In today’s blog, as I do each week, I want to share “A Word, A Song and A Laugh” to encourage you in these troubling times and regarding the brutal atrocities happening in Israel.
A WORD
“Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot. Selah 9 Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera, as with Jabin at the Brook Kishon, 10 Who perished at En Dor, who became as refuse on the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, 12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves the pastures of God for a possession.” 13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind! 14 As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, 15 So pursue them with Your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord. 17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.”
Psalm 83
This past week, we all witnessed the brutal, surprise attack on Israel. The unimaginable atrocities committed against innocent children, women and elderly is beyond comprehension. That humans could be so vile, evil, savage and heartless towards other humans is beyond the pale. It is so heartbreaking. We love Israel and the Jewish people … and we pray for all innocent victims in this war.
My husband and I have been to Israel many times with The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) and then last May, I was in Israel with Christians United for Israel (CUFI) and a group of Christian women leaders. We were there at the northern tip of Gaza and we toured the very fence the enemies of Israel broke through as they began the vicious war with Israel. We met with numerous Jewish women, children and leaders there and throughout Israel and I can’t bear to think of how they are doing now. I am heartbroken, shocked, sad and angry and also filled with so much compassion towards our Jewish brothers and sisters who have suffered so much throughout history.
I want to do something, and I am sure you do, too — in the natural, it’s easy to feel helpless. I know I can pray and I have been praying continuously, as I am sure many of you are doing also. We can give financially to trusted agencies on the ground in Israel — we trust Christians United for Israel and The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and recommend them to you. These are practical thing we can do, so let’s keep praying and giving.
Jesus told us that these sad and difficult things are signs of the last of the last days.
“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:3-14
There is so much we could say about the Scriptures, last days, end times, God’s timetable, the imminence of the rapture and then the 2nd coming return of Jesus. I will do so in a future blog, but for today, I just want to alert you to the reality that we are in the last of the last days and encourage you to support Israel, pray for all innocent people affected by this war — and let’s be busy about the Master’s business in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus to the whole world.
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Several friends of mine posted this on Facebook and I thought it was a great perspective and very well-written.
Why does Israel matter?
Did you know that the time clock of the return of Jesus Christ isn’t based on America’s timeline? It’s based on what is happening in Israel.
Did you know Jesus wasn’t a “Christian” ? He was a Jew. He celebrated and kept the Jewish holy days and customs, as well as the feasts of the LORD. He didn’t come to eradicate the Torah and writing of the Prophets / Old Testament. He came to fulfill the prophecies that were written in them.
When Jesus returns, He isn’t returning to the United States. The Bible says He is going to plant His foot down on the Mount of Olives and go through the Eastern Gate, which is currently sealed off with 16 feet of concrete. A cemetery was also placed in front of that gate because touching the dead makes a Jew considered unclean and unable to enter the Temple, which is considered Holy. The Word of GOD says He will return there and from there He will rule and reign for 1,000 years.
The final battle isn’t going to be on U.S. soil. It’s going to be in the Valley of Megiddo, in Israel. The Bible says as the nations wage war against Israel Jesus will come and destroy His enemies with the breath of His mouth. (2 Thess 2:8)
GOD did not replace the Jews with Christians as some believe. We are actually grafted in with them as you would graft a wild branch into an existing tree. The Word of GOD says, “When you touch Israel, you touch the Apple of GOD’s eye.” Zechariah 2:8
“He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The LORD is thy keeper.” Psalm 121:4
“I will bless those that bless you and I will curse those that curse you.” Genesis 12:3
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
ISRAEL matters.
PRAY FOR ISRAEL.
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BLOG BONUS: Today, be encouraged by this "Signs of the Times” sermon and interview I did with Rev. Joe Morris. He’s an expert in the Biblical understanding of the Last Days and especially Israel’s role and the impending Ezekiel 38 War. This message was recorded 3 years ago, during the pandemic while our church was meeting virtually and it’s all still very relevant. You can also watch Rev. Joe’s weekly “End of Days Update” videos every Wednesday.
