“Jerusalem is built as a city … as a testimony of Israel,
To give thanks to the name of the Lord. …
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
Prosperity within your palaces
For the sake of my brethern and companions, I will now say peace be within you.
Because of the house of the LORD our God
I will seek your good.” Psalm 122:3,6-9
“Those who trust in the LORD
Are like Mount Zion, … so the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever. …
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
And those who are upright in their hearts.
As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,
The LORD shall lead them away
With the workers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel.” Psalm 125:1-2,4-5
God loves His people, and desires that they know His peace. He desires that His peace would rule our hearts.
However, for the unbelievers, God has no such gift, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
Surely I pray that the nation of Israel would be shown mercy for their rejection of the Son of God. I pray the Lord would pour out His grace upon this nation, and that the gospel would be preached boldly, and that this nation would bow it's knee to the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ. And then they will know the peace of God.
What an awesome thing that would be to behold! And perhaps we will.
And not only Israel, we surely need to be praying for all nations to bow their knees to the Son of God; to repent, and trust Christ the Lord, who is the "good news" for all people. And it's for His glory that people are shown mercy. The Father seeks those who would worship Him in Spirit and truth.
2 comments:
In your understanding of eschatology, don't these verses simply become a metaphor for the whole world? Haven't they lost all significance according to their original meaning? IOW, you can't prayer the prayer with the same aim as the original author.
My eschatology? I don't have one settled in my mind as of yet, though I am starting to have my mind shaped. Still working on it.
Yes they have lost their significance for sure.
No more Jerusalem as the one here: The one David loved. The one that would have Solomon's temple. The one where the Presence of God abided.
I surely can pray this prsyer for the people of God. All the Jews and Gentiles that are God's temple, and God's abode, God's nation. 1 Pet. 2:9
"Finally, brethern, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." 2 Cor. 13:11
"The Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you." 2 Thes. 3:16
"Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen." 1 Pet. 5:14
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