In a moving video, Israeli believers and people from other nations united to sing the prayer song from Isaiah 61:1-3 to set the hostages free.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and console those who mourn in Zion
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy instead of mourning,
The garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They gathered in Sderot, a city close to the Gaza border. It was the location of a devastating attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7, which resulted in the death of over thirty people.
This prayer event took place on February 26, 2024. The attendees chose a site with a painful history – a former police station destroyed in the attack. Now, it’s a place of remembrance with a memorial for the victims, surrounded by walls that still show the scars of that day.
The reason for this gathering was to pray for the 129 hostages still held in Gaza. These hostages were among the 253 people taken five months earlier. Through their song, the group hoped to inspire others to pray for the hostages’ safe return.
Their message, rooted in a biblical passage, was about bringing hope and healing. They spoke of freedom for captives, comfort for those who mourn, and replacing despair with joy.
The site of their meeting, marked by the tragedy of the past, became a platform for their call to action. They urged people everywhere to join in their prayer for peace and the safe return of those still held captive.
Let us unite in prayer for Israel and the hostages, asking God to bring peace and freedom. We trust in His power to heal and save.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18
WATCH: Believers from Nations Unite in Prayer to Set the Hostages Free
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