Shabbat Shalom!
I want to share an experience with you that has stayed with me. Some time ago, I was on the walls of Jerusalem with our ministry team and friends from the nations. We walked together, prayed together, and read Scriptures over the city. Looking out over Jerusalem from that height gave me a fresh understanding of the Bible’s teaching about watchmen and how real this calling is for believers today.
The prophet Isaiah speaks these words in Isaiah 62:
“On your walls, Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all day and all night they shall never keep silent…”
Isaiah 62:6
This instruction is clear. God Himself appoints watchmen. And their task is to stay alert, stay prayerful, and stay vocal.
In ancient times, the work of a watchman was vital. Watchmen stood on the walls to protect the people, to pay attention to every movement around the city, and to respond quickly to what they saw. If danger was coming, they sounded the alarm. If blessing was approaching — trade, peace, or visitors — they opened the gates and welcomed it. Their role required commitment, focus, and responsibility. Their eyes were always outward, and their hearts were always ready.
But Isaiah shows us that this calling goes far beyond history. God is speaking of spiritual watchmen — men and women who pray and intercede for Jerusalem. These watchmen are not defined by geography or nationality. This calling is not limited to Israelis. It is for believers from every nation who feel the Holy Spirit stirring their hearts for Israel.
When I stood on the walls, I could see how strong and high they are. It reminded me how impossible it would have been for an enemy to conquer Jerusalem without going through great effort. These walls symbolized safety, defense, and confidence for the people who lived inside them.
And yet, the Bible gives us something even stronger:
“For I, says the Lord, will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.”
Zechariah 2:5.
What a powerful promise! God is not merely protecting from the outside — He is present on the inside. He surrounds His people spiritually, just as physical walls once surrounded Jerusalem.
This truth applies to Israel, and it applies to your life as well. God’s protection is not symbolic. It is real. It is active. And it remains constant whether we see it or not. When we face challenges, pressure, or spiritual battle, we can trust that the Lord Himself stands around us like a wall of fire.
As we prayed on the walls, I also thought of Ezekiel. He lived far from Jerusalem, exiled in Babylon. Yet God brought him in the Spirit to Jerusalem — not for sightseeing, but to pray, to speak, and to intercede. This reminds me that God does not require us to stand in a physical location to be part of His work. If God places Israel on your heart, then He is placing you spiritually on the walls of Jerusalem. Your prayers are not distant. They are present, and they matter.
Scripture also tells us not to be silent. It tells us to pray until God fulfills His promises. That means continuing to intercede even when we don’t yet see results. It means trusting that God is working — not only in Israel, but also in your own life, your home, your family, and your future.
This week, I want to encourage you to join me on these three things:
- Continue to pray for Jerusalem and for Israel. Your prayers make a difference, and God hears them.
- Remember the promise of God’s protection over your life. Just as He surrounds Jerusalem, He surrounds you.
- Hold on to God’s Word with confidence. What He has spoken, He will accomplish in His time.
Thank you for walking with us in faith, for standing with Israel, and for carrying this land in your heart. We are grateful to God for every person who prays with us and supports the work He has called us to do. May the peace and presence of the Lord fill your home this Shabbat and bring strength to your spirit.
Shalom and many blessings,
Pastor Israel Pochtar