“The
Day the Earth Stood Still” was a movie made many years ago, but that
title could well describe Jerusalem and the Land of Israel on the Day of
Atonement. On this holiest day of the Biblical year the nation stops
almost completely, and its inhabitants are quiet in thought and prayer
in collective memory of four thousand years of history. Many meditated
on the surprise attack by Arab armies on this day of fasting and prayer
back in 1973, which was a devastating but thankfully unsuccessful
attempt to destroy this small nation. Now the roads are void of traffic,
the skies are clear of aircraft, and the only sounds are that of
prayer murmuring in the synagogues.
On
the eve of Yom Kippur I stood beneath a half moon on a hilltop of the
Mountains of Judah along with representatives of several Israeli
congregations, and I gazed out over the plains of Sharon, the sun
setting over Tel Aviv and glimmering on the Mediterranean Sea. There was
an almost absolute silence over the land, almost disturbing, not even
the song of a bird. And throughout the Holy Land small groups of the
flock of Israel gathered together to fast and break forth before the
Holy One of Israel to beseech mercy and forgiveness in the name of the
Lamb of God slain to take away the sins of the world. They would mount
up into His presence in the name of the Breaker prophesied by Micah
(2:12-13; 7:18-20) to stand between the King of Israel and the
re-gathered Jewish people from every nation on Earth, the lost sheep of
the House of Israel who are without altar and the blood of atonement
(Leviticus 17:11; Hosea 3:4-5).
In the name of Him who “died not only
for the nation, but for many scattered among the nations” (John
11:49-52) we stood and opened our souls in gratitude and joy for our own
forgiveness, and like Moses offering our own lives as intercession,
crying, “But now, if Thou will, forgive their sin- and if not, please
blot me out of thy book which Thou hast written” (Exodus 32:32). And
like Paul, praying, “I would that I myself were accursed, cut off from
Messiah for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
who are Israelites to whom belongs the sonship and the glory and the
covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple services and the
promises” (Romans 9:3-4), which is the true spirit of intercession.
With Jeremiah we prayed, “shout among the chiefs of the nations,
proclaim, give praise, and say, O Lord, save thy people the remnant of
Israel” (Jeremiah 31:7).
As
a household of priests and Levites we came into the holy place to offer
the blood of another on the altar for the sins of our people, crying,
“Remember thy covenants and promises in the face of the deadly threats
to your people and land by those who hate Zion, whose wish is to
annihilate us from the face of the earth.” We stood in fasting and
prayer throughout the night and day between the uncleanness of the
children of Israel and the Holy God and sought forgiveness, crying,
“Have mercy on thy holy name and inheritance, for your name is written
in Judah and Jerusalem and the nations are watching, for why should they
say, Where is their God? Fulfill thy promises to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob for their sakes, and for the sake of Yeshua, the king of the Jews.
And for our enemies whose fondest wish is to destroy, who are lost and
swept along in the deep darkness and curse of Islam, we pray that the
people who walk in darkness shall see a great light, and the light will
shine upon them” (Isaiah 9:2).
May our prayers be heard.
Elhanan 9-14-2013
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