Pray For Peace

When we consider the significance of this day, the first anniversary of a day in Israel's history where there was great terror, fear, and death, we can be reminded of our Biblical admonition to pray for Jerusalem. Psalm 122 contains these words:
4 Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the Lord, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces."

The first Sunday of October is commemorated as the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, which was established by Robert Stearns, founder of the ministry of Eagles' Wings, as well as Jack Hayford, according to a recent press release.

This occurred on the day prior to the first anniversary of the brutal, deadly attacks on Israel from the terror group, Hamas, and Eagles' Wings has continued to invite people to sign what has been named, the Bonhoeffer Declaration, according to another press release from the organization, which states:

The Declaration calls for courage and for solidarity with the Jewish people in the spirit of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who courageously stood against the Nazis and who was murdered on Hitler's direct order.

Stearns, who serves as President of the ministry, stated: "Antisemitism is once again on the rise again in the world and we are in danger of history repeating itself on our watch...," adding, "Bonhoeffer saw the spread of antisemitism, as he watched the rise of Nazi Germany and famously said, 'The responsibility of the church is not just to bandage the victims under the wheel, but to stop the wheel itself.' His call was ignored by the vast majority of faith leaders in Germany, who stood mute while Jews were slaughtered. We must not allow our churches to follow the same path."  The ministry says: "The Bonhoeffer Declaration is a unified, seven-pronged commitment by the Church on behalf of Jewish people to take action by...

• Standing against evil
• Speaking out against antisemitism
• Educating their communities
• Advocating for Israel

The ministry reports that "3,600 faith leaders and everyday Christians" have signed on to the declaration, that can be found at bonhoeffer.org. 

A Watchman on the Wall Solidarity Tour was planned to depart for Israel last week. According to the ministry, this was scheduled to be one of the highlights: "As an act of solidarity, the tour will include a visit to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where ongoing rallies and vigils take place for those still held captive by Hamas."

So, this day observes the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel and a catalytic event of a turbulent year which saw Israel fighting against threats to its sovereignty as a nation against people who desire to destroy it.  From Hamas to the south to Hezbollah to the north, with the Iranian threat manifested through a missile attack last week to inconsistent actions by U.S. officials regarding Israel, this nation has certainly had its share of opposition, bloodshed, and death. 

But Israel continues to stand because, well, God wants it to stand.  Dating back to the time of Abraham, when God made a covenant and chose the people of Israel, He has been faithful, even when they were unfaithful to Him. Christians have been grafted into the family of God out of His mercy by a Jewish man who came to fulfill the Law and make it possible for all to be saved.   As the body of Christ, we can continue to stand with the people whom God has chosen as His very own, who share a common spiritual heritage with us.  And, there will be a huge effort in the last days, according to Revelation, to draw Jewish people to the Messiah, through whom Israeli people can be saved.