Jerusalem Day!

What day is today? Strange question you might ask. It is Wednesday, May 12, 2010. And that is correct. But it is also something else. This is Jerusalem Day. It was 43 years ago that the Israeli armed forced captured the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War. Previous to that time, the Jordanians ruled over that part of Jerusalem. Of course, the greatest prize was the Western Wall which Israeli Jews had not seen since the War of Independence in 1948.

Last night, in a speech on the eve of Jerusalem Day, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu quoted from Isaiah 62:1 - "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch." He went on to say, "The battle for Jerusalem is a battle for truth. ... There can be no justice without truth and if there is a perversion of justice vis-a-vis our city and nation, it means the truth has been perverted, because the truth is that Jerusalem is our city and we never compromised on that, not after the destruction of the First Holy Temple, nor after the destruction of the Second. We were a majority in the city until the 9th century and we returned 2000 years later and witnessed the city's destruction once again. There is no other nation that feels this deeply about a city. ... We will continue to build Jerusalem, a city that is full of life."

But, as you are aware - or, at least I hope you are aware; you need to be aware - there is incredible pressure being placed upon Israel to give up its claim to the Old City, including its spiritual treasure in the Western Wall. In its eagerness to pacify the Arab world, our nation's leaders, along with those of Europe, have demanded that Israel hand over East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. Thus the city would once again be divided. The holy sites would be in jeopardy.

My friends, the longer I study the prophetic texts, the more assured I become that Jerusalem occupies a great place in God's heart. It is the city of His choosing; not Washington DC, or Paris, or London, or Tehran. This is the place where He inscribed His name. This is the place where He paid the ultimate sacrifice to redeem a lost mankind. This is the place where a handful of followers of Jesus Christ were sent out to change the world.

Yes, Jerusalem has more suffering to do. The Scriptures indicate that. In fact, one of the great battle scenes of Armageddon will occur just outside its walls. Yet, when the King of kings descends in power and glory, it will be to Jerusalem that He will come. And it will be from Jerusalem that He will reign for those millennial years.

How I wish I could walk with each of you through the crowded streets of Jerusalem! There is a certain electricity that is felt with each step. It is as if you were treading on holy ground; and, it is holy. It is holy because of what happened there in the past; and it is holy because of what will happen there in the future.

So, I wish you a blessed Jerusalem Day. Why not take some time today to read Psalm 122. There you will read: "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. For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity." (Psalm 122:6-9).

Long may the banner of Jerusalem fly high!