HOUSE OF PEACE

                Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast…They have prepared a net for my steps: my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.  (Ps. 57:1, 6)

                Once again Israel is at war.  As I write, hundreds of Hezbollah rockets have fallen onto the cities of Israel's Northern borders, and are continuing to rain down.  These missiles have indiscriminately hit homes, shopping centers, factories, schools and fields.  Four people have been killed and over 160 injured.  Two long range missiles fired by members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard stationed in Lebanon have also hit Haifa, Israel's third largest city.  Over 200,000 members of Israel's population have been ordered to stay inside bomb shelters for their protection.

            Israel is now engaged in fighting a two front war, against Lebanon and in the Gaza.  This conflict was initiated by Hezbollah terrorists kidnapping two Israeli soldiers from their border patrol unit and murdering three more.  Another five IDF soldiers were killed when their tank hit a mine while pursuing these terrorists.  Israel has had no choice but to respond back to these attacks, hitting Hezbollah's missile launching pads, bridges, airports, terrorist camps and instituting a naval blockade  Israel's fear is that Hezbollah terrorists will smuggle out these two abducted soldiers to Iran and then use them as bargaining chips for the release of thousands of Islamic terrorists held in Israeli prisons. The names of these soldiers are Eldad Regev, age 26 and Ehud Goldwasser age 31.  Please pray for their safety and release and/or rescue.  Israeli soldiers also successfully fought off a third attempt by these terrorists to kidnap even more soldiers.  Please pray for the safety of Gilad Shalit, the third IDF soldier held captive in the Gaza.

                Iran and Syria are directly responsible for starting this war.  Iran directly funds and controls the Hezbollah fighters who operate along Israel's Northern borders.  Iran also funds the Hamas terrorists who are active in the Gaza.  Syria also facilitates these terrorists by providing them with weapons and military camps.  Iran also by precipitating this crisis is attempting to draw the world's attention away from its rogue nuclear programs. Six years ago, Israel unilaterally removed its troops from their positions in Lebanon, and let the UN delineate its borders.  Hezbollah then moved it troops into positions overlooking Israel's Northern borders and stockpiled some 15,000 Katyusha rockets in preparation for the day of war.  Lebanon's weak government let this terrorist group have a free hand since it is effectively controlled by Syria..  Israel's past coalition governments also chose not to deal with this growing threat, until the crisis this week demanded a response.  Hezbollah acting on Iran's orders is looking for a fight.

            According to the Jewish calendar, the period beginning tonight marks the “Dire Straits season, from the 17th of

Tammuz to the 9th of Av. This is a season of increased danger for Israel and a historic day of calamity.  This day is the beginning of the Three Weeks, an annual period of mourning over the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.  In the First Temple Era, the priests stopped offering the daily sacrifice on this day, due to the shortage of sheep during the siege.  The next year, Nebuchadnezzar forces breached the walls of Jerusalem.  Roman soldiers under Titus also breached the walls of Jerusalem on this date in 70AD. In latter years this continued to be a dark one for Jews.  In 1391, more than 4,000 Jews were killed in Toledo Spain.  In 1559 the Jewish Quarter of Prague was burned and looted. The Kovno ghetto was liquidated on this day in 1944 and in 1970 Libya ordered the confiscation of all Jewish property.  This is a period where watching and praying for Israel's safety is of heightened importance.

                Please pray for the safety of Israel's citizens and its IDF soldiers.  Many believers are in the IDF, including soldiers from the congregation we attend.  Please pray Psalm 94, Psalms 97 and Zechariah 9:1-8.  Please pray for a speedy resolution of this crisis.  As the Psalmist declares:  They have digged a pit before me into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.

 

Shalom

 
 
 
 

Maranatha!
Deborah
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