IN THE NEWS

DAY 68:  This is going to be a short sweet blog because what God reminded me of requires few words, and was punctuated by all that I have read in the news of late.  You may not have seen it in the mainstream media reports but just this past Sunday, rockets were once again fired at Israel by her enemies. This time no one died, but it is yet another reminder that world forces line up against God's chosen people.  Iran continues to threaten to wipe Israel from the face of the earth and with it's advances in nuclear weapons its boasts become more real.  Middle East nations continue to cut their remaining diplomatic ties with Israel, and with every Arab Spring, Israel's peace becomes more tenuous, not less.

Such turmoil brings to life the words of Jesus I have been reading in Mark about the signs of the end of the age. So, too, does it animate the warning of the book of  Revelations that such catastrophic conflicts are certain to come, though the time is not certain at all.

And so, with all those things on the forefront of my mind, today's Psalm gave me my response.

  Psalm 53:6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
   When God restores the fortunes of his people,
   let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

God desires salvation to come to Israel. God has promised to restore His people.  The day will come when the descendents of Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad.  He has promised it will be so. He has also promised an eternal promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. (Genesis 12:3) As God's people, we don't  have the luxury of forming an opinion about God's revealed will.  He calls us to make His will our will and His desires our desires. Just as He longs for us to care for widows and orphans, to love our neighbor, to forgive as a way of life, so he desires that Israel be known to the world as His special possession.  His work with Israel is not done and God has been clear about His plans. World politics is no match for the absolute power of God's purposes. In the end, that will be the news that makes headlines. 

So I too long for what God desires for Israel; I long for it and pray for it as if God's plans depended on my prayers. My concern is not what is best politically for America, or advantageous for the Arab nations.  God favors Israel and has a plan to rescue and save her. So I will favor Israel, but more than that I will pray that as God's plans unfold Israel will embrace their Messiah, Yeshua.

"Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!" 

 ONE DAY THE NEWS WILL READ:  JESUS RETURNS AND SAVES ISRAEL


Psalm 53:1-6

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