Prayers + Info: Israel
Friends, in following up to our prayers for the conflict in Israel this Sunday, we have witnessed numerous horrific stories, videos and images of senseless violence - from hundreds killed at a music festival, to the killing, burning and dismemberment of children, to rape and kidnapping, to now the threat of executing hostages. This is evil.
As we pray for peace to emerge from this conflict, pray through Psalm 122, pray for ALL those involved in the conflict - including Christians living in Israel and Gaza and the West Bank. The Middle East conflict has deep and complicated socio-political history, not to mention religious history and we cannot even begin to address it all here.
Yet, below are some, I believe, helpful articles for you to read which encourage us, as Christians, to understand the nature of the conflict here with Hamas, a terrorist organization seeking the destruction of Israel. (Interestingly both former Presidents Bush and Obama released statements denouncing Hamas in support of Israel). Let us pray to God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - for justice and for peace.
Psalm 122
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
[1] I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
[2] Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!
[3] Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
[4] to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
[5] There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.
[6] Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
[7] Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
[8] For my brothers and companions’ sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
[9] For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good. (ESV)
Note: Click on the underlined titles to go to the full articles. The first is a helpful statement from Christianity Today Magazine editor Russell Moore
American Christians Should Stand with Israel under Attack
Christianity Today - Russell Moore | October 7, 2023
Excerpts:
Sometimes, especially in the early moments of any war, we may be uncertain about who is right and who is wrong. There is no such moral confusion here. Hamas—and its state sponsors—attacked innocent people, as they have done repeatedly in the past, this time employing a force and brutality previously unseen.
As Americans, we should stand with Israel under attack because it is a fellow liberal democracy—and a democracy in a region dominated by illiberal, authoritarian regimes. As Christians, we should pay special attention to violence directed toward Israel—just as we would pay special attention to a violent attack on a member of our extended family. After all, we are grafted on to the promise made to Abraham (Rom. 11:17). Our Lord Jesus was and is a Jewish man from Galilee. Rage against the Jewish people is rage against him, and, because we are in him, against us.
Note: The following article was written a few years ago, but particularly insightful and helpful, speaking directly to the very issues we see unfolding right now. Paul Miller is a Christian, who worked in the White House and now teaches on international affairs at Georgetown University.
Israel vs. Hamas: A Just War Analysis
By Paul D. Miller on May 26, 2021
Excerpts:
Hamas is a terrorist organization that deliberately murders civilians and says it wants to destroy Israel. On the other side, Israel has a right to defend itself, full stop. If you are tempted to add a “but” to that sentence, stop a moment and read Jonah Goldberg’s column on the subject. Israel was fighting to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilian populations.
As a scholar who recently wrote a book on just war theory, I have carefully weighed the evidence and believe Hamas to be [spoiler!] unjust, appallingly wrong, and morally abhorrent. Hamas’ American apologists are making excuses for terrorism.
Hamas is in the wrong no matter what you think of the Palestinians’ cause. If you sympathize with the Palestinians, you should hate Hamas. Hamas is the greatest enemy of the Palestinians. It hijacked the cause of Palestinian autonomy for its jihadist ideology and made it essentially impossible to support Gaza without being complicit with terrorism.
Critics may suggest that Hamas is waging a just war for Palestinian independence against Israeli occupation. Even if true—which it is not—it would still be unjust for Hamas to deliberately target civilians.
Note: For those who prefer listening to podcasts.
CT Bulletin: Making Sense of the Israel-Hamas War [podcast]
Christianity Today | October 9, 2023
Over the weekend, Hamas initiated new attacks on Israel, plummeting the region into war. In this special episode of The Bulletin, hosts Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore engage with guests Dan Senor and Robert Nicholson to make sense of the events—the context, the stakes, and the importance of Christian interest in the region. Special guest Darrell Bock joins the conversation to talk about the theology that motivates Christian interest in Israel.