1. Praise :

   Isaiah 52:7-8 in Shabbat's prophetic portion is a huge encouragement to us as we persist in prayer for God's nation and His people: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace…that publishes salvation; that says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' Your watchmen shall lift up their voice and together they shall sing, for they shall see when YHWH brings again [or 'returns to'!] Zion.

   • Abba, we rejoice that You who are Zion's God are now also our God in Messiah Yeshua, and thus we can declare that You reign over Zion and over us (Psa. 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1; 103:19).

   • Lord Messiah, thank You for teaching us that if You are not still Israel's God after Your resurrection, then You are not the faithful God who fulfills His Word (Deut. 7:9; Jer. 31:35-37; Heb. 10:23).

   • King Yeshua, we rejoice that as Your watchmen we can praise You in song and await Your return to Zion in glorious power and majesty (Isa. 62:6-7; Matt. 24:30).

   • Thank You Lord for giving us the good news – the gospel – to proclaim to Jew and gentile and that if received results in a supernatural peace (John 14:27; 16:33; Acts 10:36; Rom. 1:16).

2. Government & society :

   Israeli elections will be held on Oct. 27th. Its new government will face many serious issues: Will the next US president in 2028 be as pro-Israel as Trump? Will Hamas still reign in Gaza? Will Iran's regime survive and become even more dangerous? Will a new coalition be able to pass the necessary judicial reform? Will it resist the world and obey God by extending Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria? For all these issues and more, praying for the upcoming Israeli elections to produce a biblically Zionistic coalition is crucial for Israel – and for the kingdom of God.

   • Abba, by Your sovereign authority, overrule the elections so that the next prime minister and his coalition, are exactly those whom You have chosen (Deut. 17:15 in the Torah portion; Dan. 2:21).

   • King Yeshua, move upon the worldwide Body to pray for Israel's next government to be composed of sons of Issachar and Zion (1 Chr. 12:32; Zech. 9:13).

   • Messiah Yeshua, if there is a hidden "son of Jesse" whom You have already ordained to be Israel's leader after PM Bibi Netanyahu, reveal him to us so that we can be praying for him (Amos 3:7).

   • Lord God, as Israelis hear what the parties say on crucial issues, like sovereignty over the land and judicial reform, move on them to vote for those who will do Your will (Prov. 16:9).

   • God, block a lukewarm "unity" government and raise up a zealous Zionistic coalition (Psa. 75:4-7).

   • Abba Father, let events occur between now and the elections which will impact Israeli voters to shift their opinions and vote for the people whom You have ordained to rule Israel today (Dan. 2:21).

   • As nothing is too hard for You Lord God, build a Zionistic coalition that does not need to depend on the Haredi [ultra-Orthodox] parties to survive and who will pass righteous laws (Jer. 32:17, 27).

   • Almighty Judge, let Israelis take the opening verses of Shabbat's Torah reading seriously and desire to see judicial reform done in Your righteousness (Deut. 16:18-20; cp. Isa. 1:25-26).

   • God of Israel, block Netanyahu and other coalition politicians, from viewing all they say or do today through a political filter of "what-is-best-for-me" in the upcoming elections (Matt. 6:34).

   • God of Jacob, give Bibi a Joseph-type advisor, a person in whom he sees Your Spirit (Gen. 41:38).

   • Abba Father, raise up many more Haredi rabbis who agree that their followers who are not fulltime Torah students should, if capable, serve in the IDF like most other Jewish Israelis (Num. 1:1-3; 26:2).

3. Foreign relations :

   The anti-Zionist spirit running rampant in most nations, including in parts of the US, is pushing Israel to become God's prophesied nation dwelling alone (Num. 23:9b). We should not pray against this, but we can pray for it to happen in God's way and His timing.

   • Lord God, use the increase of anti-Zionism to turn Israel into that prophesied set-apart nation (Num. 23:9b), and wean it off from trusting in other nations rather than in You (Isa. 31:1-3).

   • God of Jacob, increase the influence of Your opinion in the souls of Israel's leaders and its people, and decrease the influence of the world's opinion (Deut. 30:19-20; Isa. 30:30).

   • Lord of all, place the spirit that David had when dealing with King Saul inside Netanyahu when he has to deal with US President Trump and his administration (1 Sam. 18:14-15; Matt. 10:16b).

   • Lord God, if You have already released a deceiving spirit on Western leaders who hate Israel, reveal this to us and show us how to prayer for our birth-nations (Rom. 1:28; 2 Thess. 2:10-12).

   • Lord God, we ask that You alone would decide whether Netanyahu should go to next month's annual UN General Assembly meeting in NYC – or to refrain and remain in Zion (Prov. 16:9; 19:21).

   • King Messiah, let believers see the link between the gross darkness overtaking nations (Isa. 60:2) and their leaders, people, and even churches cursing and/or betraying Your nation (Num. 24:9b).

   • Abba Father, anoint more believers to be spiritual diplomats for Israel today (Psa. 98:2-3; Isa. 60:3).

4. Gaza :

   Trump's recent announcement of his "Board of Peace's" 15 point plan to bring "peace and security" to Gaza, Israel and the Middle East [ME] is very dangerous for America – and Israel if it submits to it. Not only is the goal a "Palestinian State" to be created inside God's land that He has sworn to give to His people, but His Word warns that those who cry "peace and security" and divide His land are targets for sudden destruction (Joel 3:12; 1 Thess. 5:3).

   • Abba, let Psalm 33:10-11 come to pass and block this new "deal" (Psa. 125:3)!

   • Thank You Lord for strengthening Netanyahu as he has rejected this plan and is demanding that the original 21 point agreement (Hamas disarmed and Gaza demilitarized), be fulfilled before the IDF withdraws from parts of Gaza that it currently controls (Num. 30:2; Matt. 5:37).

   • King Messiah, confound all nations on Trump's "Board of Peace" who are either openly or secretly enemies of Israel – such as Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, etc. (Psa. 129:5; 144:7-8; Isa. 33:7).

   • God, as You cause wars to cease and disarm the enemy, forbid this war from ceasing until Hamas, and all other terrorist groups in Gaza are totally erased (Psa. 46:9; Ezek. 39:3; Mic. 4:3; 5:10).

   • Lord of hosts, as You did in biblical days, impart strategies and tactics to the IDF to shock, divide and once and for all defeat Hamas (Josh. 6:2-5; Judg. 7:16-18; 2 Sam. 5:23-24).

   • Abba Father, remove any rules of engagement from off the IDF that blocks them from obtaining a total victory against Hamas – or any other of Israel's many foes (Psa. 60:12; 68:35; Zech. 10:5).

   • We bless You that the UN has finally said there never was a famine in Gaza, yet Lord there is a huge famine of Your Word, so anoint Your Body in Gaza to supply it (Amos 8:11; Matt. 9:36).

   • Lord God, if the war with Hamas cannot be won until Israel commits to repossess all of Gaza, move on the next government and more Israelis to do just that (Neh. 2:20; Isa. 44:26; Obad. 1:17-20).

5. Internal security :

   Jews are reading through Deuteronomy for the Torah portions until mid-September. Moses says more than 80 times in that book that God has given His land to His nation, and Israel needs to trust and obey Him and rise up to possess it (Obad. 1:17).

   • Lord, You watch over Your word to bring it to pass (Jer. 1:12), so watch over all of the verses in Shabbat's Torah portion linking Israel to the land (Deut. 16:20; 17:2, 14; 18:9; 19:1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 14; 20:16; 21:1) and plant a desire in the heart of Israelis to trust and obey You (Josh. 24:15; Prov. 3:5).

   • Lord God, use the multi-front war that Israel has been fighting since Oct. 7th 2023 to at least partially fulfill Your oath to Israel's fathers that is found in Deuteronomy 19:8 in the Torah reading.

   • God of Isaac, place in Israel's next governing coalition many biblical Zionists who are as zealous as You are to see all of the land of promise come under Israel's rule (Psa. 75:6-7; Ezek. 36:5-12).

   • God of Abraham, let Leviticus 25:23 convince Jews, wherever they reside, that the land is Yours and You have not give them permission to give it away for any reason whatsoever (Ezek. 36:5).

   • Lord Yeshua, open believers' minds to understand, and accept, that all Your promises to the nation and people of Israel are still valid today (Num. 23:19; Psa. 119:89; Matt. 5:18; 2 Cor. 1:20).

   • King Messiah, rebuke any born-again believer who rejects, or worse, fights against that which You are doing with all of Your heart and soul – planting Your people back in their land (Jer. 32:41-44).

   • Lord of hosts, use Deuteronomy 20:1-4 in Shabbat's Torah portion to encourage both IDF leaders and its soldiers that You who never change (Mal. 3:6) still go with them in battle.

   • Abba Father, supernaturally speed up Israel's plans to boost security along the 186 mile [300 kms.] long border with Jordan through building more settlements and IDF bases there (Psa. 147:14).

   • God of Jacob, as the hot summer weather has descended on Israel, guard over Your people and Your land against arson-terrorist attacks, some of which have already occurred (Isa. 43:2).

   • Almighty of Jacob, prepare the IDF to war against the Palestinian Authority's Security Forces who are now an army and which has many more men than agreed to in the Oslo Accords (Psa. 23:5).

   • Messiah, save many Palestinians and let them provoke Jews to jealousy (Matt. 5:44; Rom. 11:11).

6. External security :

   Many analysts think that Trump is now trapped in his war against Iran. Still. Iran's internal economic situation is dreadful. Lebanon is still trying to decide to work with Israel against Hizbullah, or to stand with Hizbullah and remain under Iran's #1 proxy's grip. Also, reports on the Mecca Pact between Turkey, Saudi Araba and Pakistan let us see once again how dangerous is the neighborhood in which God has planted Israel.

   • Almighty God, reinforce Your angelic hosts fighting beside the IDF (2 Kin. 6:16-17; 2 Chr. 32:7-8).

   • King of Israel, You are still "a Man of war;" therefore arise and lead Israel as it wars against all of its modern-day adversaries (Ex. 15:3a; Psa. 68:1, 30; Isa. 42:13; Joel 3:16; Rev. 19:11-16).

   • Messiah Yeshua, intensify the paranoia among Israel's ME foes so that they simply cannot trust each other and confuses them into making major geo-political mistakes (Psa. 129:5).

   • Iran: Almighty King, Jeremiah 49:38b states that Your goal for Iran is total regime change, so we ask for this war to not cease until that becomes a reality (Num. 23:19; Luke 18:1).

   • Lord God of hosts, prepare Israel, Your weapon of war, to deal with Iran alone if Trump backs off and declares "victory," yet leaves Iran as a wounded beast with a nuclear program (Jer. 51:20-24).

   • We praise You God that Netanyahu has openly stated once again that regardless of what happens, Israel will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons (Acts 26:25).

   • Lord God, arise and have mercy on the oppressed Iranian civilians who have turned to stealing food in order to feed their families (Psa. 9:9; 103:6; 146:7).

   • Hizbullah in Lebanon: Abba, do not let Israel be pressured by America to retreat from the agreement with the US and Lebanon, and to pull back from their buffer zones in Lebanon before Hizbullah has been completely disarmed (Num. 30:2).

   • Lord God, encourage the growing division between the Lebanese government, many of its people – including many Shi'ites – and Hizbullah [a Shi'ite Islamic terrorist group] (Psa. 55:9).

   • God of Israel, increase Your protection over IDF soldiers in Lebanon and the civilians near Israel's northern border against the threats of Hizbullah's drones and other weapons (Psa. 121:4).

   • Speak Lord, and break Hizbullah, today's proud cedars of Lebanon (Psa. 29:5; Isa. 2:12-13).

   • Lord God, use Iran's financial dire straits to drain Hizbullah's finances (Psa. 12:2-4).

   • King Yeshua, teach Lebanese believers how to pray for their nation and for Israel (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

   • Other: Lord, give Israel insight into the Mecca pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, as to whether it is a real threat or just more false bravado from Arab leaders (Isa. 36:5).

   • Thank You Lord that Saudi Arabia has revealed its true attitude towards the Jewish State by joining hands with these extremely vicious anti-Israel nations (Prov. 11:21a; 16:5).

   • Abba, as You heard Pakistan's Defense Minister declare that Israel is "illegitimate," and a "threat" to Islam, and has called for a united Islamic army to eliminate Your nation, do not let this pass You by and do not let Israel ignore this even in the midst of its election campaign (Psa. 83:1-4).

   • King Messiah, wake up Turkish, Lebanese, Iranian and Pakistani believers to pray for You to protect Israel against the demonic plans of their birth-nations (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 83:1-4).

   • Lord God, be glorified in Israel's relations with the Syrian Druze and the Kurdish people who reside in Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran (Isa. 48:11).

   • King Messiah, impart wisdom to Israel in its close relations to India, and bless India for standing with Israel by saving multitudes in that majority Hindu nation (Gen. 27:29; Gal. 3:8).

7. Aliyah :

   God is regathering His people for His name's sake (Ezek. 36:22-24). Believers who know His Word will support this as it is an end-time sign to the world that our God is both faithful and able to fulfill His promises (Jer. 32:37).

   • We thank You Lord God of Israel that You have regathered Your people from over 100 different nations and six different continents so far (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • Yet as the majority of Jews are still stuck in "the captivity," Abba anoint our prayers to help them get unstuck and to return home before it is too late and they perish there (Ezek. 39:26-28).

   • God, You said You would gather Your people with great mercies (Isa. 54:7-8), yet we see Your hunters hunting Your people today (Jer. 16:16), especially in the West, so we pray for You to use these Jew-hating hunters to increase the effectiveness of Your mercy (Rom. 8:28).

   • Abba Father, rebuke Jewish pride that says, "They will not chase us out!" and show them that You are doing the chasing in order to bring them home (Prov. 16:18; Isa. 43:5-7; Jer. 31:3-5).

   • Lord, as Israel's relations with Latin America nations improves, use that to ignite a huge return to Your land of many Spanish and Portuguese speaking Jews (Isa. 43:6; Ezek. 11:17).

   • God of Jacob, confirm to Israelis and their leaders that the regathering of the scattered Jews is one of the main reasons for Israel's miraculous rebirth on their ancestral land (Psa. 147:2; Jer. 31:10).

   • Thank You God for Israel's program to ease the reunion of B'nei Menashe [Indian Jews] families by opening wide the doors for their loved ones still in India to make aliyah (Zech. 8:7).

   • Lord God, direct Israel to do the same with the Ethiopian Jews, and in fact all Jews who have made aliyah and still have families in the captivity – like so many from the West (Jer. 31:8-9).

   • Almighty Shepherd, enable more gentile believers to heed Your voice and help to carry Your Jewish family home – whether physically, financially, or through intercession (Isa. 49:22; John 10:27).

8. Salvation :

   Ellul, known in Judaism as the month of repentance, starts today. It is a month of preparation for Jews to help them to enter into the fall feasts of the Lord in a manner more pleasing to God. The shofar sounds each morning and many go to synagogue and pray the prayers of repentance.

   • God, regardless of why Jews attend services during Ellul, turn them unto You, cause Your face to shine on them and save them (Psa. 80:3, 7, 19; Zech. 4:6-7).

   • As Jew read Deuteronomy 18:18-19 in the Torah portion, Lord have them ask You, and not man, as to whether this verse has already been fulfilled (John 5:39, 46; Acts 3:22; 7:37).

   • Lord of the harvest, send out many more laborers into the vast Jewish harvest fields (Matt. 9:37-38).

   • King Yeshua, burden Your Body to pray persistently for all Israel to be saved (Rom. 11:26).

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

9. Body of Messiah :

   The reason why believers, especially in the West, are confused by, or even stand against, Israel's restoration is a disbelief in the Tanach as still a vital part of God's Word. Regardless of how they arrived at this anti-biblical conclusion, it denigrates that part of the Word of God that Yeshua, His early disciples, and the NT writers, read, loved, and trusted (2 Tim. 3:15-17)!

   • Messiah Yeshua, reveal to Your Body that the only Word of God You read and memorized and trusted in while You physically walked in Israel was the Old Testament, the Tanach, and so they need to follow You and read and trust in it as well (Luke 24:44; John 5:46; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).

   • God Almighty, show believers that if they are ignorant of how the Tanach describes these days, they will also be ignorant of most of the end time prophecies You are fulfilling today (Luke 24:25:27).

   • Divine Physician, heal Your Body of its biblical anorexia and prophetic illiteracy by giving it a deep 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, let Your Body take Your warnings to heart that in the last days false prophets will come, both in Your name as well as confessing You – and will still deceive many (Matt. 24:4-5, 11, 24-25).

IFI: Please ask God to lead you as you pray for this ministry. We need and treasure your prayers and thank you for standing with us and with Israel.

Blessings and Shabbat shalom
Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team
Isa. 52:9-10 [from Shabbat's prophetic reading]