In a Time of War…
People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Isaiah 2:3,4
Yesterday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is at war following a surprise large-scale attack by Palestinian militants from Gaza early Saturday morning. May God in His mercy be with the people of both Israel and Palestine. Please pray for peace in the Middle East.
Good and gracious Lord God, may we see the day when war and bloodshed cease, when a great peace will embrace the whole world.
Then nation will not threaten nation,
And humanity will not again know war.
For all who live on earth shall realize
We have not come into being to hate or to destroy.
We have come into being
To praise, to labor, and to love.
Loving God, bless the leaders of all nations
With the power of compassion, with the will and courage to seek a righteous peace.
Fulfill the promise conveyed in Scripture:
I will bring peace to the Land,
And you shall lie down, and no one shall terrify you.
I will rid the Land of vicious beasts
And it shall not be ravaged by war.
Let love and justice flow like a mighty stream.
Let peace fill the earth as the waters fill the sea.
And let us say: Amen, in Christ Jesus’ name.