A Lament Over Israel
Today in the preparation for intercession rooms, the Lord gave me a song of lament for his people. For fifteen minutes I was gripped with weeping for Israel. I was reading and meditating on Ezekiel 16, was overcome with God's desire as a jealous husband.Remember Oh Israel, remember how I found you forsaken in the pool of your own blood. Remember how I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, how I clothed you with riches and splendor. Remember how I washed you in the Red Sea. Remember the wilderness, where I covered you with a cloud by day and a fire by night. Oh remember the days of your youth! Remember how I betrothed you to me on the mountain! But you were not faithful to your vows, you ran after other lovers! You took the gold and made a calf, you took the wine and poured out a drink offering, and burnt my grain as an offering to the baals. Our sons you gave to molech, your daughters became shrine prostitutes. You became more lewd than the nations around you that I drove out before you. You uncovered your nakedness to all who passed by. Oh remember the days of your youth! Remember when I brought you up into the land I promised your fathers! Oh my heart, my broken heart! I had given it to you and you had dashed it to pieces. Was there something that I had done? Was there something I had said to make you turn from me? Please tell me if there was! Oh my heart, it is broken to pieces. Return to me and I will show you my love! Come let us reason, though your sins are as the uncleanness of the blood you shed, they will be white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). Let me see your face again! Let me hear your voice, for your form is lovely and your voice is sweet (Song of Songs 2:14). The King desires your beauty! Oh Jerusalem how I have longed to gather you as a hen gathers it's chick's under its wings, but you were not willing (Matthew 23:37)! Remember oh Israel the blessings and the curses. Remember the armies I raised up to bring you back to me. Remember Assyria, remember Babylon, remember Rome, remember the holocaust. I will not take no for an answer, I burn with jealous love for you oh Zion. I will not let another have you. I am a jealous flame. Come to me and I will cover your shame, but if you desire the Assyrian then the Assyrian I will give you. If you desire Judas Maccabees, then the hammer I will send. If you desire Bar Cochba, then I will give you a shepherd after your own heart. I burned your houses but still you did not turn. Oh Israel, remember the days of your youth! I love you with an everlasting love! I am sending you again my prophets, listen to them! I am sending you my beloved Son, listen to Him (Matthew 17:5)! Do not weep oh daughters of Jerusalem over me, weep for yourselves! If you knew what it will take to bring your peace (Luke 19:42)! Turn to me and I will turn to you and I will heal your backslidings, I will give you a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19). Gentiles! Lift up your voice! Proclaim good news to Israel. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! I am sending my Spirit on my sons and my daughters on my menservants and maidservants (Joel 2). Yet I have this against you, you are proud! Fear God and tremble before his word. If God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either (Romans 11:21).
