1. Praise:

   Isaiah 61:10-11 from Shabbat's prophetic portion just about sums up all that God the Father has done for us in Messiah Yeshua. And, as the last line indicates, this started 2,000 years ago with the first Messianic Jews. I will greatly rejoice in YHWH; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation; with a robe of righteousness He has covered me …For as the earth brings forth her growth, and the garden causes that which are sown to spring forth, so Lord YHWH will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

   • We thank You Lord for encouraging us to rejoice in You (Psa. 68:3-4; Phil. 3:1; 4:4).

   • We bless You for clothing us with salvation in Messiah (2 Chr. 6:41; Eph. 1:12-13; Heb. 2:10).

   • Yeshua Lord, we praise You for becoming sin for us so that in You we are now seen as righteous before God (Rom. 3:21-26; 2 Cor. 5:21).

   • Lord God, we rejoice that the good news of Messiah Yeshua has already gone to all nations and in our day is swiftly returning to "Jerusalem" (Psa. 98:3; Isa. 2:3; 49:6; Matt. 24:14; Acts 1:8).

   • We are amazed that by Your love You saved us so that we can be called Your children (1 John 3:1).

   • As we celebrate Rosh Hashanah Monday evening, we join with Jews worldwide, remembering and confessing You as our Creator and our King (Isa. 33:22; 43:15; John 1:1-3; 1 Pet. 4:9; Rev. 19:16)!

2. Government & society:

   In obedience with 1 Timothy 2:1-4, we pray for those in authority. We also ask God to guide us as we intercede, and we are seeing Him work in Israel's leaders, often in amazing ways so that the results bring Him glory (Psa. 115:1-3).

   • Over Rosh Hashanah, as Israel celebrates You as Creator and King, let this truth of who You are become such a reality that faith rises up in Your people (Prov. 3:5-6; Isa. 43:1, 7; Zech. 14:9)!

   • Lord God, You are restoring Israel for Your holy name's sake, therefore anoint Israel's leaders – both political and military – to further that goal (Isa. 43:5-7; Ezek. 36:20-24).

   • God Almighty, again we ask You to raise up Israel's sons and daughters of Zion and let them replace all of its sons and daughters of Greece in every influential position (Job 34:24; Psa. 109:8).

   • Abba Father, You have ordained PM Bibi Netanyahu as Israel's leader today (Dan. 4:32), so anoint him and guide him to do Your will and nothing else (Ex. 31:3; Psa. 80:17; Prov. 21:1; Phil. 1:6).

   • God of Israel, as You did with Gideon, clothe Netanyahu with Your Spirit (Judg. 6:34).

   • Lord God, in light of Charlie Kirk's assassination, we pray for You to protect Bibi and Israel's other conservative leaders against all such copy-cat attempts (Psa. 3:3; 18:2).

   • God of truth, expose the truth of the allegations against Bibi in his court trials, and use these trials to cause him to cry out to You for mercy (Psa. 33:4; 51:6; 140:6-7; Isa. 40:29).

   • Lord God, shield Netanyahu from all criticism resulting from Israel's biblically correct attack against Hamas' leadership in Doha, Qatar – regardless of the results (1 Sam. 15:2-3; Psa. 28:7; 119:114).

   • Thank You that Bibi publicly stated that as Israel was becoming diplomatically isolated by much of the world, it needed to become more self-sufficient, as both are answers to prayers (Num. 23:9b).

   • Lord, move Your nation on to the next stage and let them see that their isolation is a divine prod to make them look totally to You (Deut. 8:3; Isa. 30:1-3; 41:10-16).

   • Make Bibi, Defense Minister Katz and Foreign Minister Sa'ar a strong three-fold cord (Eccl. 4:12).

   • Lord God, remove any divisions existing between the IDF and government leaders (Rom. 16:17).

   • The chaotic hostage demonstrations have caused most Israelis to despise these demonstrators, but we ask You, Lord God, to breath on them all and heal this rift in Israeli society (Gen. 1:2; Ezek. 37:22a).

3. The IDF is moving forward with "Operation Gideon's Chariots II" to defeat Hamas and rescue its hostages.

   Israel's strike on the Hamas HQ in Doha, Qatar, was in line with international law, despite the hypocritical howling from the nations. After the September 11th 2001 attack against NYC's Twin Towers, UN Security Council Resolution 1373 was passed legally binding nations to fight terrorism, to not hide or house terrorists or to provide financial backing to them. So why is Qatar praised and Israel seen as the bad guy today? Is this part of 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 being fulfilled?

   • Abba, thank You that Israel now recognizes Qatar as an enemy-state, yet US President Trump does not and that is very dangerous for both Israel and America, therefore turn his heart to perceive Qatar's demonically inspired schemes and it total backing of Hamas (Est. 8:3; Prov. 21:1).

   • Lord, based on Isaiah 63:4-5 in the prophetic portion and Jeremiah 51:20-23, use the IDF as Your arm and weapon of war and exact vengeance on Hamas – both in Gaza and in the nations.

   • We remind You of Deuteronomy 30:7 in the Torah portion and ask that however You choose to do it, place Your curse on Hamas who hate and persecute Your people Israel (Num. 24:9b).

   • Divine Man of War (Ex. 15:3), guide Israel's leaders by Your goal in this war – which is the defeat of Hamas, today's Amalek, and the repossessing of Gaza (Ex. 17:16).

   • Remove all legal chains from off the IDF that stop it from fighting in a biblical way (Zech. 10:5).

   • God Almighty, as the IDF increases the war against Hamas, use our prayers to supernaturally enable their efforts to be much more effective than even they imagined (Ezek. 38:23; Eph. 2:20).

   • Thank You Lord God for guiding the IDF to destroy many of Gaza's high-rise buildings that Hamas uses against Israel's troops (Isa. 2:12).

   • Lord God of hosts, intensify Your protection over all IDF soldiers against attacks, traps, kidnapping attempts, and friendly fire or other dangerous accidents, especially as they cleanse out and occupy new areas in Gaza (Psa. 4:8; Zech. 9:16; 10:5-8).

   • Lord God of mercy, release Your revitalizing power and replace the weariness of this battle from off of the IDF (Isa. 5:27; Joel 2:7), and off of Israel's society as well.

   • Mighty Savior of Jacob, watch over Isaiah 49:24-26 and free all the hostages that Hamas is holding and abusing – either supernaturally or through the IDF's efforts (Acts 5:18-19).

   • Creator of all, totally swallow up Hamas' underground tunnel network (Num. 16:31; Isa. 13:9).

   • God of Israel, if this war's end depends on Israel's willingness to repossess all of Gaza, then please turn Israelis and their leaders to commit to doing just that (Judg. 2:1-4; Psa. 80:3; Prov. 16:9).

4. Foreign relations:

   Last Friday, at the annual UN General Assembly [GA] session, 142 nations approved a resolution to advance an "irreversible" path to a Palestinian State to be created on God's land. This resolution, submitted by France and Saudi Arabia, has the audacity to say that this is the only way to a "Peaceful Settlement" of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Next Monday, the UNGA will vote to recognize a non-existent "Palestine." Yet Israel is still fighting a war against Iran's proxy the Houthis, and Iran and Qatar's proxy Hamas. So are most of the world's nations deceived or just flat out hate the Jews, the Jewish State and the God of Israel who is revealed in the Bible (Psa. 83:1-4)?

   • Lord God, this appears to be at least a partial fulfillment of Psalm 2:1-3, therefore we ask You to also fulfill verses 4-5 and through Your wrath, terrify these nations.

   • Abba, if this move to "recognize" a "Palestinian State" is in fact You fulfilling Zechariah 12:2-3, reveal that to us and lead us very clearly as to how we are to pray (Amos 3:7).

   • King of kings, You have ordained today's world leaders (Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21a), so use them, like You did with Pharaoh, Cyrus and others – to further Your kingdom's goals (Rom. 9:15-23).

   • Creator of heaven and earth, watch over Your declaration in Psalm 33:10-11 against the UN.

   • Abba, we pray for You to write on the UN's walls that which You wrote to Belshazzar (Dan. 5:25-28) and to remove this organization from off the face of the earth.

   • Use these UNGA moves to hasten Israel's departure from the UN and to receive grace from You to be that nation which dwells alone, not being counted among the other nations (Num. 23:9b).

   • Lord God, empower Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon, Minster of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli and other Israeli representatives to boldly speak the truth against the global threats and lies that are being spewed forth against Your nation (Prov. 2:11-12).

   • Lord God, let them use words from Your Word every time they speak (Num. 23:19; Isa. 55:11).

   • Abba, if Netanyahu ends up speaking at the UN next week, anoint him mightily (Psa. 51:15; 81:10).

   • King Yeshua, protect Netanyahu's relationship with a very, at times, unpredictable US President, and let him know when it is fine to compromise, and when it is not (Psa. 17:4-5; 141:3).

   • Lord, give Israel's leaders and its representatives wisdom as they deal with the sons of Greece who lead most Western nations and their foreign ministries today (Ezra 7:25a; Job 12:13; Dan. 1:17).

   • Lord God, encourage believers to openly warn their birth-nations of Your judgments falling upon their countries at this time because of their betrayal of Israel (Ezek. 29:6-7; Joel 3:1-2).

5. Internal security:

   God is answering our prayers as more Israelis – both leaders and people – want Israel to extend sovereignty over more of its land. This is in part a response to the pressure of the nations to divide God's land and establish a "Palestine" (Rom. 8:28). "Sovereignty or a Palestinian State" is now a motto in Israel in response to the UNGA resolution mentioned above.

   • We bless You for revealing in Isaiah 60:21 Your reason for giving Your land to Your people – so that You will be glorified; therefore hasten Israel's extension of sovereignty over all of Your land.

   • Thank You that Netanyahu and other top government officials have all recently said there will be no Palestinian State ever established on Your land (Lev. 25:23).

   • Abba Father, with so many in Israel now dead set against a Palestinian State, show them the next logical step is to extend Israeli sovereignty over all of their land (Isa. 54:2-3).

   • Lord, wake up more believers persistently intercede for this to happen as well (1 John 5:14-15).

   • We praise You God for again declaring in the Torah portion that You not only gave, but also swore to give, Your land to Your people (Deut. 30:19-20).

   • Lord, direct Israel to rebuild its north more securely and more populously (Isa. 54:2-3; Eccl. 3:3b).

   • Shepherd of Israel, guard over the scattered Jews whom You are regathering (Isa. 33:2; Jer. 31:10).

   • Father God, we bless You for always being awake to protect Israel (Psa. 121:4), and ask You to keep Israel's security guards at checkpoints and other posts alert and awake as well (Gen. 31:1-2).

   • King Messiah, divinely shield Your people, especially during Your fall feasts (Ex. 34:23-24).

   • God, save so many Palestinians that the spirit of Islam is uprooted out of Your land (Psa. 125:3a).

6. External security – Middle East [ME]:

   Muslims are taught to desire martyrdom. The promise of paradise with 70 perpetual virgins is very enticing to most men, let alone those who live wretched lives on earth. Yet Israel's restoration and its victories against Islamic armies cause many Muslims to question the truth of their faith. Thus God is using Israel's war against Islamic armies to tear down the foundational beliefs of Islam resulting in multitudes of ME Muslims being saved! Hallelujah!

   • Lord God of Israel, show even more Muslims how useless Allah is in protecting them from You and from the IDF, and use their shame to turn them to seek You (Est. 8:17; Psa. 83:16-18).

   • Abba Father, You have not regathered Israel just so that it can be scattered again (Amos 9:14-15), so arise and scatter Your enemies – those who hate You and Your people (Psa. 68:1, 15; 83:1-4).

   • Lord God of Israel, we pray for You to continue to fulfill Micah 4:11-13 today.

   • All-wise God, bring to Israel accurate actionable intelligence of its enemies plans, and impart the wisdom to interpret that data and to know when and how to response (Psa. 59:10; Prov. 15:3).

   • In particular Lord, let Israel obtain that type of intelligence in relation to Iran's plans (Job 12:22).

   • Lord of hosts; prepare Israel to deal militarily with any attempt by Iran to advance its nuclear weapons program – with or without American support (Isa. 31:1).

   • Abba, let the rest of the West see what Israel is seeing, that Qatar is an enemy state (Psa. 55:19-21).

   • Lord God, drill a hole in Qatar's financial storehouses and drain them completely (Job 27:13-17).

   • Lord of the nations, prevent any additions to the Abraham Accords between Israel and other ME countries if it would be unwise for Israel, and also oversee the future of these accords (Psa. 124:1-8).

7. Aliyah:

   As God allows the explosion of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in those nations where Jews had thought they were safe, the interest in aliyah increases. We are called to co-labor with Him and to intercede for this interest to be turned into action today.

   • Almighty God, hasten the fulfillment of Ezekiel 28:25-26 so that as we see an increase in aliyah, we also see the destruction of Israel's enemies, ultimately leading to all Israel being saved.

   • We pray Abba, in line with Isaiah 62:10 in the prophetic reading, to remove these stones from the path of Your people who are stuck in the exile: comfort and security, whether false or true; finances, whether too much or too little; fear based on negative media reports of Israel's actual situation; the genuine fear of major life changes; an exaggerated fear of children serving in the IDF; other family members who refuse to go to Israel; BDS = Bibi Derangement Syndrome; etc.

   • Lord, remove stones of stumbling hindering Jews who want to return but are prevented by either circumstances, finances, or their current-nations refusing to let them leave (Ex. 8:1; Psa. 68:6a).

   • Abba Father, use Your hunters to make Your fishers even more effective (Jer. 16:16; Rom. 8:28).

   • Lord God, teach Your people history's lessons that when they live among the gentiles, at some point those nations could not, or worse would not, protect them (Deut. 28:37, 64-67; Psa. 137:3-4).

   • Messiah Yeshua, Shepherd of Jacob, bring back Israelis living in the nations, especially those who have met You and been saved while outside of the land (Isa. 35:10; 51:11).

   • King of Israel, embolden Israel's diplomatic outreach to Jews in the nations towards aliyah and away from helping them remain "safe and secure" in the captivity (Deut. 28:65-67; Psa. 107:1-9).

   • Bless and quickly complete all Israeli plans to absorb millions of new immigrants (Ezek. 36:8-12).

   • Messiah Yeshua, show Your Body their biblical responsibility to help Jews to make aliyah through prayer, finances, good works and encouraging words (Isa. 49:22; 60:1-12; 61:5; Rom. 15:26-27).

8. Salvation:

   This is the last weekend of Ellul, the Jewish month of repentance. With many Jews making an extra effort to get right with God and their neighbors, Ellul is a great time to pray for all Israel to be saved (Psa. 28:9)!

   • As Your people read Deuteronomy 30:5-6 in the Torah portion, quicken them to ask You what it means to have one's heart circumcised (Jer. 4:4; Phil. 3:3).

   • As Your people read Isaiah 62:11-12 in the prophetic portion open their eyes to see how You say that their salvation is a Man who will enable them to be called the redeemed of YHWH.

   • Lord God, also show them in Isaiah 63:7-9 in that portion that You were afflicted for them, and that Your Angel who stands in Your presence has become their Savior and their Redeemer.

   • Abba Father, by Your amazing grace, save: Holocaust survivors and their families; survivors of terrorism; hostages still alive and their loved ones; IDF soldiers and families; loved ones of soldiers killed or severely wounded; soldiers with PTSD; many demonstrators; widows, widowers, orphans; rabbis in and outside of Israel; Israeli politicians, judges, lawyers, diplomats; 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; Jews living in guilt over previous abortions; 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, Ethiopia, Turkey, 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:

   One reason why many believers are against Israel's restoration is because they ignore the Tanach as still God's Word today. Yet to Messiah Yeshua and the early Body the Tanach was the only Word of God they had, read, loved and in which they trusted (2 Tim. 3:15-17)!

   • Lord Messiah, restore the authority of all of Your Word to Your Body (John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).

   • With that, restore boldness to Your Body to stand for You and Your truth (Acts 4:31).

   • Good Shepherd, teach believers that in context the word "scripture" in the New Testament refers only to the Old Testament – the Tanach (Matt. 22:29; Luke 4:21; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:8).

   • Abba, rebuke any believer who sees Romans 9-11 as being less "inspired" than the rest of the NT.

   • Divine Physician, heal Your Body of its biblical anorexia and prophetic illiteracy by injecting it with a hunger to "eat" all of Your Word (Jer. 15:16; Amos 8:11; Acts 20:32; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:13-14).

   • Lord God, by Your Spirit reveal to believers the connections between aliyah, Israel's salvation and Your Son's return in glory (Psa. 53:6; 147:2; Jer. 31:1-10; Zech. 14:1-4; Matt. 23:39).

   • Abba, show believers that they cannot know what end time prophecies You are fulfilling today if they do not know what the Tanach says about these days (Luke 24:25:27).

   • As Your Body intercedes for Israel, and other issues, provide them with ammunition in the form of various verses from Your Word which are related to those prayers (Isa. 55:11).

IFI: We thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement and financial support for this ministry. Please especially ask God to give us wisdom and guidance as we intercede over many of the same issues week after week.

Shabbat shalom, and blessings from Israel
Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team
Isaiah 62:6-7 [from Shabbat's prophetic reading]