Psalms 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.
Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, 7 And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
This past weekend saw an unprecedented assault on Israel by Iran; 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles, and 110 surface-to-surface missiles were launched in successive waves from the eastern enemy nation devoted to the destruction of the Jewish homeland. More than 99% of these objects were intercepted by Israel and her allies. Israel’s military is extraordinarily capable and her allies’ support significant, yet I believe there is a bit more to the story.
A study of the history of wars reveals that God has intervened in military conflicts, and not just in biblical accounts of war.
The war of 1812 is one example, when the fledgling American nation was facing a devastating challenge from the British. Francis Scott Key peered across the harbor in Baltimore at the siege of Fort McHenry, witnessing the scene that would inspire the words in his national anthem, and wondering would the young nation survive “the bombs bursting in air”; would we find that “our flag was still there”? As the war progressed, British troops marched into Washington D.C. capturing the city as American forces retreated, and finding the dinner table set, sat down to dine before setting the White House ablaze, while First Lady Dolly Madison fled her presidential home by carriage, taking with her the rolled-up portrait of George Washington. The British troops continuing their destructive spree, entered the Capitol building, where they mockingly held a vote in the lawmaker’s chamber to decide whether to burn it down. Then they torched the Capitol, the Library of Congress, the Navy Yard, and other significant public buildings.
However, soon afterward, the sky darkened and fierce winds began to howl, a hurricane and tornado unleashed chaos in Washington, D.C. The storm’s ferocity threw British soldiers from their horses, killed others with flying debris, and sent cannons airborne. Torrential rain extinguished the raging fires across the city as a tornado swept down Constitution Avenue. The tempest forced two British ships ashore and prompted a retreat. Overwhelmed, a British admiral exclaimed to an American woman, “Great God, Madam! Is this the kind of storm to which you are accustomed in this infernal country?” Her response underscored the storm’s timely intervention against the invaders: “No, Sir, this is a special interposition of Providence to drive our enemies from our city.” Someone must have been praying; perhaps we’ll eventually find out who….
According to a British historian, “More British soldiers were killed by this stroke of nature than by all the arms the Americans could muster in the feeble defense of their Capitol.” It was shortly thereafter that President James Madison, recognizing the hand of God in saving his nation, declared a ‘Day of Fasting and Prayer.’
While many in Israel may attribute its survival against a barrage of missiles to its military defenses and allies, the unfolding conflict had mobilized millions of saints around the world to pray for the “Peace of Jerusalem”, doubtless invoking the aid of powerful angels in whatever ways their divinely guided activity impacts the course of missiles and weapons of war.
Never underestimate the effectual prayer of the saints as it works in the affairs of men! Let the recent conflict in Israel serve as a testament to the efficacy of spiritual warfare, and that God’s intervention works in tandem, fulfilling His purposes in earthly affairs, and protecting all that belong to Him. Let us continue to pray and stand in faith as this Middle East conflict develops, praying for the salvation of Israel and her enemies, as He desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. The gospel will reconcile even the bitterest of enemies, until Yeshua (Jesus) returns to finally bring peace on Earth.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]As soon as we were translated into the Kingdom of Light, we entered a spiritual war — and we must realize the warfare we face on a day-to-day basis. Constantly contending in our minds, we battle over thoughts and emotions which flow through them. The enemy often attacks by bringing up issues from our past.
In his book, A Spiritual Clinic, J. Oswald Sanders wrote about the lasting family legacies of two families from New York.
Yesterday marked the 1st day of Nissan, the beginning of the year on the Hebrew calendar. Nissan is known as the “month of miracles”, derived from the Hebrew word, “nissim”, which means “miracles”. Israel finally and miraculously left Egypt in the month of Nissan after hundreds of years of slavery. God orchestrated their escape, “nus” in Hebrew, (which some say is connected to Nissan), displaying His power over the Egyptian gods and His sovereignty over every pantheon. Nissan may also be related to the Hebrew word “nitzan”, which means “to bud” or “to start fresh and anew”, reflecting the seasonal advent of new life and new beginnings…springtime.
This is a powerful passage which believers must claim! The Greek for the word “heaven”, “oo-ran-os”, implies not only heaven, but also eternity. The enemy was removed from the eternal places, and his power is only temporary in this world. Our power does not come from this temporary world, but from eternity, from the eternal throne of God.
Over the last week, tensions have escalated significantly following the assassination of an Iranian General and several terrorist leaders within the Iranian Embassy compound in Damascus. This week also coincides with the conclusion of Ramadan, during which there have been heightened calls from terrorist groups for attacks against Jewish and Christian communities. The war drums are beating … and the question is — how should we as believers respond?
An official of a mission board, who knew it takes more than just desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate for the mission field. He told the young man to be at his house at six o’clock in the morning. The young man complied and arrived a six o’clock sharp. The examiner kept him sitting alone in the room until ten…
The Bible speaks of a great falling away in the last days (2 Thessalonians 2) before the end of the age arrives, and it seems that we’re seeing it on a grand scale all around us. Virtually everywhere we look we’re watching the decline of morality and ethics — in government, entertainment, and social culture. It seems hard to deny…