Dear Precious Intercessors,

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 the house of the Lord our God, I will seek, inquire for, and require your good.” Psalm 122: 6, 7, 9. There is a poetic play on words here, since Jerusalem means “City of Peace”.  David’s prayer is that the city will live up to its name.  Peace (Hebrew shalom) is a comprehensive word that includes welfare, health, prosperity, and happiness, not just the absence of strife. The word (sha’al) pray as it is used in this passage is not the usual word for pray.  In this psalm for the sake of God’s people and for the sake of the Lord’s house we are instructed to inquire earnestly and with true concern about its condition. 

Jerusalem is God’s eternal possession.  It has been the fountainhead of the Jewish world since David made it his capital.  Throughout history, the Jews have repeatedly been driven from their beloved city by Christians and Muslims who claimed spiritual ownership of Jerusalem.  The real battle over Jerusalem is not being waged by men, nations or governments; it is a spiritual battle in the heavenlies for control of this Holy City. 

Seek the Lord to know His heart, His plans and purposes for Jerusalem.  Cry out for discernment to see beyond propaganda, media bias and prejudices that permeate the news. Ask God for wisdom to know how to rightly interpret the events we see unfolding and seek Him for His light and truth to proclaim over nations.  Keep in mind that the Jews are not more worthy or more righteous than any other people but God has chosen them for a covenant purpose. (Deut. 7:7-8)  God will bless those who bless Israel and judge those who curse Israel.  (Gen. 12:3) However, our covenant to pray for Israel does not cause us to lessen our commitment to pray for all peoples, including the Palestinians.  As we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we know that True Peace is possible only through Jesus Christ.  Military might and interventions by all the kings of the world will not establish peace over Jerusalem, but our prayers, intercessions and witness can prepare the way for the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.  “For He is our peace (our bond of unity and harmony).  He has made us both (Jew and Gentile) one (body) and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us.   By abolishing in His (own crucified flesh the enmity (caused by) the Law with its decrees and ordinances (which He annulled) that He from the two might create in Himself one new man (one new quality of humanity out of the two) so making peace.  And (He designed) to reconcile to God both (Jew and Gentile, united) in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.  And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and (peace) to those who were near.” Eph. 2:14-17 (Amplified).

May we in Northeast Ohio continue to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” knowing that the Lord is gathering people, purchased by His blood, “from every tribe and language and people and nation.”