy the Jewish people, if he can prevent them from possessing the land, then God’s Word will not come to pass. The war began in the Garden of Eden. We who call ourselves children of the Most High God have a place of intercession in that war.

1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness and her salvation like a torch that is burning. Isaiah 62:1 [KJV]

We obviously have a long way to go until that is made a reality. So God’s solution is:

“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night that will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord take no rest for yourselves and give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

Day and night! I am not there yet, but I want to be.

How do we pray? We pray according to God’s heart! How do we know God’s heart? We read His Word. No, we digest His Word; we meditate on it and let it become who we are. Then we will understand what God wants and we will want it, too. He wants to bless His people with the understanding of His love, the knowledge of His son, and every material blessing. He longs for their repentance. A heart understanding to turn back to Him so He can bless them. He wants them to come home to the land He provided for them. In fact there are 700 scriptures just talking about His people coming home.

1 At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people….

3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. 5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things….

8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. 13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD. – Jeremiah 31:1,3-5,8-14 [KJV]

21 I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land. – Ezekiel 37: 21,22

How do we pray about the land? What does the word say about the borders of the land? What does the word say about partitioning the land? When you understand God’s heart you don’t worry about politics, you pray the purposes of God and cry out as the prophets did for mercy.

In Genesis 15:18 He said to Abraham, “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘Unto thy seed have I given this land from the river of Egypt to the great river the Euphrates.’ ”

To Joshua He said, “Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon the great river, the Euphrates – all the Hittite country to the Great Sea on the West.” – Joshua 1:4 [KJV]

2 “I will gather all nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and there will I deal with and execute judgment upon them for their treatment of My people and of My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations and because they have divided My land.” – Joel 3:2 [KJV]

Today we continue to plead the cause of Israel for the sake of the Lord. We can look throughout the word to see how men of God have called on the name of the Lord to set an example for us.

Moses pleads with God in Exodus 32 reminding Him of His promises to the people He loves.

11 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God and said: “ Lord why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the Land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? “12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them for the face of the earth? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and all this land I have spoke of I give to your descendants and they shall inherit it forever.” – Exodus 32:11-13 [NKJV]

Daniel prayed for Israel according to the word of the Lord; a prayer we can continue to pray. He gave us the pattern to pray; that of repentance and reminding God of Who He is and of His promises concerning His people.

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments…
7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee…

9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him; 10Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets….

16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. 17Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. 18O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. – Daniel 9:3-5,7,9-10,16-19 [KJV]

How do we pray for Israel? We spend time with the Father. We learn His heart. We pray His word. We Praise! We dance! We weep! We travail! We never stop until we hear the final shout and He appears, for then we know that they have said, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

On our website book list you will find a variety of books to enhance your understanding of Israel and How to pray for her and the Jewish People.