Three thousand years ago, King David established Jerusalem as the capital city of the Jewish people. Rome captured the city in AD 70, which sent the Jews into exile. Later, following the Six-Day War in 1967, Israeli forces recaptured the Old City that had been under Jordanian control and reunited East and West Jerusalem. This was the first time in almost two thousand years that Jerusalem was once again under Jewish control.
According to the Hebrew calendar, the date of this reunification was the twenty-eighth day of the month of Iyar. This year that date falls on Monday, May 26. Known as Jerusalem Day or Yom Yerushalayim in Hebrew, it is celebrated throughout Israel with parades, thanksgiving, and memorial services for fallen heroes.
Let us read about Jerusalem in the book of Psalms.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces.”
For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “May peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good. (Psalm 122:6–9)[1]
Many people do not realize that over two million Arabs live peacefully within Israel. They are brothers and friends with the Jewish people. So “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” As we do this, we are praying for the peace of all Israelis, both Jews and Arabs alike, who call Jerusalem their home. Therefore, this beautiful psalm is a guiding star for our intercession.
Much of what we see through the media is not the reporting of truth as it exists. Frequently sensationalism is used to make money by blowing things out of proportion. However, the true heart of Israel is not divided from their Arab siblings. It is important for the nations to recognize that there is a love in the heart of Israel for the Arab nations; it is a heart for peace. It is the heart of mothers and fathers in Israel who are tired of their brothers and sons and daughters dying in a conflict that in most cases was initiated by radical elements whose prime objective is the absolute destruction of the State of Israel.
It is difficult for the American mind to grasp what is happening with the conflict in the Middle East. The immovable purpose of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other radical elements is the absolute destruction, annihilation, and obliteration of not only Israel, but also of every Jew. And their determination does not stop there. They want to do the same to America. These are not easy things to deal with, so our motivation must be pure. We must pray, have faith, and take action to bring peace to the whole region.
Our prayer as Christians should challenge the world with the same cry that Joshua spoke to Israel: “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Will nations serve the motivations of evil, or will they resolve to do what is right? Will they promote the good and the peace of Jerusalem? For the peace of Jerusalem is the peace of the world.
We pray, Lord, that You blow away the deception that calls good evil and evil good. We ask that there be an ability in this age to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked (Isaiah 5:20; Malachi 3:18). Christ’s parable said that the world is the field containing wheat and tares (Matthew 13:36-43). Let the angels of God come and begin to separate the wheat from the tares and expose that which is righteous from that which is wicked. Let the nations stop halting between two opinions and let them choose this day whom they will serve (Joshua 24:15; 1 Kings 18:21). Will they serve the righteous and the good, or will they serve the wicked and the evil? The nations of the world are in the balance before God. Lord, let Your will prevail.
We pray for the peace of Jerusalem “until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning” (Isaiah 62:1). Let it be, Lord!
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[1] All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).