For Such a Time as This

The latest news: Gaza Sealed Off, IDF Buildup at the Border [Israel National News]

Reasonable analysis from inside the land: What the PA (terrorists) want and what they will do next [JoeSettler]

What can I say? Kill the PA? Kill the terrorists? Disobey orders calling for "restraint"? Have hope? HaShem has not left you? Pray to Him for salvation and He will save? How do I tell that to someone whose soldier, friend, brother, child has been wounded and kidnapped by barbarians? How do I say these things to the fellow soldier, friend, sibling, parent who is in mourning for their dead? I can do my best to comfort my people, but do they truly want to be comforted, or, like me, do they prefer G-d's vengeance be upon our enemies at this hour? Maybe, in the thought of Adonai Tz'vaot's victory, we can find our greatest and only comfort and strength as a nation and as a people:


Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
His love endures forever.

Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."

Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."

Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."

In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;

the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.

The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Psalm 118

Chazak, chazak v'nit'chazek
Baruch haba B'Shem Adonai

Tags: IDF, Corporal Gilad Shalit, Israel, Gaza, Hamas, war