O Jerusalem

November 13

(Psalm 122:6-9 NIV) “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. {7} May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." {8} For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you." {9} For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity."

(Luke 13:34-35 NIV) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! {35} Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

(Luke 19:37-44 NIV) “When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: {38} "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" {39} Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" {40} "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." {41} As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it {42} and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. {43} The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. {44} They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.””

Jerusalem, a city of less than one million people, is not that large by world standards today. Yet it is in the news almost daily, and remains a flash-point for world conflict. This seems strange for a place whose name means “city of peace”. David tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and seek its prosperity, but today it remains divided and marked by conflict. Jesus wept over Jerusalem as he foresaw his death there and its coming destruction. He lamented His rejection… Jerusalem’s unwillingness to accept His Lordship. This city, which did not recognize the coming of God, would eventually be completely destroyed. But it was rebuilt, and today it stands waiting for the return of the One who wept over it. We would be wise to heed David’s call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray that Christ will return and bring His infinite and final peace to those who recognize the time of His coming. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day