A PRAYER FOR ISRAEL IN HER EXTREMITY
With acknowledgements to The Kingdom Empire
O God, the Strength of Israel that will not lie nor repent; who hast promised that Israel should be always a nation before Thee, with David never wanting a man to sit upon the throne of Thy people; we, thine unworthy Servant-nation, do now approach Thee in this our dire need.
We know from Thy Holy Word that if only we turn unto thee with an unfeigned heart, can we expect and obtain Thy forgiveness for our manifold and great sins, negligences and ignorances.
We do acknowledge, O Lord, that millions of our people are without Thee, have forgotten Thee, or defy Thee. We know, O Lord, that we have parted grievously from Thy laws. We have rebelled against Thee, forgotten Thee, neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God to walk in Thy laws which Thou hast set before us. We know that we have put filthy lucre before Thy service; that in our mania for gaining we have not been the faithful stewards of that which Thou hast committed unto us; that our widespread immorality is grievously offensive to Thy pure eyes; that our reckless frivolity and luxury and love of sloth, gluttony and drunkenness are clean contrary to Word and Commandment.
We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, and know well that we deserve Thy wrath and indignation against us rather than mercy and loving kindness.
And yet, O Lord, look upon Thy people whom Thou hast purchased, and spare Thine inheritance. Wherefore should the heathen say that by the might of His arm and the strength of His ruthless power, He has overthrown Thy chosen people. O think upon Thy covenant made with our Fathers, and in Thy mercy spare us to tum to Thee now with weeping and fasting and prayers.
Thou knowest, Lord, that unless thou dost first put into our minds good desires we cannot even seek to purify ourselves from our great uncleanness and turn to Thee for help. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, the will to do better. Give us now the heart of flesh for our present heart of stone, and grant that the time may soon come when we shall ask Thee “to do it for us”; that so we may be delivered from our ruthless foe, and serve Thee with a quiet mind. Grant that the time may soon arrive when all Thy people, young and old, rich and poor, may know thee and long to do Thy will in all things, to the honour and praise of Thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Redeemer of Israel.
Amen.
