Sabeel Wave of Prayer: Week of Oct. 9, 2023
On October 7th, a historic and devastating series of events unfolded in Palestinian-Israeli history. Hamas initiated an operation known as “Al-Aqsa Flood,” launching thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel and breaking through the electronic boarder barrier, causing the loss of hundreds of Israeli lives, and the taking of several Israelis as captives including women and children, into Gaza. In response, Israel declared “Operation Swords of Iron,” involving a brutal and continuous aerial attack on Gaza that claimed hundreds of lives. and various acts of aggression in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of several Palestinians. The true extent of the recent events’ damage remains unknown, marking the beginning of a period of immense suffering.
Heavenly Father, as this period of violence and bloodshed unfolds, we pray for Your justice and mercy. We pray for all who are suffering. We lift up all innocent people in particular the people of Gaza who are vulnerable and helpless to the Israeli airstrikes. May we remember that the recent events are connected to the long history of the Nakba and Israeli systematic oppression against the Palestinian people. Lord, only a just and lasting solution will end the cycle of violence. We call on the international community to work towards this end.
Lord in Your mercy…hear our prayer
Next week, Kumi Now Online will focus on how governments, companies, and individuals are profiting from the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. The Israeli military-industrial complex has turned the occupied Palestinian territory into a testing ground for advanced weaponry and surveillance technology, which it exports worldwide. Indeed, capitalism and the oppression of Palestinians are linked, making the Palestinian suffering a commodity for some.
Lord Christ, we remember how you flipped the tables of the money changers and expelled the merchants of the livestock in the temple. Today, the corruption and den of thieves are seen in the various ways people profit from Palestinian oppression. We pray for Your justice to reign; bring judgment to greed, theft, and exploitation.
Lord in Your mercy… hear our prayer
From the 29th of September to the 6th of October, Jews around the world celebrated Sukkot (known as the Feast of Tabernacles). Sukkot is a weeklong holiday that celebrates the gathering of the harvest, the giving of the Torah, and the protection God provided. During Sukkot many Israelis take the opportunity to provoke Palestinians in the old city of Jerusalem. This year many Christians were spat on and harassed by religious Israeli Jews.
God of creation, we lift up the Palestinian farmers as they gather their harvest, and we ask Your blessing for our Jewish friends who have celebrated Sukkot. We are angry as we witness Jerusalem’s transformation from a city of tolerance and love into one marked by Jewish supremacy and hatred. May our collective efforts in pursuing justice in Jerusalem yield a harvest of peace and flourishing.
Lord in Your mercy… hear our prayer
On September 26th, a devastating fire swept through a wedding hall located in Qaraqosh, a town in northern Iraq. This tragic event claimed the lives of at least 107 individuals and left 150 others injured. The incident was a profound tragedy that deeply affected the entire Middle East, especially the Christian community of Qaraqosh since the majority of the people attending the wedding were Assyrians Christians.
Loving God, we pray for the 107 individuals who lost their lives in the tragic fire, and we ask that you embrace them in your loving arms. For those injured, grant them strength, both physical and mental, as they navigate the path to recovery. In Your name, we pray for healing and restoration for the city of Qaraqosh and its Assyrian community.
Lord in Your mercy… hear our prayer
On the 4th of October, the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem as a part of their annual Christian Zionist conference titled “King of the Earth”, held a Jerusalem march for thousands of Christian Zionists from all across the world. In response, Sabeel went to the march and handed out pamphlets which showed the unjust realities Palestinians face and the theological misinterpretation of Christian Zionism.
God of inclusivity, we pray that through the presence of Sabeel and the pamphlets, You awaken the Christian Zionists to their theological blindness that is causing harm to so many. We pray that Your holy name may no longer be associated with those who invoke it for unjust purposes. You, God, are the embodiment of love, justice, inclusivity, and mercy.
Lord in Your mercy… hear our prayer
We join with the World Council of Churches in their prayers for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama.Lord in Your mercy… hear our prayer