Tents of Mercy Congregation
Kiryat Yam, Israel
“But You, O LORD, are a shield around me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.” (Psalm 3:3)
In a field not far from our house sits a tiny mobile military outpost. The outpost is a mobile unit of the “Iron Dome” defense system. Its position is adjusted from time to time in order to maximize its chances for success against aerial threats from the north.
This remarkable technology was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, to detect, intercept and destroy short range enemy rockets fired into Israel. [The Rafael campus happens to be just around the corner from our congregational building – if you close your eyes you can see our faces beaming with pride.] The Iron Dome was first deployed in 2011 and has improved its success rate over the years so much so that it now has a reported effectivity of over 90% interception.
Having this dome of protection is more than a stellar innovation for Israel’s own safety. It is a multi-million dollar defense system that protects all those living in areas that come under rocket fire, no matter their religious or ethnic backgrounds. The very fact that it exists and receives the extent of funding that it does; is evidence Israel’s commitment to defense, to the saving of lives, to peace. Israel is not a violent, hungry war-machine that seeks to wipe out neighboring people groups.
According to the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, over 10,500 rockets have been fired on Israel since October 7th. This is almost as many rockets as have been fired before that, going back to 2005. Even with the phenomenal success rate of the Iron Dome, hundreds of rockets still slip through to hit Israeli soil, causing destruction, physical and mental trauma and even death.
After food and shelter, physical safety is a primary basic need. It is even the new first step in traumatic first aid – to check that the person is in a safe place before administering help. If safety is compromised, then other life-saving steps are pointless. We learned this in the congregational First Aid course we did last month after the onset of the war.
The communities that were attacked in the South on October 7th, in addition to the tragedy of lives lost, felt ABANDONED and UNPROTECTED. They had TRUSTED in the IDF and its high-tech defenses. When these failed, they were UNSHIELDED from the real and present danger that had succeeded in penetrating the fences of protection.
Indeed, after the shock, betrayal and horror of that day, more than ever, Israelis are asking who is shielding them, protecting them, in whom can they put their trust, their hope?!
In whom are we putting our hope? In politicians? In the military? In savvy defense tech? Even in a committed, devoted and sacrificial society? None of these can guarantee protection.
King David the psalmist was a man who knew battle, with natural predators and national predators. Psalm 119:114 says, “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word” [NIV]. The Psalms teach us to put our hope in God, in the shield that His word, His presence, His Glory are for us. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “…Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed” (49:23).
The community of Israeli believers is heartbroken for the state of our people and our country. We intercede for the situation and put our hope and our trust in our gracious Heavenly Father who Alone is a sun and a shield and the lifter of our heads.
Now more than ever, we ask you to join us in prayer for this nation, that our people would turn to God, place their trust in Him, and call out to Yeshua who is the HOPE of generations.
Some photos from our December congregational women’s gathering and a volunteering expedition to southern Israel, where congregants spent the day picking fruit, since there is a shortage of laborers caused by the war.
