[Correction: Last Friday's alert mistakenly had verses from Hosea and Micah as part of last Shabbat's prophetic readings, but they are actually part of this Shabbat's special holiday readings.]

  1. Praise:

    This Shabbat is known in Judaism as the Shabbat of repentance, falling between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The final prophetic reading is a revelation of how gracious our God is, as well as a rebuke to all who flippantly say that the God of the Tanach was only a God of judgment and wrath.

    • Who is a God like You who pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not hold His anger forever as He delights in mercy. He will turn again; He will have compassion on us; He will subdue our iniquities; and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. You will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.Mic. 7:18-20

    • Lord, we bless You for being the same God today as You were back in Micah's day (Mal. 3:6).

    • Thank You for Your mercies which are renewed to us every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

    • We praise You for all the times You have subdued our iniquities (Ezek. 11:19-20; Rom. 7:23-25).

    • We rejoice to see You watching over Your promises to Israel (Num. 23:19; Jer. 1:12; Isa. 55:11).

    • We bless You that the fulfillment of Your promises to Israel encourages us to trust in all of Your promises to us as well (2 Pet. 1:2-4).

    • We declare that the fulfillment of Your prophecies proves the Bible is God's Word (2 Pet. 1:19-21).

    • Hallelujah! God, You are always faithful regardless of the circumstances (Psa. 36:5; 89:5; Isa. 25:1).

    • Thank You for sharing with us that our prayers are Your delight (Prov. 15:8b).

    • Thank You also for the two-way communication that we have with You (John 10:27).

  2. Salvation:

    This Wednesday at sunset through Thursday is Yom Kippur [literally "day of the atonements" in Leviticus 23:27]. A majority of Israeli-Jews and many Jews in exile will fast during this period, with many seeking God for forgiveness and salvation. Let's pray with them, asking God to remove the blindness about His Son, Israel's Messiah Yeshua, at this time (Rom. 11:25-26).

    • In Shabbat's prophetic reading: I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for My anger is turned away from him. (Hos. 14:4) Lord, do this at this time and turn them back to You.

    • Please save, O Lord our God, a significant remnant of Your people during this season (Jer. 31:7).

    • Abba, as the chaos and tension increases in Israel, and in the nations, pour out Your Spirit on Your people wherever they reside, giving them a revelation of Messiah Yeshua (Zech. 12:10; Matt. 24:30).

    • God, make Your laborers in the harvest field of the Jewish people be very effective (Luke 10:2).

    • Grace Your people to know You through Yeshua – and not just to know about You (Matt. 11:27).

    • Break many of the Rabbinic Judaism strongholds that trap Your people in tradition and actually distorts what Your Word clearly says (Matt. 15:3; Mark. 7:9).

    • Abba, transplant unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jewish families into Your Son's kingdom (Acts 16:31: 1 Cor. 7:12-14; Col. 1:13).

    • We prayed specifically for the salvation of Israeli politicians; IDF commanders, soldiers, sailors, and pilots; Israelis living in Judea and Samaria; Israeli policemen; Holocaust survivors and their families; survivors of terrorist attacks and their families; any grieving over loved ones who died this past year; the Jewish gay community; Jews in the media and acting professions; Jewish lawyers, doctors and others in the judicial and medical professions; teachers in all levels of education; Israeli children; many Ultra-Orthodox, Conservative and Reform rabbis and their congregants; Jewish criminals and prisoners; Jews involved in sex-trafficking; new immigrants to Israel; Jewish families trapped in Iran and other Muslim nations from which they cannot freely leave (Rom. 11:26).

    • By Your grace draw many to Your Son and then gift them with repentance (Isa. 44:22; Rom. 2:4b).

  3. Aliyah:

    Many Jews living among the gentiles will be very cautious this year as they observe the holidays as there has been a definite rise in anti-Semitic activity – especially in the West. We asked God to use this frightening increase to pry the Jews out of their false comfort and security zone which they blindly cling to in order to convince themselves that it is better in Exile than in Israel.

    • Use the increase in anti-Semitism for the good of those whom You have called (Rom. 8:28).

    • As the aliyah is for Your holy name's sake, we will continue to intercede, asking You to regather Your scattered people (Isa. 43:5-7, 21; Ezek. 36:23-24, 32; Luke 18:1).

    • Save us, YHWH our God; gather us from among the gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, and to triumph in Your praise. (Psa. 106:47) Amen!

    • Lord, let reports full of truth and faith be sent forth out of Zion (Mic. 4:1-2).

    • Remove all stumbling stones in Israel which make it more difficult for Jews to return (Isa. 62:10).

    • When Your people say "Next year in Jerusalem" to close out the Yom Kippur service, let their hearts leap with joy and let them make a decision to return home before next Yom Kippur (Psa. 137:5-6).

    • Raise up Jewish leaders in exile who will actively lead Your people home (Jer. 3:14-15).

    • Let the younger generation see the anti-Semitic graffiti on many walls and urge them to return to Israel in order prepare a place for their elders (Jer. 16:16; 31:8-9).

    • Give Your people faith and courage to face the giants that are still in the land (Num. 14:7-9).

    • Pour out a spirit of adventure on all Jews who are considering aliyah (Num. 14:6-8; 2 Chr. 36:23).

    • Because of the coronavirus, many Jews who would normally be in Israel for the holidays are stuck in exile. Lord, use this to show them it is much better to be stuck in Israel (Jer. 50:4-5).

    • Because of coronavirus, many Jews are now working from home. Let them see whether they can just as easily do that from Israel, and if so, let them move to their God-given home (Psa. 105:7-11)!

    • Aid the authorities to help the new immigrants live in all regions of the land (Jer. 32:41-44).

    • Show the authorities how to bring down the very high cost of living in Israel (Mic. 4:4; Zech. 3:10).

    • Supply all the needs of pro-aliyah organizations, both Jewish and Christian (Psa. 84:11).

  4. Government:

    Israel's current coalition stands in need of much prayer so that God's wisdom will lead them in every decision that they make for His nation.

    • Send forth Your wisdom on Israel's leaders and their trusted advisors (1 Kin. 3:28; Dan. 1:20; 2:21).

    • Continue cleaning out the dross from Israel's political scene and the politicians' hearts (Isa. 1:25).

    • We know You will raise up righteous leaders and ask You to do some of that now (Isa. 1:26).

    • Block the government from decreeing anything that is not in line with Your will (Prov. 19:21).

    • Oversee all decisions relating to coronavirus, the economy, and the security arenas (Prov. 21:1).

    • Do not allow this coalition to continue one second beyond Your ordained time span (Eccl. 3:1, 6).

    • During the holidays, move on the hearts of many Israeli leaders to ask to You for help: PM Bennett; Foreign Minister Lapid; Defense Minister Gantz; Finance Minister Liberman; Interior Minister Shaked; Justice Minister Sa'ar; Health Minister Horovitz and all the others (Psa. 50:15: Prov. 21:1).

    • Also, during the holidays, move in the hearts of the next generation of Israeli leaders, and give them an unquenchable desire to seek You and to hear Your voice (Prov. 8:17; 28:5).

    • Whether You plan to return him to office or not, deal with Bibi Netanyahu at this time (Mal. 3:3).

    • Protect Israel's leaders from manipulation from other nations – especially in the West (Num. 23:23).

  5. Security – internal:

    Israel's enemies love to cause havoc over the holiday season. With Hamas holding nightly violent riots along the Gaza security fence area, Israel could be in another war at any moment. Also, this past week, six very dangerous terrorists escaped from an Israeli prison, resulting in celebrations and riots and threats from every section of Palestinian society who almost as one man, see these wicked murderers as heroes. And Israel is supposed to make peace with people like this?

    • Lord, we know that the only way for Israel to have internal security and peace is for it to possess all of Your land. Therefore, may this word from Shabbat's Torah portion come alive to Israeli leaders: [Moses said to Joshua in front of all Israel,] Be strong and of a good courage: for you must go with this people unto the land which YHWH has sworn unto their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it. (Deut. 31:7; cp. vv. 22-23)

    • Forbid that Israeli leaders would be being deaf to the hatred the Palestinian Authority's leadership is stirring up against Your nation and Your people – internally and internationally (Psa. 55:20-21).

    • Aid the security forces to quickly capture the six Palestinian terrorists that escaped from prison (1 Sam. 2:9; Job 4:8; Psa. 9:16-17; 11:5-6).

    • Protect them as they enter the various Palestinian cities to find these murderers (Psa. 35:1-8).

    • Protect Your people from any plots from these evil men or their accomplices (2 Sam. 7:10).

    • Do not let the riots, celebrations and calls for all Palestinians to hide and protect these terrorists be downplayed by Israel's leaders or the media, but instead, use it to wake up many more Israelis to the deadly enemy that has grown in their midst (Ezek. 35:1-13; Obad. 1:8-16).

    • We have asked for You to arrange circumstances so that Israel will be forced to possess more of its God-given inheritance. Is this jail-break and the resulting celebrations a part of that answer?

    • Keep Israeli security forces who will be on guard during the holidays alert and safe (Isa. 41:14-16).

    • Guide the exact placement of the various IDF battalions and all of their equipment (Psa. 44:4-5).

    • Grant to all of the IDF's commanders wisdom, courage and an ability to communicate clearly the IDF's rules of engagement (Deut. 31:7-8; Zech. 12:5-6).

    • Uncover every bit of intelligence Israel's security forces need to guard Your nation (2 Kin. 6:15-17).

    • Lord, set angelic protection over all public and private transportation (Deut. 28:6; Psa. 121:4).

    • Also, Lord, send a battalion of firefighting angels to help Israel deal with eco-terrorism (Psa. 91:11).

    • Creator God, please change the prevailing winds to blow from Israel towards Gaza, making it much harder for terrorists to launch incendiary balloons over Your land (Amos 4:13; Zech. 9:14).

  6. Security – external:

    The US withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Biden's declared plans to pull out of Iraq before the end of 2021, leaves a vacuum in the Middle East [ME] that Russia, China, Iran, Turkey and various terrorist organizations will try to fill. Yet it also gives Israel a chance to be the nation which many other moderate ME nations will look to for defense and to cooperate in many other areas as well.

    • Lord, while we do not know Your timing, we do know it is Your will for Israel to eventually be the head of the nations (Deut. 4:6-7; Isa. 60:1-3; Zech. 8:23). So lead us to pray in line with Your will for Israel to move closer to that even today (Psa. 10:17; 1 John 5:14-15).

    • Protect Israel from being deceived by any nation, and to know who are real allies and who is only playing games in order to see Israel's destruction (Psa. 55:20-21; 59:7; 109:5; 120:6-7).

    • Let divine wisdom fall on Israel's leaders concerning their relationship with America (Psa. 118:8-9).

    • Warn Israel's current leadership against putting their trust in any person (Jer. 17:5-8).

    • As the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency raised red flags over Iran's nuclear advancement, prepare Israel to deal with this threat by itself and to not look for man's approval (Jer. 51:19-24).

    • If the current coalition is not able to protect Israel because of it various political leanings, then bring it down quickly and raise up another that will be able to do just that (Eccl. 8:11; Rom. 13:1-4).

    • Lord, as we pray for Israel – for Your glory's sake – we are encouraged by the example of how You answered the priests who interceded in this way as well (Joel 2:17-19).

    • We ask for a repeat of that answer as You dealt with the northern army, moving it far off physically and totally humiliating it as well (Joel 2:20). Do this to Hizbullah in Lebanon (Psa. 83:16-18).

    • Let great confusion and deep disputes arise between Israel's enemies – between Iran and the Taliban, Iran and Hizbullah, Syria and Iran, Turkey and everyone else, etc. (Psa. 129:5).

    • Thank You God, that after Your people interceded for this nation, You spoke to the land, Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for YHWH will do great things. (Joel 2:21)

  7. The Body of Messiah:

    The world is deeply – and at times viciously – divided over what to do about coronavirus and the vaccine, and sadly, so is the Body. Yet this should not be. Where is the love for each other that we are supposed to have to show that we are Yeshua's disciples (John 13:35)? Where is the grace which allows us to follow Messiah Yeshua as He directs us individually (John 21:20-22)? Why are we an exact replica of the world when it comes to this issue, and so much more?

    • We declare Psalm 134:3 on the Body: YHWH who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.

    • Bring great strength to the Body of Messiah to walk in the light of Your truth that regardless of what we see or hear, or of the differences we have – our God still reigns (Psa. 24:1; 103:19; Isa. 52:7b)!

    • Lord, help us to lower the flames of differing opinions and anoint us to walk in love (Eph. 5:2).

    • Vaccinate Your Body against the virus of hatred, division, deception and pride (1 Pet. 5:5-7).

    • Teach us to trust You – especially when we have no clue as to what You are doing (Prov. 3:5).

    • Baptize Your Body in the biblical fear of God, and remove all other fears (Psa. 56:4; 61:5; 89:7).

    • As Psalm 36:9b states that it is in Your light that we see light, we ask You to anoint Your Word as we read and study it so that we are able to see a bit more of what You are doing today (Matt. 24:35).

    • Send a deep hunger for Your Word upon Your Body (Jer. 15:16; John 17:17).

Shabbat shalom, hag sameach and abundant blessings from Zion

For the IFI team