May 14, 1948 God Keeps His Covenants

May 14, 2020 marks the 72nd anniversary of the modern state of Israel! Like Daniel, let's praise “the great and awesome God” Who has kept His covenants with the Jewish people. Revisiting Daniel's story gives us a road map and a hope for our personal lives too. Daniel  prayed three times a day in pagan Babylon. He didn’t hesitate to bring his and the people’s failures before the Lord, yet he trusted that God keeps His covenants no matter what. Daniel remained faithful and God remains faithful to Israel and to us! 

Here are a few of his prayers in Daniel 9: “The great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, …we have sinned and done wrong. Turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, see the desolation of the city that bears your Name…and O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name.”

Daniel’s life was dramatic. Babylonians kidnapped him from his Jerusalem home when he was a teenager. Daniel’s 12 chapters describe his ascent in exile to the heights of Nebuchadnezzar’s regime as a politician and a respected interpreter of dreams. Yet, he practiced a vibrant faith and interceded for the Jewish people. Today, Daniel’s IQ would surely be genius level!

Drama continued into Daniel’s 80's when he was thrown into a lion’s den for refusing to worship anyone but the Lord! A clay tablet discovered in the late 1800's in the ruins of ancient Susa (modern Iran) confirmed the death penalty of throwing the “criminal” alive into a lion’s pit or cage where kings likely kept lions for their hunting sports. 

The Susa tablet and discovery of cages with iron bars in Babylon (modern Iraq) shows that archeology once again proves biblical facts!  

Daniel lived most of his life in Babylon yet praised God and believed His commitment to keep His eternal covenants promised to Father Abraham. God kept one of His most profound covenant promises on May 14, 1948 when Israel was re-born as a modern Jewish state!

On this significant day, let's follow Daniel who prayed for his Jewish people and pray for our Christians too. Some Christians believe the error of Replacement Theology which declares that the church has ‘replaced’ the Jews and that they no longer have relevance.  Pray against antisemitism and Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS)-economic warfare against Israel.  

Lift up Moses’ Prayer Banner for Israel

I have curated prayers from ten biblical figures as a guide to pray for Israel. In chronological order, they are Moses, Deborah, Ruth, Nehemiah, Esther, Isaiah, Daniel, Zephaniah, Apostle Paul, and Cornelius. I’ll post all ten in the coming weeks.

When praying for Israel we are lifting a prayer banner handed down in ancient times from Abraham to Jesus and beyond. Now in modern times, our own prayers under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit link us with Bible characters we love and venerate. When God spoke first in the Older Testament through Jewish scribes- then in the New Testament- He bequeathed to believers a magnificent set of prayers, engraving His words into ancient and modern hearts. Praying scriptures places us in agreement with God.

In our prayers for Israel, we are in a sense reenacting traditional Jewish prayers called a Minyan. Ten adults compose a Minyan, the minimum number needed for public prayer, and to hold services at a synagogue.

Ours though is a worldwide Minyan with intercession across every time zone.

At any one moment it is likely that someone or some group is praying somewhere in the world for Israel and the Jewish people. Our prayerful dialogues with God can take place anywhere, anytime.

MOSES A Masterful Politician, a Mentor for Today

A Jewish infant born into slavery, rescued from a basket in the Nile and adopted into the Pharaoh’s royal family, Moses’ life is a drama of the unexpected. Later with an accusation of murder, escape to Midian, and then an encounter with a burning bush, God trained Moses into advocacy with the Pharaoh. His political biography is worth imitating.

When God tapped Moses to lead a freedom march out of Egypt, he was not enthusiastic. Even with a royal education, he claimed he could not give good speeches. God remedied Moses’ excuse by appointing his brother Aaron as a 1500BC Press Secretary. The brothers worked in tandem in their senior citizen careers.

Moses’ political skills developed when God gave him a plan to set the Jewish slaves free. The reluctant leader/politician then made the case to Pharaoh with unrelenting persistence with Aaron by his side. Finally, after ten plagues Pharaoh capitulated. Moses’ lobbying efforts resulted in freedom and the Jewish return to their ancestral homeland.

Moses is a role model for the necessity of appealing to leaders who can implement change. He melded together prayers, politics, and persistence.

Toward the end of their forty-year sojourn Numbers 6: 22-27 records one of the most recited and treasured prayers of all time. God told Moses the prayer that Aaron was to say over the children of Israel. The Aaronic Blessing is a prayer that fits any situation. Taking the lead from the brothers who gained political success on behalf of their Jewish community, Moses’ prayers pronounced by Aaron were powerful.

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons saying, ‘In this way you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them, "The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."’ And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.” Numbers 6: 22-27

Prayer Points:

· Pray that United States Congress will continue to vote in favor of Israel’s security aid and that Christians will follow Moses’ example to become politically engaged on behalf of Israel. Here’s how: AIPAC.org and CUFI.org

· Israel’s Knesset, with 120 members, is made up of Jews, Arabs, and Ethiopians. Pray that the laws they enact produce the best results for all Israelis.

· Pray for Israel’s Prime Minister and President for wisdom, ability to inspire their citizens, and to communicate expertly with the world.