Why Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem? 
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 Israel's Right to the Land 
 Is It Jewish to Believe in Jesus? 

Why Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem?

There are cities in today's world which are renowned for their strategic location, great size, proximity to rivers or ocean ports, industrial or manufacturing capability, or for their climate and natural beauty. Jerusalem has none of these advantages. Yet there is not a city on earth which is better known and more dearly loved by so many people of diverse nationalities and beliefs. Through the centuries Jerusalem has drawn to herself people of greatly diverse race, nationality and religion.

For Christian Byzantine and Crusader, for Muslim Arab and Turk, the attraction of Jerusalem was religious. For the true Christian, she was the city where Jesus died and rose again, and to which he would return; she was the city of the great King. As such she had a compelling attraction. For large sections of Christendom, however, Jerusalem, although held as sacred, was not the first city. For the Roman Catholic Church, Rome was the city in Christendom. For the Orthodox Church, the first city was Byzantium, later called Constantinople. For Islam, Jerusalem was a distant third in order of sacredness. Mecca came first, and then Medina. Ironically, the Koran makes not a single reference to Jerusalem, or for that matter Canaan or Palestine. Nevertheless, for all of these, Jerusalem occupied and continues to occupy, a special place in their esteem and love. For the Jew, however, Jerusalem is unique, there is no other city! Jerusalem occupies a dimension which no other city can share. For the Jewish faith there has never been an alternative to Jerusalem, nor can there be. In his eyes, she remains supreme. From the time of King David onwards, Jerusalem has been the national and spiritual center of the Jewish people. Even during the periods of the exile the Jewish people have never forgotten Jerusalem. Indeed, during these times Jerusalem has been even more alive in their consciousness and thinking.

Certainly there is no city of greater importance to world peace. One hardly need argue that the peace of the world depends upon the peace of Jerusalem. That awesome fact is recognized by the United Nations today, for every effort is being made by its members to find some way of achieving a just and lasting peace between Arabs and Jews in the land of Israel. The current standoff with Iraq and the ongoing war on terrorism are but direct spinoffs of this impasse. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has at is core, the issue of to whom will Jerusalem belong. The United Nations, NATO, European Community, and other world bodies continue to deny Israel the right to rule Jerusalem as her capital city. The nations of the world have placed their embassies in Tel Aviv, steadfastly refusing to place them in Jerusalem because that would, in effect, acknowledge Israel's right to Jerusalem as her capital.

In the grand scheme of things, why such unprecedented attention to so small a country? Every major government of the world must give a tremendous amount of foreign policy consideration to Israel. They know she is a critical entity in the affairs of men and nations. Astoundingly, more television and newspaper personnel are stationed in Jerusalem than perhaps anywhere else in the world (with the exception of Washington). They know that Jerusalem is important, they just don't know why. There is a distinct aura and mystique about Jerusalem, a magnetic allurement, but who knows why?

In short, Jerusalem is God's city-not Moscow, Paris, Berlin, New York, or even Constantinople, Rome, or Mecca. The intrigue and attention being paid to Jerusalem today among the nations, can be summarized and clarified in the timeless annals of the Scriptures.

Here is but a brief sampling:

"For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it." Psalm 132:13-14

Thus says the LORD, "I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain." "So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD." Zechariah 8:3,22

"Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King. God, in her palaces has made Himself known as a stronghold." Psalm 48:2-3

This is in stark contrast to prevalent world views. Given the current disposition and make up of the United Nations and other international bodies, how many would share such a lofty view of Jerusalem and/or the Jewish people? Our present day situation was accurately forecast by the prophet Zechariah:

"I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves." Zechariah 12:2-3

Why is it important to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? Why does the psalmist implore us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? And too, why the added benefit of prosperity (to be at rest) to those who will so pray? No nation will know true enduring peace until Israel does. It is for this cause we are commanded to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem". Ultimately, righteousness and peace are ordained to flow forth from Jerusalem to all the nations of the earth; and so the well-being of all nations is included in this prayer for Jerusalem and is dependent upon its fulfillment.

Furthermore, there is a clearly prescribed principle in place that can be traced to the covenant God Himself has made with the Jewish people. Over four millennia ago, God had made an everlasting covenant through the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The LORD said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land which I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great; and you will be a blessing; I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and ALL PEOPLES on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3 (New International Version)

Facing the imminent showdown with Iraq and the furthering of our war against terrorism, our prayers at this hour for the "peace of Jerusalem" will be a source of blessing to our country, and for that matter, the world! Despite the horrific, and heinous atrocities of September ll, 2001, may we not turn our backs on our only real friend and ally in the Middle East. There will never be world peace until there is first peace in Jerusalem. May God bless the United States of America!