Day to Praise: Celebrating Isaiah 66:8 through Psalms 113-118 with Israel

 

 

Isaiah 66:8: "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children."

 

Thank you for visiting the Day to Praise website and learning more on how you can be part of a global movement in praising God for the miracle of the State of Israel in our lifetime.

 

Traditionally, synagogues in Israel and around the world corporately pray Psalms 113-118 (known as Hallel) during Biblical Feasts, Chanukah and a modified version of Hallel every month on the Festival of the New Moon.

A year after the establishment of the State of Israel, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel decided that these series of psalms should be invoked on Israel’s Independence Day. Central to all the reasons in instituting Israel’s Independence Day as a minor holiday within the sacred calendar of the Jewish people was the notion of thanksgiving.

With the destruction of the Second Temple, the exile of the Jewish people scattered to the four corners of the earth, trials and tribulations under foreign governments and the near annihilation of Eastern European Jewry in the Holocaust, it seemed that Jewish history was coming to an end. As the psalmists declares: They thrust so hard against me, I nearly fell, but the Lord came to my help. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation (Psalm 118:13-14).

On May 14, 1948, God changed the course of sacred history and the State of Israel was born in one day as stated in Isaiah 66:8. Indeed, the Jewish people experienced a dream-like state of wonderment as echoed in Psalm 126. The religious establishment recognized that the restoration of Israel back to its homeland had to be acknowledged in our corporate worship. Psalms 113-118 would be our national recognition of God’s providence working through His people and Zion.

“Praise the Lord, all nations; acclaim Him, all you peoples; for His loving-kindness to us is strong; and the Lord’s faithfulness is everlasting. Halleluya”

What is most interesting in the development of these series of psalms is that one of the five criteria in creating Hallel was the inherent notion of the birth pangs of the messianic era. How prophetic! The reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel and the ingathering of the exiles from the four corners of the earth are proofs that we are living in the beginnings of a redemptive age. Jewish history is alive and well! We are living in the beginnings of a very special season and through Hallel we acknowledge our sacred role in the unfolding of the miracle of State of Israel.

An essential characteristic of Hallel is the role of the nations in praising God with us. It is my belief that the time has come to invite the Christian world to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day with us by reciting these psalms. On April 23rd, I will have a special live-stream Hallel service where both the Jewish and Christian communities will be reciting Psalms 113-118 together. It is my hope that you will join us in Jerusalem on that day.

If your schedule does not allow you to come this year, I ask that you prayerfully consider to recite these psalms on April 23rd. You can do this in your personal prayer time, with members of your prayer team or have your church conduct an actual service.

As the psalmist declares – This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. What a sanctification of God’s name it would be when both faith communities can come together in a sacred moment to give praise and thanksgiving for God’s covenantal love for Israel! Please let me know you will be praising with us on April 23rd.

Shlomo Riskin

Chief Rabbi of Efrat

Ambassador for Jewish-Christian Relations

daytopraise.com
 

Prayer for Israel's Restoration

Praying out Psalm 80 for Israel:

"Give hear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim shine forth!
Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up Your strength and come and save us!
Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!
O Lord God of Hosts, how long will You be angry against the prayer of Your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure.
You have made us a strife to our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!
You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it.
You prepared room for it, and caused it to take root, and it filled the land.
The hills are covered with its shadow, the mighty cedars with its boughs.
She sent out her boughs to the Sea, and her branches to the River.
Why have You broken down her hedges, so that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?
The boar out of the woods uproots it, and the wild beast of the field devours it.
Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, and visit this vine
and the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, and the branch that You made strong for Yourself.
It is burned with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your Name.
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, and we will be saved!

Continued Prayers for Israel's Government

LATTER RAIN AND HAIL TO SWEEP AWAY DECEPTION.

"Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone" (Zechariah 10:1).

"I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters will overflow the secret place (Isaiah 28:17).

The weather in Israel has been unusual of late. It is over a month since the beginning of the season for "latter rains" (the "former rains" begin in October). We received good precipitation during the late fall and again early this year. Parts of the deserts became green, remaining so much later than usual. Many places were filled with flowers. In recent years, it has not been uncommon for there to be little or no rain in April, so when earlier this past week there was a heat wave, we thought perhaps the rains were over. Then overnight, the temperatures took a dive, rain began in the north and snow began falling on Mount Hermon. Soon, more than 20 centimeters had accumulated there, and there was flooding in many places about the country. Saturday, news services were reporting temperatures lower for this time of year than they've been in over 25 years. Yesterday (Sunday), found storms moving across the country, accompanied by hail. "Rare Hail Storm Hits Tel Aviv" read one headline in The Jerusalem Post. At one point in early afternoon, the ground and streets in Jerusalem were covered with hail. When it hails in Israel, it usually comes as the vanguard of a storm system. But this was different; it was coming intermittently and violently.

We are grateful for the moisture. After such a dry 2013-14 season, God has truly been blessing Israel. Yet the unusual hail-coupled with the Scripture from Isaiah quoted above-make us wonder if God may be trying to tell us something. One week from this Wednesday is the deadline for Mr. Netanyahu to form his coalition. It still appears far from certain whether he will have done so by then-at least with the right-wing parties he has been working to bring into it. We have not doubts that Netanyahu is the leader of God's choosing for this season. But what are God's priorities during that season as regards the government with which he must lead? There could be serious drawbacks were he to dump those with whom he is presently negotiating, and reach for a unity-government with Labor, presently planted in the opposition. But there might be equally serious drawbacks to being bound-up with the two ultra-Orthodox parties. Most of the apprehension in Israel is over the rapidly increasing dangers posed by Iran. Any confrontation with that power would require the widest and most unified governmental front possible.

PLEASE PRAY:

*That God will bring into formation a strong, unified government capable of addressing the challenges facing Israel in months to come.

*That this will be a government characterized by justice and righteousness. Pray that any hidden refuge of falsehood satan may be using to bring into place a weakened and inept government, will be exposed-the secrets brought out into the open. "I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters will overflow the secret place (Isaiah 28:17).

*Integrity and protection (both mental and physical) over Benyamin Netanyahu. That he will not be deceived, but be granted divine grace in the judgments he must make during the coming week. Pray a grace and protection over his family, and God's favor over him as he moves into his new term as Israel's leader.

portions taken from Israel Prayer list

Prayer for forming of Israel's Government

Last Tuesday saw the swearing-in of Israel's new government, the 20^th Knesset. Of the 120 members making up the body, 39 (almost 1/3^rd) were first-time legislators.

PLEASE PRAY: *That this will be a government characterized by integrity, wisdom and justice. Righteousness exalts a nation (Prov. 14:34). 

*Pray that Knesset members will come under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit of the God of this Land, Who has allowed them to rise to their positions of responsibility.

 *That there will be those who come to experience the righteousness which is imparted in a knowledge of the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua (II Cor. 5:21).

Prime Minister Netanyahu is well into the 28 days he is granted to form a coalition. 

 That 28 days ends on April 22^nd (the eve of Israel's Independence Day). If he has not formed it by that time, he may request of President Rivlin another 14 days, although the President is under no obligation to grant it. Thus far, negotiations with representatives of the different parties who are willing to be part of the government have been stormy, as each demands guarantees of special ministry portfolios for their particular party along with other assurances. Some have speculated that if Netanyahu is unable to cobble together a coalition with the very right-wing parties he is presently working with, he may feel forced to reach over to the Opposition for the possibility of forming a Unity Government-especially in light of the growing threat the whole nation is experiencing from Iran. 

 PLEASE PRAY: *For Netanyahu to be humble before his God-that he ask for and be sensitive to divine wisdom in the formation of his government.

 *Pray that God will place into position the government which will be capable of addressing and accomplishing His priorities for Israel during this coming season. 

 *Pray against the enemy entrenching any parties into positions which would impede the work of the Lord in releasing revelation to His people.

Israel has voiced strong opposition to the "framework" nuclear deal with Iran arrived at by the "P5+1" world powers last Thursday.

 It is seen here as being, if anything, worse than that outlined by Mr. Netanyahu in his speech before the US Congress last month. This week President Obama made conciliatory remarks towards Israel, stating that he has found it personally difficult to hear expressions that his administration hasn't done everything it could for Israel's interest-that he would consider it a "fundamental failure of his presidency" if on his watch, it were to be shown that Israel had been rendered more vulnerable. He emphasized his willingness to make commitments to give Iran and other Middle Eastern nations "a clarity that if Israel were to be attacked by any state.we (i.e. the U.S.) would stand by them." (1)

Of course, a problem with this assurance is that "if Israel were to be attacked" by a nation with nuclear weapons, it could by then be too late to "stand by them." Nor might Israel be blamed for skepticism about the deal when last week, even while it was in its final stages of being rounded out, militia chief Mohammad Reza Naqdi of Iran's Revolutionary Guards made the statement that "erasing Israel off the Map" is "nonnegotiable." (2) 

 And on Sunday the Telegraph reported that Iran has stepped-up its support of Hamas operatives in Gaza, transferring tens of millions of dollars for the purpose of rebuilding tunnels and restocking missile arsenals destroyed by Israel last summer during Operation Protective Edge. (3)

PLEASE PRAY: *That Israel will be given divine guidance in her response to the growing Iranian threat, in light of the recent framework deal arrived at by the nations

. *That God will bring Israel to a place where she sees that her physical security is not ultimately dependent upon any nation or alliance of nations, but upon Him alone.

1. "Obama: Weakened Israel would be 'failure' for my presidency": Times of Israel; 6 April 2015, 0132.

2. "Iran militia chief: Destroying Israel is 'nonnegotiable': JPOST.com, 31 March 2015, 4:03.

3. "Report: Iran transfers millions to Hamas for reconstruction of tunnels": JPOST.com, 5 April 2015, 16:31.

Portions taken from Israel Prayer list

Passover Season Prayer Points

1. This past weekend Jews began to celebrate the feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread [Matzah] and First Fruits [of the barley harvest] while Christians remembered Yeshua's death, burial and resurrection. As Messianic Jews, we are doubly blessed since both are intimately linked. We rejoice in being set from slavery in Egypt and from slavery to sin – all by the blood of the Lamb!
   
   
   • We bless You for setting us free (John 8:36).
     
     
   • Thank You for the Lamb of God who carries away our sin (John 1:29).
     
     
   • We are so grateful for Messiah's blood which protects us from Your righteous judgments.
     

     "And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt."
     Exodus 12:13b

   • Hallelujah! We serve a Risen Savior who is in the world today (Matthew 28:6)!
     
     
   • Thank You for the cross and the empty tomb.
     
     
   • 'The Lamb who was slain has begun His reign'!
     

   • "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."
     Revelation 5:12

     
     
     
     6. Last Friday, Jews the world over, sat down with family and friends and celebrated the traditional Passover Seder meal. A little less than 2,000 years ago, just before Passover began Yeshua died on the cross, giving up His spirit at the same time as the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple. This is a wonderful time to pray for many Jews to have their eyes opened to the One and Only Lamb of God who is now seated at the right hand of our Father in heaven.

        • For so says YHWH, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise and say, O YHWH, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.
          Jeremiah 31:7

          
          
        • Lord, during this feast of Passover/Unleavened Bread week, please pour out that spirit of grace that opens the eyes of Israelis to see the One whom they have pierced (Zechariah 12:10).
          
          
        • Cause the children to ask some very insightful questions that cause the parents to rethink their traditions.
          
          
        • Abba, many of us have planted and watered seeds of Messiah's kingdom in Jewish hearts this past year. Tonight, give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).
          
          
        • God, reveal the true King of Israel to Bibi and his family this week.
          
          
        • Please pray for specific groups to receive a revelation of Yeshua. Some suggestions are: rabbis, IDF soldiers, Holocaust and terror attack survivors, Ukrainian and French Jews still in exile, unsaved loved ones of Messianic believers, etc.
          
          
     7. At the end of the Seder, Jews proclaim, Next year in Jerusalem. Please ask God to convict those Jews who say this and do not mean it. Jews in exile need to come home – make aliyah – quickly. The handwriting on the walls of Europe is spreading to North America as well – as reports show anti-Semitic attacks in the US increased dramatically last year. Let's pray also for the Church to see that interceding for and helping a Jew come home is part of what God is expecting from His people in these days.
        

        • Thus says the Lord YHWH, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the gentiles, and set up My banner to the people; they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
          Isaiah 49:22

        • Thank You for the significant increase in aliyah this past year.
          
          
        • Make this year a banner year for aliyah.
          
          
        • When our people say Next year in Jerusalem, may they hear in their spirits this:
          

          If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its cunning. If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.
          Psalms 137:5-6

        • May this new Israeli government make the immigration and integration of Jews to Israel a top priority.
          
          
        • Lord Yeshua, speak to Messianic Jews in exile who do not want to hear what Your will is in this area (Isaiah 35:10; 51:11).
          
          
     We end by praying for safety in Jerusalem and throughout this land!
   
   
   Portions taken from Intercessors for Israel.