Thoughts for another day

January 29, 2007

Today's verse: Is. 62:1. For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

For some days now, the word Jerusalem has been striking my mind and I wonder to what avail. Yesterday, late at night as I was watching a Christian channel, I again saw people congregated there and they were praying for the peace of Jerusalem, for the Bible asks us to pray for the it (Ps. 122:6) saying further that they who love Jerusalem, shall prosper. Oh my heart lifts when I see the sights of Jerusalem, the city that enwombs the Glory of the Holy One of Israel.

Jerusalem is very important because it is the city of Promise. God decided to perform His greatest works, there. It was a city of prophets, priests and kings. Jerusalem was witness to the death, resurrection and the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. At Jerusalem was birthed the Church, on the day of Pentecost. For those of us who are familiar with the Old Testament, it was the place where God established the Holy Temple, where Jews from all over the world came to offer sacrifices. Jerusalem would in Hebrew ‘Yerushalayim’ mean, the ‘Heritage of Peace.’ Today’s verse promises that the righteousness of Jerusalem will go forth to the nations as brightness and its salvation as a burning lamp.

As there are places special to us, so too I believe, Jerusalem is special to God. The Bible says that it is the city, the Lord has chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put His Name upon (1 Kgs. 14:21). It therefore, has been made important and an object of blessing. It is said of Jerusalem that, it is the city where the nations of the world will come for instruction and blessing, Is. 2:2. And the city will ultimately know the presence of the Glory of the Lord of Israel forever – Ez. 43:1,2. Therefore, as we pray for peace to reign unceasingly in Jerusalem, let our hearts sing the words of Psalm 122, ‘I rejoiced when I heard the people sing, let’s go to the Temple of the Lord and now at last our feet are standing within your gates O Jerusalem!’