“Unceasingly opposed and assailed since its birth, this tiny Jewish state (Israel) has consistently confounded the experts and radically changed the political and military balance of the Middle East. In the eternal counsel of God, He has determined to make Jerusalem the decisive issue by which He will deal with the nations. Those nations who align themselves with God’s purposes for Jerusalem will receive His blessing. But those who follow a policy in opposition to God’s purposes will be severely dealt with.” — Derek Prince, IFA Co-Founder

“On your walls, Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen;
All day and all night they will never keep silent.
You who profess the Lord, take no rest for yourselves;
And give Him no rest until He establishes
And makes Jerusalem an object of praise on the earth” (Isaiah 62:6–7 NASB).

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Fundamental biblical principles define God’s heart for intercession for Israel and make it a mandatory activity for all “who profess the Lord.” The rebirth of the state of Israel, miraculously, on May 15, 1948, has shaped history in this century more than any other single event. God loves Israel (Jeremiah 31:2–4a), and after a season of judgment, He is restoring her in His everlasting love. Meanwhile, the hatred of her enemies (Psalm 83) increases as the end of the age draws near.

As intercessors, none of this should surprise us as all the predictions of Scripture and the developments of current events focus our attention on the culminating event: the return of the Lord Jesus in power and glory and the drama which will unfold on the Mount of Olives, ensuring that “all Israel will be saved” (see Zechariah 14:4; Romans 11:26). A subsequent event — the judging of nations as described in Joel 3:1–2 — will follow, in which God, the Righteous Judge, will use the treatment of the land of Israel and its people, the Jews, to determine the righteous and the unrighteous nations (Matthew 25:32).

God has revealed that His own heart, eyes, and name are in Jerusalem forever (see 1 Kings 9:3; 2 Chronicles 6:6). God’s own reputation rests upon His faithfulness to keep Israel as a nation and to bring back her exiled people, the Jews (see Ezekiel 36:20–23).

As Intercessors for America, our desire is for our own nation to bless Israel and thus be blessed ourselves (see Genesis 12:3). But more vitally, we partner with God in calling forth the “restoration of all things” that culminates in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth (Acts 3:21). As God’s appointed watchmen, we know that He has called all who profess His name to give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem as an object of praise in all the earth — an event which is yet in the future.

What does God seek from history? He seeks His own special people — Jew and Gentile — a people zealous for His glory, to join Him in calling forth His purposes on earth. We are those people.

Would you like to learn more about praying for Israel? IFA has helpful resources (click the titles):

Praying for Israel bookmark style prayer guide
Building a Biblical Worldview: Israel
God Keeps Covenant Book: A Thirty-Day Study on God’s Love for Israel
God Keeps Covenant Devotional: 5 days from the book in an email format