2.042 The Sad News, the Glad News and the Irony.April 2002
All prophetic watchers on the “Walls of Jerusalem” are well aware of the gravity of Israel’s current operation, Defensive Wall, [not exactly the same walls] to ferret out the massive terrorist networks and mountains of weaponry, stashed away in Palestinian towns for eventual destruction of Israel. These are the subversive armouries that Arafat has refused to dismantle after repeated signed agreements that he would do so. Of course he could not, and would not, since this is entirely his own baby. The leopard’s telltale spots have hardly been under threat!
Meanwhile the entire Middle East is at flash-point with immense pressure by the Arabs, as well as Europe, upon President Bush to coerce him to force Israel to withdraw before they crush these terrorist infrastructures, setting the Islamic timeline for the ultimate obliteration of Israel back by 10 years or more. Their ringleaders, bomb makers and enormous cache of subversive weapons are all being killed, captured or confiscated.
To cite the parable of Jesus, the strongman’s house is being ravaged—in the physical sense at least—and the strongman’s agents are not a little upset.
The most exasperating aspect is the ever-heightened deception of the media. I doubt that reporting in the USA is any more decent than in Australia, and with “experts” like the BBC, Reuters and AFP, accuracy in Europe must be the most cumbersome basket case of all. The manipulation of facts, juxtaposed video clips for deception, chopping off of quotes to distort what had actually been said, and outright lies about "massacres" and murders that never took place is the secular media diet of our day. Some of this misrepresentation last week was worse than I have ever seen it. We have several sources direct from Jerusalem—as do many of our readers—which combined give a totally contrasting picture, but these are reports that untold masses around the globe will never hear—at least not until someone like the angel Gabriel reads out Psalm 2 at the Big Party! [I suggest you check out Psalm 2 from the Good Book, if you don’t happen to have it memorized.]
That’s good enough for today’s introduction, now here are bits and pieces below to get you thinking—and keep you remembering.
The Sad News, the Glad News and the Irony.
We got this first real life story from a good friend in Sydney named Trish. I mean, this is no different a setting than your own supermarket just a few blocks away. The sad story is that the Jews just want to live. But Israel is unfortunately surrounded by neighbours who outnumber them by something like 10 to 1, from points as far away as Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and who get most annoyed with those stubborn Israelis who unreasonably insist on remaining alive!
Here’s Trish’s little human-interest story:
…" I received the note below from a precious friend in Jerusalem after expressing my concern for her safety when the latest attack by a Palestinian Arab terrorist was made on the supermarket in her neighbourhood of West Jerusalem. This is what the Israeli people are facing every day of their lives. Please continue to pray and share with others the horror that the terrorists are subjecting innocent people to. Israel is a testing ground for these terror activities and if they are not stopped there it will not be long before terror activities are imitated on an even greater scale worldwide. Trish S."
"Dear Trish
Thank you so much for your concern and prayers, that probable saved me yesterday, as just three minutes befor the suicides terrorist blew her self I was there finishing my Shabat shopping in the supermarket I just stoped my car in front of my home when I heared the explosion and the screaming I thought it was a missile striking one of the houses and than Yoni called (cell-phone) asking me if I am o.k that I found out that my life were just spared...
I was in an after shock reaction all day yesterday crying and shivering suffering from a headache and nausea today I feel better but just today it occured to me that I was there with the terrorist not even realizing it.
I do know the guard that was killed just few minute befor that I gave him back the cart which I used ,and my friends were still inside the supermarket when it happened so was Eitay's best friend they are all in a shock but thanks god were not hurt.
I received hundreds of telephone calls from all my friends and family both yesterday and today and I belive that by telling the story over and over again it helped me to get it out of my system.
Israel is in war and we started recruiting army reserve my cousin son was called in and two of Yoni's friends I pray that Yoni will not be called as well.
so that is life here we are all worried and the mood is very sad
hope it will be over soon so keep praying for us.
love
Ruthie"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We also have friends like "Ruthie" all over Israel, and the better you know these hurting ones, the better you can pray. We left her note in her original down-to-earth "Hebrew-to-English" spelling. It seems to give a greater dimension to Ruthie’s simple cry for help.
And the Glad News…
But here’s another article from the Jerusalem Post that brings a bit more joy—another prayer meeting such as I reported on an earlier bulletin some months ago. The bottom line is these stirrings have not been a one-off occasion. My orthodox friend, Gary Cooperberg from Kiryat Arba (Hebron) has been urging his people for much the same response—to call out to God for His time of Redemption and the advent of Messiah. Many in Israel—as secular as some may be—are nevertheless beginning to seek out the better weapon!
No weapon forged against you will prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you; This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, declares the Lord. Isa 54:17.
Obviously this promise is for all true believers, but significantly, it was first proclaimed by Isaiah for Zion and "all her children".
Michael Freund also presents another vital contribution via the Jerusalem Post:
Ra'anana prayer session calls for end to terror March 24, 2002
RA'ANANA (March 24) - Hundreds of people gathered last night in Ra'anana to recite psalms and pray for the country's welfare in a weekly event organized by local synagogues and community organizations.
The emotional ceremony, which was held in the large plaza in front of Ra'anana's Yad Lebanim war memorial, brought together large numbers of new and veteran Israelis, all of whom expressed deep concern about the deteriorating security situation.
"I am feeling helpless and hopeless," said Dr. Elliot Goldberg, a participant in the event. "Prayer is the only weapon we have left."
The relatively brief service consisted of the recitation of various psalms, followed by the singing of "Hatikva" and the blowing of the shofar. In recent weeks, it has become a regular Saturday night ritual in Ra'anana, with the size of the crowd reportedly growing from week to week.
"It has definitely grown. More and more people are coming," said Rabbi Stewart Weiss, director of the Jewish Outreach Center of Ra'anana, adding, "People feel frustration, and they want to do something."
"We are praying to God to give us the strength and the wisdom to deal with the current situation," said Dr. Harold Weingarden, a local community member.
"It gives us strength and inspiration to see people unified and coming together," added Jeffrey Lieder who, along with his wife Leba, regularly attend the Saturday night prayer vigils.
The psalms were read aloud responsively via a microphone and loudspeaker. One section that seemed to resonate with many participants was from Psalm 140, which reads, "Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; preserve me from the men of violence, those who devise evil things in their hearts, for every day do they stir up wars."
At the close of the event, one participant grew tearful as she recited the words of Israel's national anthem.
"We are supposed to be 'a free people in our own land,' but what kind of freedom is this when we can't go to the mall or send our children to school without having to worry about Palestinian terrorism?" she said.
Others, however, were more defiant. "We have to fight the enemy on every front, on the ground and in the heavens," said Weiss. "We have to use our tehillim [psalms] against their tilim [missiles]," he said.
And now the Irony—or is it iron-headed?
And finally we present this little tidbit in order to reflect the irony of the granite-hardened sensitivities of certain of Europe’s leaders whose business it is to routinely evaluate the relative value of Middle East oil versus Jewish blood.
In his address on 31 March, 2002, Sharon is quoted to have said that officials from European countries were calling to find out whether Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat was left with two rooms in his compound or three, instead of asking about the Israelis who have recently (i.e. from the spate of inhumane suicide bombings) been left without parents or children.
Well said, Mr Sharon, well said!
Victor Schlatter, South Pacific Island Ministries