Spread Over It Thy Canopy of Peace

The other day I stood on my balcony watching an approaching thunderstorm and thinking about the way my views on life have changed. The storm built, and crackles of lightening ran across the bottom of the clouds striking the Gatineau Hills. I have friends up in Chelsea and I hoped that the hot weather and this lightening wouldn’t produce forest fires over there. I thought about another approaching storm the one in the Middle East, and the friends I have there that might get caught in that fire of violence and hate. If I had not changed my views on religion I would likely be thinking that the end of the world is coming that the end times prophesies were almost here, but somewhere I grew up and reality caught up with me in the form of rationality. Is it rational to think that God would let it end like this in war fire and fury or is it human fear of the future that created the dispensationalist idea of the end times?

The problem is even with my matured views watching the thunder storm approach gave me a very uneasy feeling.

And the following Prayer came to mind….

PRAYER FOR THE WELFARE OF
THE STATE OF ISRAEL

Our Father Who are in Heaven, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless Thou the State of Israel which marks the dawn of our deliverance. Shield it beneath the wings of Thy love; Spread over it Thy canopy of peace; send Thy light and Thy truth to its leaders, officers, and counselors, and direct them with Thy good counsel.

O G-d, strengthen the defenders of our Holy Land; grant them salvation and crown them with victory. Establish peace in the land, and everlasting joy for its inhabitants.

Remember our brethren, the whole house of Israel, in all the lands of their dispersion. Speedily let them walk upright to Zion, the city, to Jerusalem Thy dwelling-place, as it is written in the Torah of Thy servant Moses: “Even if you are dispersed in the uttermost parts of the world, from there the L-rd your G-d will gather and fetch you. The L-rd your G-d will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it.”

Unite our heart to love and revere Thy Name, and to observe all the precepts of Thy Torah. Shine forth in Thy glorious majesty over all the inhabitants of Thy world. Let everything that breathes proclaim: The L-rd G-d of Israel is King; His majesty rules over all.” Amen.