Jerusalem: The Holy City

One of the most amazing cities in the world is Jerusalem. Excitement builds on a tour in Israel until it reaches its crescendo when the tour leader announces, "Today, we go up to Jerusalem!" It is almost as if we were being drawn by a large magnet. Finally, with the strains of that great classic "The Holy City" still emanating from the CD player on the bus, one catches his/her first glimpse of the city itself. Slowly the bus winds through the crowded streets and climbs to the summit of Mount Scopus. There a person captures his first glimpse of the Old City. The golden Dome of the Rock glistens in the waining sunshine. The City now has your complete undivided attention. You almost feel like you are home. It feels right!

As you gaze upon the city, the tour leaders opens his Bible and begins to read these words from Psalm 122: "Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according the statue given to Israel. There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David. 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."

Jerusalem is such a diverse city. On the one hand there is the modern city, much of it being built since the days of the War of Independence in 1948. The white Jerusalem stones which adorns every building within the city shine brilliantly in the sunlight. The shops along Ben Yehuda street are reminiscent of store fronts along the Nicollet Mall here in Minneapolis; only the prices are in shekels rather than dollars. On the other hand there is the Old City surrounded by its famous wall with its seven gates. As one enters it is almost as if one is stepping back into time. The Arab souks have changed little over the years. There you can literally purchase everything from soup to nuts. Your senses wrestle with the sights, sounds, and smells as you walk down the crowded streets. And you begin to picture in your mind what Jerusalem might have looked like during the days of Jesus.

Then questions enter into your mind as to what Jerusalem might look like when the King reigns enthroned within the temple on the temple mount. Will the streets be even more congested? Will language continue being a barrier to the people who do commerce within its shops? We know that there will no longer be the ever-present military and police presence as there is today for the Prince of Peace will be reigning upon the throne. The security fence that borders Jerusalem will also be gone. As I walked through those streets, the electricity grew within as I realized once again that this city is an eternal city - the city where God has chosen to share His name.

Friends, as you read earlier, the Scriptures encourage us - yea, they command us - to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Are we doing this faithfully? Is Jerusalem in your thoughts every day? As you pray for its peace you are in essence praying that the Prince of Peace will come, for only then will Jerusalem truly know peace.