1. Praise:

    God's detailed instructions for the holy garments of Israel's high priest are described in Shabbat's Torah portion. Since Messiah Yeshua is now our High Priest, what is said about the Aaronic high priest, who is a type of our Lord, is of great significance.

    • You are worthy Lord Yeshua to be clothed with honor and majesty (Psa.104:1).

    • Messiah Yeshua, we are so blessed and grateful that You continually bear our names before our Father both on Your shoulders as well as over Your heart (Ex. 28:12, 29-30; Psa. 89:19).

    • Lamb of God, we thank You that You bore our iniquity and now sanctify our feeble offerings before a holy God so that they are acceptable in His sight (Ex. 28:36-38; Isa. 53:6, 11-12).

    • King Yeshua, we rejoice that by Your death and resurrection we are saved, and now through Your intercession for us at the Father's right hand, our salvation is completed (Heb. 7:25; cp. Rom. 8:34).

    • Lord, we praise You that with You being our perfect high priest, we can come boldly into Your throne of grace to ask for mercy and grace when we, or others, are in need (Heb. 4:14-16).

  2. Government & society:

    The next Israeli government will be dealing with some very serious issues. There will be a new US president in a few years that might not be as Israel-friendly as Trump. Will the Gaza situation be resolved? Will Iran still be a threat? The next coalition will also need great courage and perseverance to impose the needed judicial reform. Also, will they continue to extend Israeli rule over Judea and Samaria as the current one is doing? All these and more are why we need to continue to focus our prayers on the upcoming Israeli elections.

    • Lord, You ordain who rules over the nations (Dan. 2:21), yet You tell us to pray for the authorities (1 Tim. 2:-3), therefore guide us as we intercede about the next Israeli elections.

    • Lord God, either bring to completion or let the next coalition move forward with all current projects in Israel that are born out of Your will (Psa. 138:8; Isa. 26:12: Phil. 1:6).

    • Abba Father, give Israel's anti-Zionist media laryngitis (Prov. 12:13; Isa. 52:15; Luke 1:20) and let Your people clearly hear the truth about the choices they need to make (Psa. 25:5a; 43:3).

    • Sovereign Lord, let critical issues, like the extension of sovereignty and judicial reform, be debated in the campaign, and forbid the opposition from running only on an anti-Bibi platform (Zech. 8:16a).

    • Lord God of Gideon, as with Gideon, so clothe PM Bibi Netanyahu in Your Spirit (Judg. 6:34).

    • Abba, direct Netanyahu's time left in office to focus on what is most vital for Israel (Prov. 16:9).

    • Almighty King, create a divine unity in Israel's current coalition about those essential issues for Your nation at this time (Gen. 1:1-2; Psa. 133:1; Isa. 48:17).

    • We thank You Lord God for rising up more children of Zion in Israel (Isa. 52:2; Mic. 4:13; Zech. 2:10; 9:13), and ask You to remove all the offspring of Greece from influential posts (Psa. 75:6-7).

    • Yeshua Lord, anoint Israel's medical personnel as they minister to the returned hostages and injured soldiers in the physical, mental and emotional realms of their lives (Prov. 20:5; Jer. 30:17; 33:6).

    • God of Moses, we bless You for fulfilling Deuteronomy 8:18 as You have been supporting Israel's economy ever since Oct. 7th, 2023, and we ask You to continue doing that – for Your glory's sake.

  3. Foreign relations:

    The current mindset of most of the world is making Numbers 23:9b more of a reality with each passing day. While we dare not pray against this from happening, yet still we need to intercede for it to come to pass in God's manner, as well as in His timing.

    • Lord God, use the global hatred of Israel to turn it into that prophesied nation dwelling alone (Num. 23:9b), and show Israelis that You prohibit them from being like any other nation (Ezek. 20:32-38).

    • God, reveal Yourself to many world's leaders as You did with Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:34-35), and we specifically lift up India's PM Modi who visited and blessed Israel this past week (Num. 24:9b).

    • Sovereign God, bless India with a massive revival as a direct result of Modi's visit (Psa. 117:1-2).

    • Abba Father, as many nations "recognize" an imaginary "Palestine," place Your words on the lips of Israel's representatives to rebuke them by declaring Your truth (Psa. 81:10; Jer.1:9; John 17:17).

    • King of Jacob, continue guiding Bibi to know when to bend, and when to stand firm concerning his relationship with US President Trump (Psa. 9:19-20; 17:4-5; 141:3).

    • Lord of lords, if this is the time for Israel to resign from the openly anti-Christ UN, then strip from it any fear of going outside the camp of this world (Matt. 7:6; 10:14; John 14:27).

    • Anoint Israel's UN Ambassador Danon and his team to declare Your Word (Isa. 2:3; Acts 1:8).

    • We thank You for the aggressive stance of Israel's foreign ministry under Gideon Sa'ar as it often uses the truth of Your Word to publicly rebuke lies that are spoken about Israel (Gal. 4:16).

    • Messiah Yeshua, anoint believers who intercede for their nation's relations with Israel and use those requests as an open door for Your mercy to enter those nations (Ezek. 22:30-31: cp. Isa. 60:12).

  4. Gaza:

    The IDF is the only army willing, and able, to disarm and destroy Hamas. Shabbat's prophetic portion reminds us of how furious God was with Israel's original Amalek foe (1 Sam. 15:2-3). We believe this is how He sees Hamas today, yet Trump's "ceasefire" plan stopped the IDF's war to destroy Hamas. Despite his "Board of Peace" meeting last week and billions of dollars promised, no one will send either "peacekeepers" or finances until Hamas is disarmed. So what now Mr. Trump?

    • King of the world's kings, we ask You to completely confound those on Trump's "Board of Peace" who are enemies of Zion (Psa. 129:5; 144:7-8; Isa. 33:7).

    • Lord God, show Trump how Hamas' refusal to disarm or give up control in Gaza means that Turkey and Qatar are untrustworthy allies (Job 12:16-21).

    • Lord God, fulfill Malachi 1:4 and whatever Esau/Edom [Islam's spiritual roots] tries to build in Gaza, in furious anger, destroy it (Isa. 34:5; 63:1-6).

    • Shield of Abraham, guard over the minds and hearts of the regular IDF soldiers stationed in Gaza, especially as many are still teenagers (Gen. 15:1; Psa. 89:18).

    • Lord God, when the war restarts, accomplish a great victory through the IDF (2 Sam. 23:10, 12), and let Hamas fall into the traps that they are setting for Israel (Psa. 7:15-16).

    • Almighty God, as You did to Joshua, Gideon, David, and others, impart divine strategies and tactics to the IDF to surprise, divide and defeat Hamas (Josh. 6:2-5; Judg. 7:16-18; 2 Sam. 5:23-24).

    • God of Jacob, with Gaza being a part of Judah's inheritance, fulfill Genesis 49:8b and release the IDF's hand to be on the neck of [its] enemies – Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

    • Faithful One, watch over Isaiah 44:26 and once again set up the cities of Judah in Gaza.

  5. Internal security:

    God did not completely answer our prayers for Israel to extend sovereignty over all of its land west of the Jordan River in 2025. Yet the steps Israelis and the coalition took toward doing that are very encouraging. While the timing is His, God expects us to persist in prayer (Ezek. 36:37; Luke 18:1) for this, which is obviously His will (Jer. 32:41-44), to be done.

    • Messiah Lord, move on more believers to pray for Israel to possess its land (Obad. 1:17), showing them that this is not political, but prophetic, as well as for Your name's sake (Ezek. 36:34-36; 37:14).

    • We praise You God for telling us in Isaiah 60:21 that You gave Your land to Your people for Your glory; therefore we ask You to bring it to fulfillment quickly (Psa. 115:1-3; Isa. 55:11; 60:22).

    • King of Israel, promote in the next government biblical Zionists who are jealous for Your sake to see all the land of promise coming under Israeli rule (Psa. 75:6-7; Jer. 32:41-44; Zech. 8:2-8).

    • Abba Father, let Israel's extension of sovereignty over Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley be a hot topic of debate in the upcoming election campaign (Neh. 2:20).

    • God of Israel, enable more Israelis, including politicians, to continue to build facts on the ground in Judea, Samaria and in the Jordan Valley (Judg. 2:1-4).

    • God, abundantly bless Israel's plans to develop its North and the Negev (Jer. 24:6; 32:44),

    • Thank You Abba for Bibi and other top government officials restating once again that there will be no Palestinian State established on Your land; now hold them to it (Lev. 25:23; Matt. 5:37).

    • We praise You Lord God for reducing the number of terror attacks throughout Israel in 2025 and ask for that trend to be maintained during 2026 as well (Psa. 44:4).

    • Father God, we thank You for always watching over Israel (Psa. 121:4), and ask for You to anoint Israel's security guards at checkpoints and other posts to also be alert and watching (Gen. 31:1-2).

    • Lord, place armed civilians in the right place at the right time to stop terrorist attacks (Josh. 4:12).

    • God, expose and break all ties between Palestinian terrorists and Iran (Psa. 129:5; Isa. 29:15).

    • Lord God, quash all Ramadan-inspired terror attacks against Your people (Psa. 68:1, 30b).

    • God of gods, use the extension of Israeli sovereignty to shame Muslims who see Your land as "wakf territory" – Allah's land forever – and use that shame to cause many to seek You (Psa. 83:16).

  6. External security – Middle East [ME] plus:

    The big news here in Israel is whether America will attack Iran, and if so what is its end goal. If it is anything less than a complete regime change then to many Israelis it will be a wasted opportunity. In response to any US attack, Israel expects to be attacked by Iran and/or its proxies. So the question is will Trump go down in history as a Chamberlain who appeased Hitler, or a Churchill who saved the world from Hitler?

    • Abba Father, Your promises and reputation/name are at stake if Israel is destroyed (Ex. 32:11-13), so arise and scatter Your enemies who hate you and Your people (Psa. 68:1; 83:1-18).

    • Lord God, prepare Israel for whatever it will be facing in the near future (Isa. 30:21).

    • Abba Father, be merciful to the Iranians and "destroy" Iran's current king and princes (Jer. 49:38b).

    • Lord God, turn the curses from Iran's leaders against Israel back upon them (Gal. 6:7).

    • God Almighty, empower Israel to militarily deal with Iran's efforts to advance its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs – with or without US support or approval (Isa. 31:1; Jer. 51:20-23).

    • King Yeshua, turn Trump's heart to either attack Iran or refrain, as per Your will (Prov. 21:1).

    • Lord, let Trump see how that Iran's manipulations of the negotiations gives them time to recover and rebuild for the next war against Israel and America (Psa. 5:9; 55:21; 62:4).

    • Messiah Lord, guard over Your Body in Iran, and impart wisdom to them to know how to pray for their nation now, especially during Ramadan (Psa. 50:15; 86:7).

    • Lord God of hosts, confound Iran's proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and anywhere else, and let all their plans against Israel become null and void (Psa. 33:10-11; 129:5).

    • Abba Father, be glorified through Israel's relations with the Druze and Kurds in Syria (Psa. 115:1-3).

    • Messiah, we praise You that many Israelis and their leaders finally see Qatar and Turkey as enemy states (Psa. 55:21; 62:4), and ask You for more Western leaders to see this as well.

    • Messiah Yeshua, You answered our prayers and have devastated Iran's economy, so now please do the same with Qatar's excessive riches and set its slaves free (Hag. 1:6; Jam. 5:1-3).

    • Abba Father, we rejoice in the aggressive stance Israel has taken against Hizbullah in Lebanon and ask that each attack would be empowered by You to be super effective (Isa. 23:9; Eph. 3:20-21).

  7. Aliyah:

    The resistance of most Jews in the "captivity" from returning and residing in Israel has moved God to release more hunters to chase them home (Jer. 16:16). Anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism are running amok in the West, and while Jews there are free to immigrate, most just do not do it. Ezekiel 39:28 seems to indicate that Jews will either live in Israel, or will not live at all! Thus praying for aliyah is of utmost importance today, especially as we perceive that aliyah is ultimately about God glory (Isa. 43:5-7, 21).

    • For Your holy name's sake bring home many multitudes of Jews this year (Ezek. 36:22-24).

    • God of Jacob, we thank You for already regathering that remnant of Israel, and ask You to use the next Israeli elections to set over Your people more righteous shepherds (Jer. 3:15; 23:3-4).

    • God Almighty, may the reports of the steep rise of anti-Semitism in 2025 which are being published now show Your people it is time to flee today's Babylonian West (Jer. 51:6-10, 50).

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

    • Lord God, stop Jewish leaders from struggling for the "right" of Jews to live in "peace and safety" in the nations, and instead to work to lead their communities home (Deut. 30:3-5; Psa. 107:2-3).

    • God of Israel, release Jews in Iran, India, Ethiopia, and South America to return home (Isa. 43:5-7).

    • God of Abraham, open wide the gates to Your nation to all those whom You see as Jews, regardless of what today's rabbis state (Isa. 62:10; Mark 7:9).

    • Lord, You said You would marry Your people to Your land (Isa. 62:4-5), so please do that with all of the Jews who, as part of Your chosen remnant, return and settle there (Isa. 10:20-22; 11:11).

    • Messiah Yeshua, teach gentile believers that Isaiah 60:3-11 and 16 speak prophetically to them to be an integral part of the restoration of Israel in these last days (Isa. 49:22).

    • Lord God, encourage believers to talk about aliyah with their Jewish acquaintances (Eph. 4:15a).

  8. Salvation:

    All Israel, that prophesied remnant, will be saved before the Lord returns (Rom. 11:26). Many believers think that all Israel is saved after Yeshua returns and then they physically see Him, yet that would mean gentiles get saved by faith but Jews get saved by sight! In Zechariah 12:10, the Hebrew reads they will look unto Me – not upon. This is in total agreement with what Yeshua said in Matthew 24:30: first the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; then the tribes of the land [not the earth] mourn; and then He returns. Thus by praying for Israel's salvation we are actively participating in hastening the return of our Lord (Isa. 40:3-6).

    • Almighty God of grace, answer our prayers and make this be the year to fulfill Jeremiah 31:7 as You save Your people, the remnant of Israel (Jer. 31:7; cp. Psa. 14:7; Rom. 11:26).

    • Lord God of Israel, impart to Your people a genuine hunger for a personal relationship with You as they read Exodus 29:45-46 in Shabbat's Torah portion.

    • King David's God, turn Your people away from the humanistic rabbinic teachings and let them feast on Your Word instead and by that create in them a biblical mindset (Psa. 80:3, 7, 19: Jer. 15:16).

    • Messiah Yeshua, may Jews who made aliyah with help of gentile believers be provoked to jealousy by the love and concern of these Christians, and use that to draw them to You (Rom. 11:11).

    • Lord, please save Holocaust survivors and their families; survivors of terrorism; returned hostages and loved ones; IDF soldiers and families; loved ones of soldiers killed or severely injured; soldiers with PTSD; medical personnel; widows, widowers, orphans and traumatized children; politicians, judges, lawyers, diplomats; wealthy Jews; university students, teachers, professors; astronomers and scientists; rabbis and Jewish anti-missionaries; Jews in Judea and Samaria; Jews on their death beds; Jews with guilt over past abortions; Israeli archeologists and tour guides; Israelis in the nations; Jews who just made aliyah; alcoholics, hippies, LGBTQ+, new agers; Jews in Iran, Ethiopia, Turkey, India, China, Venezuela; Jews married to gentile believers; unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

    • As this is Ramadan, Lord Yeshua, save many Israeli and Palestinian Muslims (Luke 19:10).

    • God, turn many ex-Muslim believers into zealous provokers to jealousy of the Jews (Rom. 11:11).

  9. Body of Messiah:

    Yeshua challenged the Jewish rulers about their failure to discern the signs of the times (Matt. 16:2-3). Is He also challenging His Body today with their ignorance, or worse, their lukewarmness, about the prophecies He is literally fulfilling in and around Israel?

    • Lord Yeshua, show Your Body that King Saul's rejection of God's word, as we read in the prophetic portion, cost him his position in Your kingdom (1 Sam. 15:22-23, 26).

    • Lord Messiah, remind them that since You do not change (Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6), if they reject the Old Testament, the Tanach, which was the only Word of God You had while You lived among men, then the consequences tend to be disastrous (Jer. 6:19; 8:9; John 12:48).

    • King of Israel, restore the authority of all of Your Word to Your Body (John 17:17; Eph. 5:25-27).

    • Abba Father, warn believers who are lukewarm about the restoration of Israel that You, who they proclaimed as their God, are jealous/zealous over it (Zech. 8:-18).

    • God Almighty, reveal to them that if they do not know what the Tanach says about these days, then they are in the dark concerning the end time prophecies You are fulfilling today (Luke 24:25:27).

    • Messiah Yeshua, cleanse Your Body from that doctrine of demons known today as replacement theology (Eph. 5:27; 1 Tim. 4:1).

    • Lord God, thank You for the growing remnant in the Body that does stands with and prays for Israel, and who see Israel's role in Your plans and desire for You to be glorified through them (Isa. 43:7, 21).

  10. Water:

    Israel has had some rain over the past week but we are in need of much more. Please pray with us that God would supply all of Israel's needs before the rainy season ends (Matt. 5:45b).

  11. IFI:

    Thank you for praying for us to know how to pray for all of the above issues concerning Israel. Our goal is for God to be glorified as He faithfully fulfills His prophetic declarations in our days (Num. 23:19; Isa. 55:11; Jer. 1:12; 4:28; Lam. 3:37; Matt. 24;35).

Blessings and Shabbat shalom from Zion

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

1 Sam. 15:29 [from Shabbat's prophetic reading]