We are living in days of uncertainty and not-so-ordinary. This week in Israel, thousands gathered at the c to PRAY on the 9th of the month of Av, the day known as Tisha B’Av. It is a very solemn day of mourning for the tragic events that occurred throughout history including the destruction of the first and second temples, the Spanish Inquisition and the Holocaust. On this day, people gathered at the Wall to pray not only for losses in the past but the recent events of the brutal massacre of October 7. Collective memory is strong and felt across the world as many gather in synagogues around the world to pray. In Israel, as they await the imminent threat of another invasion even as they gather to pray.
I think there is something powerful that the church can learn from the Jewish people. Collective prayer has the power to bring people together and to change hearts and minds. I have become more and more concerned that within the church, (aka worship), there is a real lack of prayer and scripture reading. We sing songs of testimony of the goodness of God, we praise Him for how He has blessed us, sometimes the songs are sung prayer, “O God, I need you…’ These are all good things and yet it seems that something is sorely lacking. Spending time in heartfelt collective prayer is hard to find. And yet the scripture is full of heartfelt prayers that can give voice to our own great need for repentance and assurance.
Take us back O LORD, to Yourself,
And let us come back;
Renew our days as of old!
For truly, You have rejected us, Bitterly rages against us.
Take us back, O LORD, to Yourself,
And let us come back;
Renew our days as of old! (Lam 5:21, 22).[1]
In these crazy times we find ourselves should we not be crying out to the God who saves to heal us, and our land, from within? There is evil all around and yet we either ignore it, or throw up our hands and say, ‘what can be done’? Yes, it is difficult, time consuming, and wearing on our souls to be constantly bombarded with the negativity of the times.
We must look to the examples in God’s story where His people, who upon recognizing their own sin, turn back to Him and cry out in repentance. Why are pastors and worship leaders not giving voice to leading their people in prayer? Seems like prayer is only used as a transition moment and given without much preparation.
Why?
I’m not sure there is a definitive answer. But I know that I am guilty of not spending more time in the kind of gut-wrenching prayer that is needed today. I can gloss over it by thinking that God knows everything in my heart, so I don’t need to do more than offer a quick prayer. Sometimes prayer is hard. Sometimes there just aren’t the right words. Sometimes I don’t want to dig deeper into myself and do the hard things. Sometimes I don’t feel worthy. Sometimes I don’t think He is listening.
Why, Hashem, do You stand aloof, heedless in times of trouble? The wicked in his arrogance hounds the lowly—may they be caught in the schemes they devise! (Psalm 10).[2]
Scripture can help. Prayers written or offered by others can also be a help. Hearing other people pray is often an amazing source of comfort and encouragement. It does take time and effort to pray well.
I remember a service many years ago in which the pastor invited the people to circle the chairs and pray together. On a Sunday morning! He gave prompts so that we would not be distracted but would be collectively praying in an intentional way together. It was a most beautiful time of hearing others pray and hearing their hearts as they petitioned the LORD. I was also so encouraged as I had no idea the depth of spirituality of the people I was praying with before this time together. It brought us together in a new way that would not have happened in casual, after-church conversation. Collective prayer leads to empathy and healing.
The world is hard and is in difficult straits. The times certainly seem to be pointing to coming to an end. We must pray. Even though we know that God wins in the end, He desires to hear us. He desires to heal us. He desires to lead us. Mourning and grieving for the lost and the way the world is headed should motivate us to lift our voices to the heavens as a symbol to those around us that we know the God of the universe is listening. The signs of the times are everywhere. May our prayers reflect our deep desire for God’s will to be accomplished and use us as He sees fit.
We offer ourselves to you, O God, our Creator.
We offer our hands.
Use healing touch to comfort sisters, brothers, and children who are afraid.
We offer our eyes and ears.
May we see and hear the signs and stories of violence so that all may have someone with them in their pain and confusion.
We offer our hearts and our tears as their hurt and sorrow echo within us.
May we be healed as we embrace each other.
We offer our anger.
Make it a passion for justice.
We offer our skills.
Use our gifts to end violence.
We offer our faith, our hope, our love.
May our encounters with violence bring us closer to you and each other.
All this we ask through Jesus Christ, who knows the pain of violence. Amen.[3]
Let us be bold to pray as Jesus taught his disciples:
Father [in heaven], may Your name be revered. May Your kingdom come. [May Your will be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven.] Give us the food we need for tomorrow, And forgive us for our wrongs, for we forgive those who wrong us. And lead us away from temptation. [And save us from the evil one.] Luke 11:2-4.[4]
Pray for the well-being of Yerushalahim; “May those who love you be at peace. May there be well-being within your ramparts, peace in your citadels.” (Psalm 122:6).[5]
Keep praying for Shalom!
Shalom!
P.S. With all the news of more atrocities coming out of Israel, would you please consider helping with the war effort? Any amount helps families that are displaced because of the war on many fronts in Israel. Thank you for loving and giving generously!
[1]The Jewish Bible, TANAKH. (Jewish Publication Society, 1985).
[2] Rabbi Tuly Weisz, ed. The Israel Bible. (Israel365, 2021).
[3] from The Worship Sourcebook. (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, MI), 223.
[4] The VOICE. (Thomas Nelson Pub. 2012).
[5] The Israel Bible.
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