Psalm 122:6

Psalm 122:6

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve heard this heart cry, from Jews, from Christian believers and also from those who know little of the works of God or the significance of the city that dominates Israel. Interestingly, people’s thoughts still follow the same pattern as our ancient predecessors in that Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim were all Biblical terms for the same thing, Israel. Today, the terms “Jews, Jerusalem and Israel” are used generically for one place and for one people. In other words, when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we pray for the Jews, and we pray for the whole land they occupy in the Middle East. 

It's extremely hard to know how to pray for this country and its inhabitants to be at peace. Every day new conflicts emerge; new threats are sounded against it. World leaders are constantly engaged in pondering what to do about Israel, and the population of the entire planet seems divided between those who are for the Jews and those who are against them! All we hear is from politicians is the well-worn phrase “a two-state solution,” but no one really knows what that means and in truth it will never happen because neither side trusts the other! So, how do we pray for peace when there have been centuries of endless trouble? Notice that included in David’s request is the security of those who love Jerusalem. As believers we only love that place and all it represents if we love the Lord our God and their God, and we are devoted to the King He has promised to His people. David hoped, of course, for the love and respect of his people. We place our trust in a coming King, the Son of David, the One who has already been crowned and who awaits the moment of His triumphal entry. The King of kings, the Lord Almighty will reign from Zion for 1,000 years and bring the long-awaited peace of Jerusalem and it won’t be via a two-state solution. (See Revelation 20). On that day, for the first time for thousands of years, the ancient city and the people of the land will be at peace and those who love Jerusalem will be secure. So, “Come, Lord Jesus.” 

I can’t wait, but meanwhile I will pray for peace!

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