To be a cleansed and faithful watchman:

Almighty God, our Father, we confess that for so long we have focused on praying for everything else except Jerusalem.  But you have commanded us to pray for her shalom (peace) and to cry out until her righteousness shines out like the dawn and her salvation as a blazing torch.  Please forgive us for our disobedience and hard-heartedness.  Forgive us for the sins that Christians over the centuries have committed against your people, Israel, and the land and city that you have sovereignly chosen for your own.  Give us your heart to pray according to your will revealed in your word.  Make us faithful watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.  Grant us increasing discernment and accuracy in our praying.  Let our hearts touch your heart

as we pray.  Open the eyes of our understanding that we might pray strategic prayers.  Enable our hearts with gratitude and compassion that we might pray with your passion and give back to you all glory, honor and praise.

(There are many ways to pray for Israel.  This first set of prayers is based on scriptures from Psalm 102 from which the title of this ministry and website derives.)

For defense, protection, and peace:

“Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. (Ps. 102:1)

O Lord, hear the cries of your people Israel for help.  Turn your ear to them and see their distress.  Quickly answer them as they call to you in the midst of their heartache and groaning.  Defend them against the taunts and curses of the enemy.  Lord, you are the keeper of Israel; you neither slumber nor sleep.  Rise up, O God and defend your people.  Rescue them, O Lord, from evil men and from the poisonous words that are spoken against them.  Protect them from men of violence, whose evil plans stir up war every day.  Keep Israel, O Lord, from the snares and traps of the enemy set along their path.  O Sovereign Lord, strong redeemer, shield Israel’s head in the day of battle and do not grant the wicked their desires nor let their plans succeed.  Have mercy on your people and deliver them from the hand of the wicked.  (Ps. 102: 1-8; Ps. 121:4; Ps 140: 1-8)

Bring peace to Jerusalem, O Lord, and security to all who love her.  Let Peace reign within her walls and within all the borders of the land.  For you have sworn that your steadfast love shall not depart from Israel, nor your covenant of peace be removed from her.  You are a compassionate and covenant keeping God.  We bless your holy name.  (Ps. 122:6; Ps 147:14; Is. 54:10)

For healing:

“For my days vanish like smoke, my bones burn like glowing embers.  My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.  Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones.”  (Ps. 102:3-5) 

O Most Merciful God, we petition you for every kind of healing for Israel.  Heal the people who are hurting physically, whether by injury or disease.  Work deeply in those whose bodies need repair or restoration, for you are our healer.  Touch those who are afflicted and tormented in their minds and emotions by things they have experienced.  Deliver them, O Lord, from inner pain and torment.  Heal each place that is in need of healing, and bring your wholeness – your peace. 

For repentance:

“For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.” (Ps. 102:9-10) 

Most of all, Lord God, bring the healing that comes from repentance to your people, Israel.  Turn hearts back to you in true repentance from all sin.  Let those who have turned from you and your holy ways turn back to you now.  Let those who are hardened in pride be humbled by your grace.  Let those who are deceived have the blinders taken off their eyes, and let their ears be opened to hear of your gracious goodness.  Soften hearts to hear you speaking the word of truth to their innermost being.  Let a spirit of repentance sweep over your people.

For favor:

“You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.” (Ps. 102:13) 

O God of all compassion and favor, remember your promises to your people Israel whom you have chosen to be a holy people and a treasured possession.  With you we declare that they shall be set in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations you have made, for they are yours.  Arise, O Lord, and have compassion for the appointed time has come!

For nations to fear and peoples to show favor:

“The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.” (Ps. 102:15) 

O Lord, move in the hearts of peoples and nations to fear you and to acknowledge with gratitude all that you have done for us through your people Israel.  For indeed we declare that all peoples on the earth have been blessed through Abraham and his seed, through Messiah Yeshua.  We are grateful to you, Lord, for the nation of Israel and we acknowledge our debt to her for being the vessel through which you have brought forth your Word of Life into the world.  Let this understanding of our indebtedness increase, especially in your church, and let us favor Israel with our prayers and whatever gifts you enable us to give.  Let us give joyfully and gratefully we pray, and let whole nations be enlightened with this understanding and find many ways to bless and favor Israel.  

For restoration:

“For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.” (Ps. 102:16) 

O Faithful God, your promises to rebuild and restore your people are all through your word.  Through Jeremiah you promised, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.  I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.  Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.” And over the land you have spoken, “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.  Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy . . “ O Lord, watch over this word and perform it, we ask you.  Rebuild Zion.  Restore your people, your land, your city.  Bestow on them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  Let them be called oaks of righteousness.  Let the ancient ruins be rebuilt and the devastated places be restored.  Let your joy break forth in Israel and from there into all the earth!  (Jer. 31:3-4; Is. 43:20-21; Is. 61:3-4)

For the poor

“He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.” (Ps 102:17)  

Thank you, Lord God, for responding to the prayers of the poor and needy in Israel.  We add our petitions that their needs might be met in every way.  We pray that you move upon hearts with compassion and generosity to give into the funds that feed, clothe, and shelter those who are destitute.  Let our hearts respond to your urgings and show us how you would have us give.  Help in every way those ministries which bring relief to those in need.  We ask that you provide them with the funds, workers, and supplies that they require for their work.  Thank you, our Father God, that you are always watching over those who trust in you to provide for them and help them.

For redemption:

“The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.” (Ps. 102:19-20) 

Look down and carry out this word we ask you, O Lord.  Hear the groans and release the prisoners.  Free those who are in any kind of captivity, those condemned to death. We pray with the psalmist, “O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption.  He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”  O Israel, receive your Anointed One, who has been sent to bind up your broken hearts, bring freedom to your captives, and release the prisoners from darkness.  See him with your eyes, hear him with your ears, receive him with your hearts and let full redemption come to you we pray.  Thank you O Lord, that you are Israel’s great redeemer.   (Ps. 130:7-8; Is. 61:1)   

For unity:

“So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the Lord.” (Ps. 102: 21-22) 

Sovereign Lord, we look forward to the day when all will join together in unity, praising your name in the holy city of Jerusalem.  Hasten that day O God when the peoples and kingdoms assemble in joyful worship in the City of the Great King.  Let unity grow among your people, O gracious Lord -- among all who believe in your Name and trust in you.  Let pettiness and selfishness and pride be put aside, and let us only desire to do your will and declare your Name.  Search our hearts and bring us to the true repentance and selflessness that will bring about this oneness of purpose.  With you, we look forward to the day when peace will reign in Jerusalem and worship will arise out of the assembly of the kingdoms gathered there. 

For the establishment of Israel:

“But you remain the same, and your years will never end.  The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.” (Ps. 102:27-28)

O Sovereign Lord, “you have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O Lord, have become their God.”  Keep them O Lord Almighty as you have promised so that your name will be great forever.  Then men will say, The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!  And the house of your servant David will be established before you.  We give you praise and thanks, O Lord, that you keep your word and that your people will inherit and dwell in their land in peace and safety.  (2 Samuel 7:24-26; Ps. 69:35-36)