1. Praise:

    Isaiah 54:5 in Shabbat's prophetic portion applies to Israel and to believers grafted into Israel's olive tree: For your Creator is your husband, YHWH of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer the Holy of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall He be called. (Isa. 54:5)

    • We are blessed to know that You, Lord Yeshua, are our Redeemer (Psa. 19:14; Isa. 47:4).

    • We praise You for becoming our Kinsman-Redeemer through Your incarnation (Heb. 2:14).

    • Thank You Lord for encouraging Israel at all times and in all circumstances with the fact that You are their God and their Redeemer (Psa. 25:22; Isa. 41:14; 43:14; 48:17; 54:8).

    • Lord Yeshua, we rejoice at how You are revealing Yourself as Israel's Redeemer to so many more Jews in these days (Psa. 77:15; Isa. 59:20; Rom. 11:26).

    • Thank You Abba Father, for choosing us even before You physically created us (Isa. 44:24; Eph. 1:4, 11), and for bringing us into Your kingdom at this time in history (Est. 4:14b).

    • We praise You Lord for You are our hiding place; You shall keep us from tribulation; You shall surround us with shouts of deliverance. (Psa. 32:7) Hallelujah!

  2. Government & society:

    Israel's God ordains who rules the nations (Dan. 4:17) and then uses them for His purposes. This happens whether we discern it or not, which is why we often question some of His choices. Yet as His kingdom's coming to earth is God's goal, He asks us to pray for our authorities (1 Tim. 2:1-3). So we pray consistently for Israel's leaders that He would both turn them to Him (Psa. 80:3, 7, 19), and be glorified in their decisions (Psa. 115:1-3).

    • Almighty One, create unity by Your Spirit in Israel's current coalition in all issues that are absolutely essential for Your nation today (Gen. 1:1-2; Psa. 133:1; Isa. 48:17).

    • Lord, You know most of Israel's leaders act like little-kings, so apply Proverbs 21:1 to all of them.

    • God of Abraham, be a shield protecting Israel's leaders from deception (Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29).

    • Lord God, show them their great need to humble themselves before You (1 Kin. 3:9; Prov. 29:23).

    • King Yeshua, be PM Bibi Netanyahu's "iron dome" against every mental, emotional, physical and spiritual attack that comes at him from both people and demonic forces (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 3:3).

    • Lord God, give Bibi godly counselors whose advice he seriously considers (Prov. 9:9; 11:14; 24:6).

    • Judge of all judges, please fulfill Isaiah 1:24-27 and remove all of Israel's judicial usurpers.

    • Lord of all, give the coalition insight on how to recruit the ultra-orthodox into the IDF (Job 12:12).

    • Lord God, impart wisdom and boldness to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz (Eccl. 9:16a, 18).

    • Abba Father, give Israel's leaders courage to no longer allow unlawful demonstrations to run wild just because they are demonstrating for the release of the hostages (1 Per. 2:13-14).

    • Merciful God, for Your holy name's sake continue sustaining Israel's economy (Ezek. 36:8-15).

  3. "Operation Gideon's Chariots II" is the IDF's current battle plan to defeat Hamas and rescue the hostages. It's no coincidence that as this operation moves forward, Shabbat's Torah portion has these verses: Remember what Amalek did to you when you came out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and struck…all that were feeble [among you], when you were faint and weary, and he feared not God. Therefore, when YHWH your God has given you rest from all your enemies in the land which YHWH your God gives you for an inheritance to possess, then blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. (Deut. 25:17-19a)

    • Lord, ever since the initial Oct. 7th Hamas massacre, Israelis have compared Hamas with Amalek, so as they read this portion, let all Israel – from its leaders to its citizens – be determined to do that which You have commanded them (Josh. 1:9).

    • God of Israel, anoint the IDF to fight in such a way that it will once again be said, YHWH wrought a great victory [+deliverance; salvation] (2 Sam. 23:10, 12)

    • Almighty Ruler, show IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir that he was appointed, not elected, and thus he should either submit to the elected officials in overall security policies – or resign (2 Sam. 10:7).

    • Lord of hosts, despite the cry of most of the world, and of some Israelis, for negotiations to continue with Hamas, hold Israel to its basic demands that the war will end only when all hostages, including dead bodies, are released at once; Hamas is totally erased as an organization; Gaza is demilitarized; and "friendly forces," but not the Palestinian Authority, oversee Gaza's future (Psa. 44:4).

    • Guardian of Israel; block all further deadly friendly fire or other accidents (Psa. 32:7; 121:4).

    • God of mercy, You anointed both Abraham and David to rescue their hostages, and we ask You to anoint the IDF to do the same today (Gen. 14:14-16; 1 Sam. 30:18-20; Psa. 57:3-4).

    • Lion of Judah fulfill Psalm 10:16 over Hamas and all other terrorist groups in Gaza (Job 21:30).

    • Man of War, end this war only when You have accomplished all Your will (Ex. 15:3; Psa. 46:9).

    • Lord God of hosts, increase a spirit of paranoia between individual Hamas terrorists, including their remaining leaders outside of Israel, and use that to destroy any unity they may still have (Psa. 55:9).

    • God of all the earth, open up the earth and drag the remaining Hamas tunnels into the abyss, yet please protect all living hostages who are being kept in cages down there (Deut. 11:6; Psa. 146:7).

    • Lord God, we praise You that tens of thousands of Palestinians have left Gaza, and pray that Gaza's gates would be open wide for most of those who remain to leave as well (Isa. 60:12; Jer. 12:17).

    • Messiah, arrange divine encounters between IDF soldiers and genuine believers in Gaza, using Your Body to speak encouragement and faith into Israel's weary warriors (Prov. 15:23b; Isa. 50:4a).

    • Abba Father, thank You for using this war to cause a significant remnant of Israelis to demand that Israel repossesses Gaza and reestablishes its settlements there (Obad. 1:17b; Zeph. 2:5-7).

    • We ask that Your "day-after" plans would come to pass and not anyone else's (Num. 23:19).

  4. Foreign relations:

    The 80th annual UN General Assembly meeting runs from September 9th to the 23rd, with a special "High Level Debate" session [??] from the 23rd to 30th. We expect Israel to be severely criticism throughout these meetings. Also, many nations are threatening to "recognize" a Palestinian State during this time. Israel's response to all this needs our prayer covering.

    • King of kings, we pray for Your foreign policy to be done on earth, including in the UN, and that You would use Israel to hasten it's fulfillment (Deut. 28:9-10, 13; Psa. 9:19-20; 33:10-11; Luke 11:2).

    • God of Israel, as with Balaam, turn the curses against Your people from nations, global NGOs like the UN, and the mainstream media, into blessings – simply because You love them (Deut. 23:5; 33:3).

    • Abba Father, watch over Job 12:17-21 and Psalm 2:4-5 during the upcoming UN meetings.

    • Lord God Almighty, increase Your protection and anointing upon Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon and everyone else who is part of Israel's delegation (Psa. 81:10; 119:13).

    • King of Israel, if Bibi is supposed to speak at the upcoming UN meetings, then use him in such a way that what he says will be a prophetic warning from Zion to the world (Jer. 1:8-10; Ezek. 2:6-7).

    • God, use this global pressure to push Israel into being that nation which dwells alone (Num. 23:9b).

    • Concerning the recognition of a "Palestine" on Your land, Lord we confess Isaiah 7:7 and 8:9-10!

    • Lord Yeshua, reveal to believers how perilous the recognition of a terror-state on Your land is to a nation, if theirs supports it then burden them to cry out for mercy (Isa. 60:12; Ezek. 22:30; Joel 3:1-2).

    • We praise You for the much more aggressive stance that Israel's foreign ministry under Gideon Sa'ar is taking, especially as it speaks truth and rebukes the lies that are spewed against Israel (Gal. 4:16)

    • Continue to put Your Word in the mouths of all Israeli international representatives (Jer. 1:9; 5:14).

  5. Internal security:

    Our burden for Israel's internal security remains for Israel to extend its sovereignty over all of its land west of the Jordan River and to continue targeting terrorist groups in that area, and elsewhere in God's land. In both areas, we can see His answers!

    • King Messiah, as the sovereignty chariot gathers speed and intensity, take control of its reins and guide it on to a swift and sudden victory (Psa. 68:17).

    • Lord God, use Isaiah 54:2-3 in Shabbat's prophetic portion to stir up the heart of Your people to press forward with all plans to extend sovereignty over the land that You promised to them.

    • King Yeshua, speak to Your Body to intercede for Your promises about the land to be fulfilled as You have said that this is for Your holy name's sake (Psa. 87:2; 115:1-3; Prov. 3:12; 1 Thess. 1:3).

    • We praise You for the many strangers who have been, and continue to, build up Israel's walls and feed their flocks – such as the Arabs, Filipinos, Indians, Vietnamese, etc. (Isa. 60:10; 61:5)

    • God of Jacob, since You are jealous over Your land (Ezek. 36:5-7), arise and scatter all schemes to create a "Palestine" on it – especially from so-called "friendly" nations (Psa. 103:19; Zech. 14:1-3).

    • Abba, give Israeli government ministers courage to resist all of the false rejections of its extension of sovereignty as it is in line with both Your Word and international law (Judg. 2:1-4; Neh. 2:20).

    • Lord God, since the UAE has said that the Abraham Accords would be at stake if Israel extends its tent pegs over Judea and Samaria, remind Israel's leaders of Your accord with Abraham (Gen. 15:18).

    • Lord of lords, use the extension of Israeli sovereignty over its land to greatly shame many Muslims who view Your land as "wakf territory" – that is Allah's land – and then use that open shame to turn many of them to seek Your name (Psa. 83:16).

    • Precious God, we bless You for increasing the Jewish population in Judea and Samaria, and ask for You to do the same in the Negev, in the Galilee, in the north and on the Golan (Isa. 49:19-20; 51:3).

    • Lord God of hosts, fortify Your angelic armies to battle against the demonic powers behind Israel's terrorist enemies throughout Your land (2 Kin. 6:16-17; 2 Chr. 32:7-8; 1 Chr. 15:46; Dan. 10:12-13).

    • Lord, we again pray for You to release the IDF from all legal handcuffs so that it can war against Israel's enemies in a biblical way – such as You described in Deuteronomy 7:16.

    • Abba, help Israel to collect all intelligence data it needs to stop all terrorist attempts (Job 12:22).

  6. External security – Middle East [ME]:

    Some articles in both Israeli and foreign media have said that Israel is now the ME's "superpower." We have prayed for this, yet in a biblical sense that Israel would be the "head" of the nations, at least in the ME today. Now comes the hard part of taking on this mantle while staying humble and recognizing this as a work of God – and not of man.

    • God, just like You used Israel to erase Hizbullah's leaders, so You have used them to do the same with most of the Houthi's leaders in Yemen – and we thank You (Jer. 51:20-23; Mic. 4:11-13).

    • Lord of all, let the Lebanese and the Yemenites take advantage of this to be set free of these terrorist groups who oppress them and then develop positive relations with Israel (Job 36:15; Psa. 12:5).

    • Lord God, lead Israel to know what it must do, and not do, in order to defend itself by itself and to not have to look to America or any other nation for help (Isa. 31:1).

    • Almighty Father, we praise You that all Israeli jets have returned safely from their sorties since Oct. 7th, and ask for this truly supernatural protection to be maintained (Psa. 121:4; Isa. 31:5).

    • God Almighty, Your prophesied destruction of Iran's leaders (Jer. 49:38b) would be a huge mercy for most Iranians, for Israel and for most other ME nations – so please fulfill it quickly and suddenly.

    • Abba, let the curses Iran's Shi'ite leaders proclaim against Israel come back to bite them (Gal. 6:7).

    • Give Israel divine insight about the radical Islamic Sunni leaders in Syria today (Psa. 23:3b; 32:8).

    • God of Jacob, if You are using Israel's activities in Southern Syria to fulfill Jeremiah 49:1-2 – as this area is part of the tribe of Manasseh's inheritance – then guide us as we pray into this situation.

    • Abba Father, guard over and direct Israel as it attempts to develop some type of official diplomatic ties with both Syria and Lebanon (Psa. 8:2; Lam. 1:2).

    • Lord, we thank You how more Israelis and their leaders see Qatar and Turkey as enemy states who support both Hamas and Iran (Psa. 55:21; 62:4), and we ask the same for more Western leaders.

    • Lord, fulfill Your threat; deal with both Qatar and Turkey, and be glorified (Ezek. 28:22-26).

    • Abba, as Turkey's President Erdogan's curses Israel and Netanyahu, let them come back to haunt him – and let him know that this is because of his stance against Your nation (Num. 24:9b; Gal. 6:7).

    • Lord, be magnified by Israel's ties with the Druze and the Kurds in the ME (Prov. 17:17; Mal. 1:5).

    • Lord Yeshua, protect Your Body in the ME, especially in Iran at this time (Jer. 49:38a; John 16:33).

  7. Aliyah:

    We are called to be God's witnesses as He fulfills His word and returns the scattered Jews back to His Land (Jer. 31:10). Yet we also have a great responsibility as our King wants His Body to be deeply involved with this prophetic fulfillment (for example Isaiah 60:10-11).

    • Lord, we praise You for telling Israel in the prophetic portion that You will gather them back to their land with great mercies (Isa. 54:7-8).

    • Abba, use Your hunters (Jer. 16:16) to increase the effectiveness of Your mercies (Jer. 31:3).

    • Lord God Almighty, allow the explosion of anti-Israel/anti-Semitic acts in the West to cause Jews who never considered aliyah to serious contemplate moving to Israel (Jer. 50:4-8).

    • Abba, confront Jewish pride which says, "They will not chase us out!" and show them that You are both chasing and drawing them back home (Prov. 16:18; Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 31:3-5).

    • Lord God, break the snare that the comforts of "the captivity" have over Your people (Psa. 124:7-8).

    • God of Israel, impress upon Israel, even in the midst of war, to prepare houses, jobs, and schools to enable every new immigrant to successfully integrate into its society (Ezek. 28:25-26; 36:8-12).

    • Lord Yeshua, show believers that Isaiah 43:5-6 tells them to co-labor with You to bring Jews home.

    • Gracious God, pour out abundant favor and sufficient finances upon all believing organizations whose ministry is to aid in the aliyah process (Isa. 49:22; Rom. 15:27).

  8. Salvation:

    We are in the Jewish month of Ellul, which is known as the month of repentance. Each morning, both in Israel and in the captivity, many Jews attend synagogue, listen to the shofar and pray prayers of repentance, wanting to be right with God as they approach His fall feasts. Ellul is thus a wonderful time to pray for all Israel to be saved!

    • Lord, as Jews read Isaiah 54:10 in the prophetic portion, help them to make the connection between Your covenant of Peace and the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6-7, with Yeshua (John 14:27; 16:33).

    • God, gift Jews back in the land with that new heart and new spirit, as well as Your Spirit, that You promised in Ezekiel 36:26-27, and then let the fruit of repentance be seen (Ezek. 36:31-32).

    • Use Messianic Jewish IDF soldiers to provoke their fellow warriors to jealousy (Rom. 11:14).

    • Lord Yeshua burden more gentile believers to intercede for Jews to be saved (Rom. 10:1-2).

    • Abba Father, pour out Your Spirit (Acts 2:17-18) and save: Holocaust survivors and their families; survivors of terrorism; living hostages and their loved ones; IDF soldiers and their families; loved ones of soldiers killed or severely wounded; anti-Bibi and anti-government demonstrators; widows, widowers, orphans; rabbis in Israel and in the captivity; Israeli politicians, judges, lawyers, diplomats; Jewish university students; professors, teachers, scientists, astronomers and medical personnel; Jewish anti-missionaries; Jews and the "hill-top youth" living in Judea and Samaria; Jews on their death beds; Israeli media professionals, archeologists; tour guides, Israelis in the nations; Jews who have recently made aliyah; Jewish hippies, LGBTQ+ and new agers; Jews in Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia, India, China; Spanish and Portuguese speaking Jews; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews. We thank You Lord for hearing and answering us (1 John 5:14-15).

  9. Body of Messiah:

    To be in one accord with what God is doing today, it is vital to be familiar with all of God's Word. As most end-time prophecies refer to Israel's restoration and salvation, as well as targeting its enemies, knowing His Word helps us to pray in line with His will for His nation, despite the chaos in today's world, and the lies in the media.

    • Lord Yeshua, strip Your Body of all doctrines of distraction, replacement and fulfillment theories, and any other teaching that is not in line with Your Word (Isa. 29:24; Matt. 15:9; Rom. 16:17).

    • God, confront adherents of replacement theology with New Testament verses such as: Matthew 1:1; Romans 15:8-12; Galatians 3:8; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Revelation 5:5-6; 22:16; plus many others.

    • King Yeshua, rebuke believers who reject the Tanach as being Your Word today (Luke 24:25-27).

    • Lord, sent Your fear upon our family in Messiah who curse Israel and the Jews in their hearts and also break the snare of generational anti-Semitism that so many of them have inherited (Psa. 124:7-8).

    • Lord Yeshua, open the eyes of more of Your disciples to perceive Your judgments coming on much of world today because of how nations push Israel to divide Your land (Isa. 34:1-8; Joel 3:1-2).

    • King Messiah; strengthen, multiply and use the Israeli Body for Your name's sake (Psa. 115:1-3).

  10. IFI: Please prayer for us to be sustained against that end-time war of the anti-Christ spirit against God's people (Da. 7:25). We thank you for your prayers, exhortations and financial support, as they are all a great encouragement as we take our stand on Jerusalem's walls (Isa. 62:6-7).

Shabbat shalom, and blessings from Israel

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

2 Pet. 1:19