“For, lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle (dove) is heard in our land” (S of Sol. 2:11-12)
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon” (Hos. 14:5).
“And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightful land, saith the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3:12).
Dear Friends of Israel:
Greetings from Jerusalem and the House of Peace. This is a wonderful time to be in Israel. The trees are blossoming, the birds are singing, and there is a beauty to the land. The High Holy Days are past, Ramadan (the Muslim month of fasting) is over, and “Barbecue day” or Israel’s 75th anniversary of Independence will be observed next week. A nationwide “airshow” is planned with aircraft from the U.S., U.K. Germany and Italy joining in and flying alongside Israeli planes. Every Israeli car also has one or two flags attached to its doors, and every major street has the Blue and White banner of Israel hung from its light poles. It seems every-where you look, the Israeli flag is displayed. The citizens here are proud of their little nation. 75 years has brought a lot of change. In the beginning, Israel’s declaration of statehood brought war as five Arab nations attacked the Jewish State. They were all defeated at great cost in lives and property. The next decades brought more wars and terrorism, but Israel not only triumphed over its enemies, but has prospered in the interim. We also see many biblical promises being fulfilled: The captives have returned, the ruined cities are being rebuilt, vineyards are planted and the gardens are producing fruit (Amos 9:15)
Everywhere I look, there are construction cranes in Jerusalem as the city is being rebuilt and renewed. The light rail is being extended and a fast train now runs to Tel Aviv in 28 minutes. The walls of the Old City still shine in the morning and in the evening sun. It is a city in waiting for the return of its Bridegroom. And yet I with many others look for the day, as the night watchman looks for the morning, when the Lord shall return “to Jerusalem with mercies” and His people shall shout once again: “Messiah is among us!”
Not everything this 75th anniversary of Israel’s Independence is roses and sweet perfume. The Jewish State is still divided over Judicial reform and how to go about it. There is no constitution, the problem of terrorism still afflicts, inflation is rising, and these people know not yet their Messiah. Yet, a day is coming when the Lord promises that “I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth” (Zeph. 3:19b).
The Father God declares His people: “Sing O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel: be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. He has taken away thy judgments…The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, He will joy over them with singing” (Zeph.3:16). Let us pray for a Spirit of Holy Joy to come upon His people. Let them all rise up and hear the Lord singing over them.
Join with us this 75th Israel Independence Day, April 26th (on the Gregorian Calendar) as we celebrate this nation’s freedoms. Join with us and pray for the Jewish people that God is doing and will yet do great things among them. Join with us and praise Him that this Land which was once desolate is become like the Garden of Eden (Ezek. 36:35). Join with us and shout with joy that the graves of the Jewish people are open, the dry bones are alive and that the Lord is placing His Spirit in them, and they shall Live. (Ezek 37:14)
Happy 75th Birthday Israel! “L’chaim!”
Gene and Marylois/House of Peace