Pray for the Jewish People

The Name

Religious Jews sometimes greet one another with a brief affirmation of their belief. It is different than Hello, How are you? Good morning, or even the popular Jewish greeting, Shalom [peace]. They say, Baruch Ha Shem Adonai. In English the words mean Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Sometimes, the religious Jews will omit the name Adonai, meaning Lord, and simply say, Baruch Ha Shem, meaning Blessed be the Name. In such cases, Adonai, or Lord, though not spoken, is understood. Frequently, they will even leave off the word baruch and simply greet one another with the shortened expression, Ha Shem, which simply means the Name.

And so they move from Baruch Ha Shem Adonai, meaning Blessed be the Name of the Lord, to Baruch Ha Shem, meaning Blessed be the Name, to Ha Shem, meaning the Name.

They understand that all which God is – His attributes, His works, His decree or plan for humanity – is bound up in the designation Ha Shem, or the Name. In truth, it is the Name that is above all names.

Tragically, many of the religious Jews have zeal for God but not according to knowledge. Paul said of his contemporaries: For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (Romans 10:2-3). Unfortunately, nothing has changed in the last 2,000 years.

The Jewish people do not understand that the Ha Shem they extol is the very Jesus they reject. His attributes are the attributes of deity. His works are the works of deity. His plan is the plan of deity.

What the Jewish People Have Given Us

It is crucial that believers who love the Lord Jesus be praying for the unsaved Jewish people during this urgent and, I believe, climactic period of history.

Every time we enter the holiday season at the end of the year, we should think of the Jewish people. For instance, at Thanksgiving we thank God for all His blessings. But let us not forget that the fountainhead of those blessings is the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants. God said: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Genesis 22:18).

WITHOUT THE JEWISH PEOPLE there would be no reason to give thanks at Thanksgiving.

At Christmas we reflect on Bethlehem, a stable, a manger, shepherds, and the virgin-born Child called Jesus. He was called Jesus, because Jesus means Savior. He was born in an insignificant land, Israel; in an obscure village, Bethlehem; among a lowly people, the Jews; of a royal lineage,

WITHOUT THE JEWISH PEOPLE there would be no incarnation of the Son of God to celebrate at Christmas.

WITHOUT THE JEWISH PEOPLE there would be no cause to celebrate the New Year, because it would be another year with no hope of sins forgiven and eternal life. It is all part of the divine plan of redemption.

I leave you with the words Psalm 122:6: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Marv Rosenthal, founder and President of Zion's Hope, has been an acclaimed international Bible teacher for more than five decades.