Praying for the Jewish People

Did you know that The Bible commands us to pray for the welfare of the Jewish people?

Isaiah 62:6-7 says, “take no rest for yourself and give [Yehovah] no rest” until God accomplishes His desire for Israel. As followers of Yeshua, our hearts should be tuned to Yehovah’s heart and appreciate that which He says is important to Him.

Who are the Jewish people?

• The “apple of God’s eye” (Zechariah 2:8)
• The Lost Sheep that Yeshua wants to rescue (Matthew 15:24)
• The people who Yeshua came to give His life as a ransom (Isaiah 53:8) that resulted in salvation for the whole world (Isaiah 49:6, Romans 11:12)
• No better and no more fruitful, successful, or greater in number than anyone else (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)
• A conduit through which to pour His blessings to “all the families of the Earth" (Genesis 12:1-3)
• Are not rejected by God (Romans 11:1,11)
• Are meant to be a nation of priests for the nations (Romans 11:29)
• Need Yeshua for salvation (Romans 3:21-23, John 14:6)

The Role of the Gentiles

Yehovah has commissioned the gentiles to pray for the Jewish people (Isaiah 62:6-7, Psalm 122:6, Romans 10:1). Scripture says that it is necessary to take The Good News of Yeshua to the Jewish people first (Romans 1:16, Acts 13:46, Acts 1:8), and that God has commissioned gentiles to do this (Isaiah 62:11, Romans 11:11).

How should we pray for the Jewish people?

Scripture is clear that the welfare of the Jewish people and the spiritual condition of each person's heart is of tremendous importance to Yeshua. He is “alive forevermore making intercession for us" (Hebrews 7:25), so praying and interceding for the Jewish people is very important.

First and foremost, we must pray for the salvation of the Jewish people. In Romans 10:1, Paul the Apostle writes, “My heart's desire and prayer for Israel is that they might be saved.” He is speaking of being saved from sin … which only happens through the atoning blood of Messiah Yeshua.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper that love you.”
– Psalm 122:6

We are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. True peace only comes from a right relationship with The Father through Messiah Yeshua.

With the constant turmoil in The Middle East, we must pray for resolution and peace. The Hebrew word for peace — shalom — does not mean a cessation of conflict; it means “health, completeness, soundness.” Paul said that we are complete in Yeshua (Colossians 2:10). When we pray for “peace” for Jerusalem, we should pray for the Jewish people to find salvation in Yeshua. Only He is able to secure and save in the midst of trouble.

We must pray for Yehovah to “establish” Jerusalem and “make her praiseworthy” (Isaiah 62:7). The only way anything or anyone is “established” is if it is established on Yeshua, The Rock of Salvation. The only way anything is praiseworthy, in Yehovah’s eyes, is if it has been cleansed by the blood of The Lamb.

The salvation of the Jewish people can only come through the work of Yeshua!