Pray for the Shalom of Jerusalem

The escalated violence in the Middle East brings us great sadness, as people continue to kill and maim each other. The senseless bloodshed has marred and twisted the lives of generations of Palestinians and Israelis in a struggle that began long ago, and that seems to have no end. Yet we see Jerusalem as an integral place for three great faiths, all of which trace their ancestry back to father Abraham. For Christians, the Lord Jesus studied the Hebrew Scriptures and lived faithfully, according to the Law of Moses. He also is written about often in the pages of the sacred Koran of Islam. The connections that one finds in the Middle East are unmistakable. Yet many choose to major in the differences, and peace remains a mist in the desert.

In Psalm 122, there are prescient words -- "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."

We need to remember that the Hebrew word which we have as "peace" is actually "Shalom", which means much more that our understanding of peace. Shalom is a wholeness and well-being in the sense of everything working together smoothly, particularly in the sense of being at one with God. Jerusalem was established after all David's warfare and was not troubled militarily, but the need for keeping in step with the LORD was always a matter for the prayers of the faithful. The need for peace -- peace with God and peace with each other, remained. So peace here, shalom, is an inclusive term. Not just military peace, but wholeness and inner peace and peace with others in fellowship ways. So when we pray for peace, let us pray for all kinds of peace, including the peace that comes through full knowledge of the Messiah, Yeshua, who is the Prince of Peace.

Jerusalem remains the city special to God, from which He seeks to bless all mankind. It is a city which is in as great a need of God's Shalom as any other city. There are all the modern stresses and strains, with the added stress from the evil of some of its enemies, who are trying to push the Israeli people into the sea. Jerusalem needs prayers for its protection and defense. So let us pray for peace and cessation of war, and for the futures of the children, both Israeli and Palestinian, and look expectantly for the total peace of Jerusalem, which will happen with the coming of the Messiah. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:20)