Praying for Israel AND the Nations

Praying for Israel AND the Nations: do we solely pray for Israel to the exclusion of our nation or other nations? A popular author within the Christian Nationalism movement chided people on social media for praying for Israel rather than America.

The context of the comment involves the increasing tensions regarding Israel and threats to its existence. On the other hand is the political upheaval in America, and the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

I’ll refrain from saying more about the position of this individual towards Israel. His stance seems to be prevalent among certain neo-postmillennialists. But it’s a straw man either-or comment. I guess one might find an exception to the rule in all movements. But I don’t know of any Christian Zionist who prays for Israel without praying for their own nation.

The Psalter contains many references where the psalmist is concerned for Israel, but also for God’s honor among the nations, and their salvation. These concepts are inexorably linked in the Psalms (and elsewhere). Following are some examples. Reading the entire Psalm is helpful.

Psalm 67:1-7

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah; that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Psalm 96:9-13

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalm 98:1-3

Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Psalm 148:7-11

Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!

For My name’s sake

One reason Christians ought to pray for Israel is for the sake of God’s name and honor. This is explicitly brought out in Ezekiel 36:21-32. See BibleGateway’s Israel to Be Renewed for His Name’s Sake.

God is interested in His holy name; has promised to restore Israel to its land and will pour His Spirit on them. If we love God and are concerned for His holy name, pray for these promises to be fulfilled one day.

And pray for all nations! It all goes together for God’s glory.

Maranatha!