CUFI Prayer – Praising God in the Storm | 5 April 2024

 

Our burden is heavy for Israel and the Jewish people. It is six months since the 7 October massacre in southern Israel. And it is six months since the remaining hostages were first taken captive into Gaza. We must continue to pray for their release. The battle against terror continues with Hamas close to being annihilated; we must pray that Israel will be victorious.

Despite utterances of support for Israel, the international community seems determined for Israel to fail in meeting its objective to destroy Hamas and free the hostages. As for those gathering on the streets to protest Israel, their hatred for Israel is far greater than their hatred for Hamas. Our hearts are heavy about the aid workers – three of whom were British – who were unintentionally killed by Israeli forces this week. We pray for their families; we pray for the safe protection of aid organisations like World Central Kitchen that do not have any affiliation with Hamas. It reminds us of the consequences of war and so we are reminded to pray for peace. We also pray that Israel will be able to carry out its mission with no loss of innocent lives. But we must be mindful and pray against the anti-Israel spirit that is weaponizing Israel’s mistake to demonise the Jewish state and undermine its motives and character. Pray that as Christians we will see the bigger picture and remain firm in our stand with Israel. We are also burdened about the imminent threat from Iran and/or its proxies. Over 1,000 rockets have been fired from Hezbollah since 7 October, and Israel’s strike on a top IRGC commander in Damascus will likely result in a response. Israel is on high alert, and war in Israel’s north is a possibility.

Despite, this we praise God in the storm. It is really important that as Christians we do not lose sight of the reason why we can and should praise the Lord in the midst of adversity. We praise the God of Israel because of who He is. And we praise the God of Israel because He is the same yesterday, today and forever. 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 tells the children of Israel to give the Lord thanks, to call upon name, and to make known His deeds among the peoples (verse . Now let us say together these words of great hope and proclaim them over Israel and the Jewish people, and over one another as people who love Israel and whose hope is in the Lord:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

Seek the Lord and His strength;

Seek His face evermore!

Remember His marvelous works which He has done,

His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

O seed of Israel His servant,

You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

He is the Lord our God;

His judgments are in all the earth.

Remember His covenant forever,

The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,

The covenant which He made with Abraham,

And His oath to Isaac,

And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,

To Israel for an everlasting covenant,

Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

As the allotment of your inheritance,”

When you were few in number,

Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

When they went from one nation to another,

And from one kingdom to another people,

He permitted no man to do them wrong;

Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,

Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,

And do My prophets no harm.”

Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.

For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;

He is also to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But the Lord made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before Him;

Strength and gladness are in His place.

Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

Give to the Lord glory and strength.

Give to the Lord the glory due His name;

Bring an offering, and come before Him.

Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!

Tremble before Him, all the earth.

The world also is firmly established,

It shall not be moved.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;

And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;

Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.

Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord,

For He is coming to judge the earth.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;

Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,

To give thanks to Your holy name,

To triumph in Your praise.”

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

From everlasting to everlasting!

And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.