This has been an incredible week! For the first time a sitting American President has visited the State of Israel. One of the most poignant moments was when President Trump stood praying at the Western Wall or the Kotel as it is known in Hebrew. He was there for several moments and then reached into his pocket and took out a piece of paper and did as so many have done before him, placed that piece of paper into one of the thousands of cracks within the wall. I, too, have stood there in prayer before that Wall on many occasions. I, too, have placed a prayer within one of those myriads of cracks within the wall. Although I do not know exactly what President Trump had written in that prayer, I am fairly confident that it was a call for peace to come to Jerusalem.
What made that scene at the Western Wall more dramatic was that it came at a time when the State of Israel would celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. In fact, today is Jerusalem Day on the Hebrew calendar. History records it on June 7, 1967. It was on that date that soldiers from the 55th Paratrooper Battalion of the Israeli Defense Forces entered into the Old City through the Lions' Gate and captured the Temple Mount and the Western Wall from the Jordanian forces. As stunning as were many of the events that occurred during that Six Day War in June 1967, the reunification of the City of Jerusalem was the most significant and long lasting. Cries were heard of "never again!" "Never again" would the city of Jerusalem be divided. It is Israel's Capitol city. (By the way, last night Marlys and I and our grandson were privileged to see the CBN docu-drama titled, "In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem." It was one of those one-night movie moments. It was extremely well done. I would encourage you to see it when it comes out on DVD).
The question is asked, "Is a united Jerusalem that important?" And the answer is, "Absolutely!" Jerusalem IS Israel. Jerusalem has had that role since the days when David took it from the Jebusites and made it his capital. It was here, in Jerusalem, that two great temples to the living God were built - one by Solomon, the second by Zerubbabel and expanded later by King Herod. This is the city that was the political and religious hub for centuries. Even after its twice destruction - in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians and in 70 AD by Titus and the Romans - the Jewish people never forgot the importance of Jerusalem. The last statement of the Passover Seder, proclaimed by Jews all over the world, is "next year in Jerusalem."
Jerusalem stands for hope. Jerusalem stands for a future. Jerusalem - the city that unites Jews across the globe. And this is God's declaration concerning Jerusalem: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her" (Ezekiel 5:5). Jerusalem is the epicenter of the world. It is from here that one day the King of kings and the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ Himself, will reign.
While in Israel, President Trump had meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Rivlin. He also met in Bethlehem with Palestinian Authority President Abbas. As with so many who have preceded him, President Trump left his brief stay in Israel believing that the time is right for a peace accord. I guess only time will tell if his assertions are true or not.
Before arriving in Israel, President Trump traveled to Saudi Arabia where he delivered a speech before a group of statesmen from 50 Arab states. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss how the Arab world should respond to the growing threat of a nuclear Iran and to the continued terrorism through ISIS. I just share with you a couple quotes from President Trump's speech, which has generally been viewed with applause. "America is prepared to stand with you - in pursuit of shared interests and common security. But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children. It is a choice between two futures - and it is a choice America cannot make for you." What do those words mean? It means that President Trump passed the baton to the Arab States and said, "You need to become leaders in this war against terror and against Iran. This is your problem even in a greater way than it is America's problem. What will you do?" President Trump understands that ownership of the problem is one of the first steps toward the solution of the problem. And, for too long, the Arab world has not taken ownership of radical Islamic terror.
President Trump also said, regarding terrorism, "Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person, and falsely invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith. Terrorists do not worship God; they worship death." President Trump dared to say what past administrations have been fearful of saying.
Sadly, in response to President Trump's powerful Riyadh speech, ISIS carried out one of its most blatant attacks late Monday night in Manchester, England. A suicide bomber detonated his vest just as a Ariana Grande concert was closing. To date, twenty-two people were killed and scores of others were injured, some severely. Many of those who died or were injured were young teen-aged girls out with their friends at this special concert. Fortunately the bomber had not entered into the concert arena where the tragedy would have been even worse. These terrorists have no respect for life, including their own. They celebrate death. And yet, even after this tragic event, there is still a strong aversion to stating that the cause is a radical Islamic ideology.
When will we wake up? When will Congress wake up? When will our national leadership wake up? We are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars investigating a possible collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign to influence last year's election. So far there has not been one shred of evidence supporting such collusion - NOT ONE. Yet, every day people enter into this country who are not properly vetted. Our borders are porous. Our resources are inadequate to protect Americans from those who attempt to enter into this country for the sole purpose of destroying it. Manchester should be a wake-up call to us. The words of President Trump to the Arab world should be a wake-up call to us. But, and I am saddened to say this, I don't believe there will be a wake-up. At least not until we have a "Manchester" of greater proportions here in America - another 9/11 moment. But, when that happens - and it is not a matter of "if" but "when" - the cry will be "Why didn't someone do something?" By then, it will be too late!
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