"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."
Romans 12:15
It is with a heavy heart that we write this blog. This past Wednesday morning, an innocent soldier was killed while sleeping on a public bus in the North.
As long as in the heart within,
The Jewish soul yearns,
And toward the eastern edges, onward,
An eye gazes toward Zion.
Our hope is not yet lost,
The hope that is two-thousand years old,
To be a free nation in our land,
The Land of Zion, Jerusalem.
Shir hama’alot, shir hama’a lot
Beshuv Adonai et shivat Tsion
Hayinu kecholmim
Az imale schok pinu ulshonenu rina
Eden Atias was 18 years old and only in the army for 3 weeks. He was still in basic training, without a weapon, and asleep (in uniform) on a public bus on his way to his base Wednesday morning. When the bus stopped in Afula (just south of his home in Nazareth Illit), a 16 year old Palestinian boy (illegally in Israel) sitting next to him stabbed him to death.
Why? Why??? Every time I (Linda) think of this young man in the past two days, I weep. We've prayed for his family, his friends, his fellow soldiers....and yet there is still such sorrow. These soldiers work so hard, and give so much to protect the people and this Land....So very many times we see weary young men and woman asleep on the buses. First they need to be on the alert of kidnapping, and now falling asleep on the bus??
"Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?" Psalm 2:1
There have been several such attacks in the past few months. In September an Air Force sergeant was deceived and lured away (then killed) by a Palestinian wanting to ransom him for his brother in prison.
Then the soldier in Hevron mentioned in the last blog was killed.
In October, former senior IDF officer, Colonel Sraya Ofer was ambushed and killed outside his home as his wife escaped. The two Palestinian men admitted to the crime and said they did it "as a gift to the Palestinian people."
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Suspects-admit-to-killing-IDF-colonel-as-a-gift-to-the-Palestinian-people-331749
In October, former senior IDF officer, Colonel Sraya Ofer was ambushed and killed outside his home as his wife escaped. The two Palestinian men admitted to the crime and said they did it "as a gift to the Palestinian people."
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Suspects-admit-to-killing-IDF-colonel-as-a-gift-to-the-Palestinian-people-331749
There has been several other attacks on soldiers, as well. You probably don't hear about any of this in the news. Or the rocket attacks that periodically are fired into Israel still (even yesterday) - though there is a "cease fire." What does the Jewish heart yearn for? To live in the Land God has given them, and to live in peace. The Israeli National Anthem says it all:
Hatikvah
(The Hope)
The hope that is two-thousand years old,
To be a free nation in our land,
The Land of Zion, Jerusalem.
This is a heavy post, we know - and that is how our hearts feel - heavy. As we carry this to the Lord, we ask you to please join us in prayer. As you listen to the song below (performed by Jewish believers in Jesus), we ask that you close your eyes, and pray for this Nation, the Israeli people, and specifically the Israeli soldiers who put their lives in harms way for their Nation, their People and their God.
Shir Hama'alot - A Song of Ascent
Psalm 126:1-6
Shir hama’alot, shir hama’a lot
Beshuv Adonai et shivat Tsion
Hayinu kecholmim
Az imale schok pinu ulshonenu rina
A song of ascents
When the Lord returned the captivity of Zion
We were like dreaming
Then our mouth was filled with laughter
Then our tongue was filled with singing
Az yomru bagoyim higdil Adonai la’asot im ele
Higdil Adonai la’asot emanu hayinu smechim
Nai, nai, nai, nai, nai…..
3X
Then they said among the nations,
The Lord has done great things with them
The Lord has done great things with us
And we were glad
Hazorim bedim’a berina yiktsoru berina yiktsoru
Bo yavo berina nose alumotav
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy
He shall doubtless come again with rejoicing
Bringing his sheaves with him
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