"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

"So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

"For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." (Isaiah 61:11 NIV)

There were two seemingly minor items in the news in Israel this week which we feel, nevertheless, to be of especially prophetic significance for our intercession:

A. For the first time in 40 years the oldest existing Book of the Bible has been placed on display for public viewing in the Israel Museum. This complete scroll of Isaiah was among the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in the Judean Desert in 1947. Normally it is kept in a dark place and a facsimile is on display in the Shrine of the Book section of the museum. But in honor of modern Israel's 60th birthday, it was decided to bring a large portion of this ancient manuscript out of the darkness and into the light for two months this summer. Two portions of the scroll are on exhibit. The first contains Isaiah 1:1 through 28:23, the other Isaiah 44:23b through 66:24.

It is an amazing experience to visit this room. Here one of the greatest messages ever breathed by the Holy Spirit to humankind laboriously written out in clear Hebrew on this parchment only a few hundred years after it was released to the prophet. As we bent over the scroll, the words leapt into focus, "How the feet of the bearer of Good News adorns the mountains." (52:7); "Arise, shine, for your Light is come . . ." (60:1). And on the 44th column the incredible 53rd Chapter (the contents of which most Israelis are not aware, since it is not one of those chapters included in the weekly readings from the Prophets) - whose Suffering Servant's coming was still over a hundred years away when this scroll was penned! One moment there were several in the room, including a middle-aged secular Israeli man eagerly finding portions from his Hebrew Bible and then pointing them out to his young son on the scroll. A few moments later, there was no one in the room and we were free to pray that the truths of this Book would find a new generation-and that the Holy Spirit would awaken them to understand the identity of the Holy One about which it speaks (Luke 24:27, 44).

We believe that the beginning and ending chapters which enclose these two portions of the scrolls may give us guidance in our prayers and intercession for Israel at this time. We would encourage you to look up and prayerfully consider the following passages:

PLEASE PRAY:

*Scroll Portion I

Isaiah 1:16-20, 26: That the Spirit of God would move on Israelis to convict of sin and righteousness and judgment. That we would be convicted in the Lord's mercy to desire to "wash ourselves" and to "make ourselves clean"-that we would find that Fountain of cleansing which makes the stain of our sin as white as snow. That we would be changed so as to "Learn to do good, seek justice." (vss 16-20). That God will restore leaders in Israel who lead with His Judgments and Counsels "as at the beginning"-leading to Jerusalem again being a city of righteousness and faithfulness to the world (vs 26).

Isaiah 28:5-6: For the "Remnant" of His people Israel which is coming forth (vs 5)-that the Glory and Beauty of the Lord of Hosts will shine from their countenances-and that they will so permeate the Government and Military that the halls of judgment will be characterized by a true "Spirit of Justice"-and "those who turn back the battle at the gate" by the Strength of the LORD.

*Scroll Portion II

Isaiah 44: 23(b)-26: That the LORD will be glorified in Israel. That the LORD, Israel's Redeemer will frustrate the signs, prognostications and wisdom of the world regarding Israel; That Jerusalem will be inhabited and the cities of Judah built according to His holy Word (vs 25,26b). That as in days of old, Israel's Redeemer will release a Spirit of Prophecy on his Remnant in the Holy Land-"confirming the words of His servants, and performing the counsel of His messengers" (vs 26).

Isaiah 66:2 (b), 5(a), 16: That the revelation of this holy manuscript will harbinger a new fear of the Lord in Israel-a generation who have a "poor and contrite spirit and who tremble at His Word" (vs 2, 5a). It is these who will attract the saving eye of the Lord (Psalm 80:3,7,19; James 4:6). That Israel will become prepared to "endure the Day of His coming", when by Fire and by His Sword the LORD will judge all flesh (vs 16).

PLEASE PRAY THAT MANY WILL VIEW THIS MANUSCRIPT OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH-THAT ANGELS WILL BE STATIONED IN THE ROOM-THAT THOSE WHO GO THROUGH WILL SENSE "HOLINESS" AND BE DRAWN INTO THE BOOK ITSELF IN THEIR HOMES-AND THAT THE GLORY OF THE LIVING WORD WILL BE REVEALED.

THIS EXHIBIT OF ISAIAH IS ONLY OPEN TO VIEWING FOR TWO MONTHS-MIGHT IT BE THAT THERE IS A SPECIAL WINDOW OF REVELATION OPENING FOR ISRAEL, BUT FOR A LIMITED TIME? PLEASE PRAY THAT MANY WILL HAVE THEIR EYES OPENED TO 'SEE' INTO THIS WINDOW!

B. Something else 2000 years old which was hidden has come into the light! Forty-five years ago archaeologists on the ancient stronghold of Masada discovered a number of ancient date seeds. For four decades these seeds were kept in storage. In January 2005 permission was given to attempt to germinate three of the seeds. To everyone's astonishment and delight, one of the three sprouted! This week it was reported that the young palm has now grown into a 1.20-metre-tall sprout. Although historians speak of "huge forests" of date palms in the Jordan Valley of 2000 years ago, producing a fruit especially large and sweet-and having medicinal qualities, these soon began to die out after the dispersion of the Jews. No native date has grown in Israel for hundreds of years; all those growing now were imported from countries such as Morocco, Egypt and Iraq. If other seeds prove capable of germination - both male and female - a fruit prized by the ancients for its nourishment and sweet honey-like syrup may be reborn in this land, whose government by its ancient stewards with their language has also been reborn.

PLEASE PRAY:

*Psalm 92:12: "Righteousness will sprout like a palm tree"--That the "righteousness of God in Messiah Yeshua" (II Cor 5:21) which has been hidden to much of the house of Israel for 2000 years will be revealed!

*Psalm 119:103: "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Hebrew "d'vash" in ancient times referred both to bee honey and to the syrup of the date. Let us pray for a renewed hunger for the sweetness of God's word in Israel.

*That Israel will begin to be weaned away from dependence upon the Nations for her sustenance-Psalm 81:13,16 teaches that it is God's desire that His people listen to Him-then He will satisfy them with the finest of wheat and with honey from the rock.