Points of Peace

Psalm 122:6 (KJV) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

People like to quote this as a paraphrase by saying, “Pray for Israel.”  It’s a wonderful thought.  We should pray for Israel.  We should also pray for the United States.  We should pray for Europe.  There are lots of places that we should pray for.  Here specifically we are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Wonderful.  Do it.

Notice also the second part of this.  There’s a promise of prosperity and God’s blessing but notice whom that promise is toward.  It is towards those that love Him.  Now when you pray for Israel, or Jerusalem, keep in mind that God is not in the business of blessing rebellious pagans.  I think it’s safe to say that the people controlling Israel are not people who love the Lord.  I’m sure there’s some there and those would be the targets of this prayer.  This is not a blanket endorsement of ever political activity that comes out of the Knesset.

So pray for Israel.  By all means call down God’s blessing.  And while you’re calling down God’s blessing, ask for His Holy Spirit to move in such a way that there is genuine revival within that nation because so much of the world focuses on Israel right now.  

Timely

Psalms 122:6 (KJV) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

If there was ever a time when we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, this is it.  Most of us are praying for our country and for the coming elections.  That is good, but we need to realize that there is more going on in the world than just in North America.

When you look at a verse like this, you need to first consider whom it is written to.  This is obviously written to the Jews of ancient times.  However, when you consider how to understand and apply a verse, today comes into consideration.  I think this applies to us today.  I think we should be praying that God’s people, whether they are obedient or disobedient, should know peace in that part of the world.

So?  Don’t forget Israel.  Don’t forget the chosen people.  What happens to them affects all of us.

Promise or Common Sense

(Psa 122:6 KJV)  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

(Proverbs 4 also read)

This is a verse that we hear quoted a lot, or at least I do.  It is used to express support for Israel.  As I was reading through today I found myself wondering is this is one of those verses that only applied to ancient Israel or was it still a promise.

I was thinking that Jerusalem was the site of the Temple but if this was written by David the temple had not been built yet.  Since this Psalm does not have an author indicated and we know that Solomon wrote at least one Psalm, it is possible that the presence of the Temple is key.  

So?  Whether this is a promise or not, it is still something that we should be doing.  Jerusalem is in the Middle East.  The Middle East has the potential to pull world powers into war the way the Balkans did in World War I.  We should indeed be praying for the peace of Jerusalem.