[Today’s Prayer] Tens of thousands gather for Hezbollah leader's funeral… Analysis of 'tool to rally supporters'

The funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last September, is being held on a grand scale for the first time in five months. With tens of thousands of people gathered before the funeral began, some analysts say Hezbollah is trying to use the occasion to show off its continued existence and strengthen its internal unity.

The Associated Press reported that tens of thousands of people had flocked to the stadium since morning, and predicted that this funeral would be the largest in Lebanon in 20 years.

Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike last September. At the time, Hezbollah had lost a large number of its leaders to Israeli bombings and was so weakened that it could not hold a public funeral. Hezbollah then announced plans to bury Nasrallah secretly and hold a public funeral only after a temporary ceasefire with Israel.

There is speculation that Hezbollah may use the funeral as an opportunity to externally demonstrate its health and internally block opposition and rally support. Nasrallah has led Hezbollah for over 30 years and is a founding member of the organization.

Hezbollah is known to have lost political control and faced criticism even within Lebanon after the assassination of Nasrallah. In January of this year, pro-Western President Joseph Aoun was elected, and the cabinet adopted a statement targeting Hezbollah, stating that only the state has the right to defend Lebanese territory.

"Come from every town and city and let them know that the resistance continues," said Ali Damoush, a senior Hezbollah official, referring to Israel. "Some 800 prominent figures from 65 countries will attend."

Nasrallah will reportedly be buried in Beirut after the funeral.

Source: News

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. (Luke 10:2)

We hear tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese militant leader of Hezbollah who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, using the occasion as an opportunity to reunite.

It was expected that Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon to fade with the loss of so much of its leadership during the airstrikes that the organization was too weak to hold a public funeral, but would you Lord take away Hezbollah's desire to reassert its influence through the funeral.

We pray that the youth of Lebanon will not be used by Hezbollah or any other political tool, but that they will find their mission in the light of the gospel, and that You will guide them to be good soldiers of Christ for Your kingdom.

May the churches in Lebanon not be afraid of Hezbollah in the midst of this situation, but rather live the gospel to the fullest, and may the power of the gospel and salvation come through the Lebanese church to those whose hearts have been impoverished by the war in Lebanon.

Let the Lebanese Church be a laborer in the harvest of the Arabs and nations beyond Lebanon, and let it be the church of the last revival!

And may Lebanon become the Arab keys to the kingdom of heaven, opening all the closed doors of the Arab world and preparing the way for Jesus' return!