PRAYER IN TIME OF WAR
Family,
Rabbi Russ Resnick has requested that we pray for the war in Ukraine this Shabbat (see below). I have included time for prayer in our service tonight and at our Torah service tomorrow morning. I urge you to make every effort to attend. Praying via zoom is not a substitute for the family of God standing together as one as we bring our prayers, supplication and intercessions before Him. By the way, our speaker this Shabbat is Prof David Sedaca.
We are living in critical times and this thuggish move by Putin will only embolden China to attack Taiwan, and then, the ultimate goal of an Iranian, Syrian and Russian coalition coming against Israel. We are living in the days where prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. Whereas this Psalm is wonderfully and eternally true ....
Psalm 121:1-5
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains—from where does my help come? My help comes from Adonai, Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip. Your Keeper will not slumber. Behold, the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. Adonai is your Keeper.
.... I do believe that HaShem is warning us that this is not business as usual. Although we, at times, feel overwhelmed by the challenges in our own lives, as followers of Messiah, we have the responsibility to be prepared to wage warfare at a moment's notice for we are living in the combat zone.
Romans 13:11-14
Besides this, you know the time—that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first came to trust. The night is almost gone and the day is near, so let us put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the day—not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and envy. Instead, put on the Lord Messiah Yeshua, and stop making provision for the flesh—for its cravings.
Every Shabbat morning, after reading from the Sefer Torah, and as the scroll is lifted from the bimah, we sing:
"v'zot haTorah asher sham Moshe lifnei B'nei Yisrael ..."
Numbers 10:35
Whenever the Ark would set out, Moses would say: "Arise, Adonai! May Your enemies be scattered! May those who hate You flee from before You!"
We first have to arise from our comfort zones before we can intercede and ask HaShem Himself to arise and pour out His vengeance on the wicked leaders of this world, who wage war in darkness and with no respect for human life!
One of the books on my shelf is titled "Living in the Combat Zone" by Rick Renner. The author says "there are no pacifists in God's army. God's Word informs us of the coming troubles. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Are you willing to stand?"
Let's come together to cry out before His mighty Throne!
PRAY
Our Father and our King, in these troubled days we pray for peace in the name of the Prince of Peace, Yeshua our Messiah.
God of grace and mercy, may your protection be upon the Ukrainian people in this time of trial, especially upon the most vulnerable, which includes many Jewish people, as well as countless children, elderly people, and other non-combatants. Give wisdom and direction to the leaders of Ukraine as they respond to this invasion. Guide other world leaders, especially those in the United States, into ways of responding with appropriate force and decisiveness. May the plans of Russia’s leadership be reversed, and may their power and hold over the Russian people be dismantled, as it is written: “The ruler’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Prov 21:1).
Give wisdom and direction to the leaders of Ukraine as they respond to this invasion. Guide other world leaders, especially those in the United States, into ways of responding with appropriate force and decisiveness. May the plans of Russia’s leadership be reversed, and may their power and hold over the Russian people be dismantled, as it is written: “The ruler’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Prov 21:1). May you in your mercy hold back the forces of chaos and violence that are mounting in the world today. Wherever there is oppression and suffering, may your Spirit bring hope. Be with all who call upon your name and enable us all as makers of peace and bearers of hope. And may there be fulfilled soon and in our days the words of the prophet, “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more” (Isa 2:4).