Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
For the last two Sundays, I have been preaching from Psalm 122. Trying to tackle what some pastors and theologians would say is a nearly impossible subject: A right or biblical view of “Jerusalem” and “Israel” and how Christians might view even present-day Israel as a geo-political nation. To be sure, Bible-believing Christians have, and continue to disagree on this matter. So, right off the bat, we note it’s not a “heaven or hell” issue. Like eschatology (end times views), we should approach it humbly and charitably.
My efforts were feeble. I was helped tremendously by Dr. Jeff Myers well-researched and footnoted new book, Should Christians Support Israel? Available here: https://www.summit.org/promotions/should-christians-support-israel/
The first sermon from Psalm 122 was my simple exposition of the text. My bread and butter. It was the more important of the two sermons, though it might not be viewed that way by most listeners. The second sermon, preached last Sunday, was my attempt to apply the command of verse 6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” I argued that Christians definitely should pray for both the physical and spiritual peace of Jerusalem, knowing that ultimately, to do so is to really be praying for the return of Jesus. For only when Jerusalem (as both a place and a people of God) is under the rule and reign of the Prince of Peace will she, and the rest of the world, truly be at peace. And if Paul said Christians should pray for the corrupt Roman Empire so that believers might live in peace and the gospel might be advanced (1 Tim 2:1-7), how much more should we still be praying for the peace of Jerusalem? It is obvious to even the most casual observer that the peace of much if not most of the world hinges upon the peace of Jerusalem / Israel. That’s not surprising to Bible readers. And, nearly every Christian I know understands at least at a basic level, that such peace has been and continues to be both a physical and spiritual need.
Israel’s peace, like all other nations and peoples, happens both progressively and ultimately. Progressively as more individuals come to faith in Jesus as Messiah and Lord, and are thereby transformed into “blessed peacemakers” (Matt 5:9). More Christians in a society should definitely translate into more salt, light and peace! Ultimately, though, full and final peace comes only by the literal return of Jesus Christ. And, as I pointed out from Romans 11, God has purposed to bring both Israel and the rest of the Gentile world to “fullness,” meaning all the elect of God in Christ shall be gloriously saved and made into one new man, grafted into the Vine of the Messiah by grace (see John 15:1-2; Rom 11:11-32; Eph 2:11-22). The beauty of the gospel is that it, and only it, has the power to actually reconcile man to God and man to man.
Including Arab Palestinians and Jewish Israeli’s.
One of the most beautiful things I witnessed during my time in Israel a few years ago was the way our Christian tour guides and bus drivers, some Palestinian and some ethnic Jews, interacted. They clearly loved each other. Embraced one another as brothers in Christ. Respected each other. Even though at times they made it clear that they disagreed on the political and/or military or governmental solutions to the plights of both their ethnic peoples. Truly, they understand in some kind of almost inexplicable way, that they and their ethnic peoples are both widely hated, mistreated and persecuted. But, of course, the difference is there is today actually a Jewish State called Israel, formed in 1948. There is no Nation of Palestine. I personally doubt there ever will be, though it gives me no pleasure to say so.
Aware of a disturbing growing antisemitism in the world, our Nation, and even in Christendom and evangelicalism, especially among Gen Z, I tried in my sermon to also tackle some of the horrors Israeli’s faced at the evil hands of Hamas during the Oct 7th attack. No one should endorse those evils against any people or nation, regardless of how corrupt a nation’s government might be (including modern Israel). And, I detailed some of the effort the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has taken to try to minimize loss of life in their ongoing war against Hamas and Hezbollah. My point there was not to justify anything and everything the present-day government and military of Israel has done, is doing or will ever do. As I said, I am not an “Israel right or wrong” guy. Just as I am not an “America right or wrong” guy. It is possible to love and support nations without endorsing their evils. But, I was trying to help us sympathize with the terror experienced by so many citizens of Israel on that day. Living surrounded by peoples and nations that want to annihilate you is something few, if any of us, can truly grasp. And put bluntly, antisemitism has no place in the hearts of followers of the King of the Jews, Jesus, who is the King of Glory!
That said, I also have a broken heart for the Palestinians, especially those in Gaza. We can debate whether Israel’s war response has been dis-proportionate. One dear brother in my flock reminded me that some 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7th 2023. And Gaza is in complete rubble. That deeply saddens me. And yet, there seem to be plenty of Hamas fighters still alive and well, more committed than ever to the complete destruction of all Jews, and the Nation of Israel. I have to tell you, I do not pretend to know the political or military solution to it all. Personally, I think President Trump’s solution is not right or best. Involving America in yet another “Trail of Tears” re-location of persecuted peoples won’t really solve much, in my humble, admittedly somewhat ignorant opinion. But, I also don’t think there actually is a military or political solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict that has raged for thousands of years (see Gen 16:10-12 and Gal 4:21-31). Only the return of Christ can fix it.
And that’s the main point. Our unity in the Church-at-large and in a local church is not dependent upon our agreement in such impossibly complex matters. Christians in local churches in America have long debated, as brothers and sisters who love each other, issues such as: governmental corruption (true for every human government that has ever or will ever exist), border policy, immigration and refugee policy, social welfare policy, Just War Theory (which no nation has ever perfectly followed or executed, including our own), proper military responses (such as the atomic bomb in WWII), best forms of government, and the list goes on and on. Believers have agreed to disagree over these kinds of things for thousands of years, sometimes even with passionate opinions on both or all sides. And, by God’s grace, we have continued to press on in the faith as the family of God.
Our unity is in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We all agree that no human solution exists to the most basic human condition – sin. Sinners need a Savior. His name is Jesus. Subjects need a Righteous King. His name is Jesus. And in the end, it is only by the increase of His government, which shall know no end, that any nation, and all nations will experience full and final peace (Isa 9:6-7; Luke 1:26-33). We pray for the peace of Jerusalem because in so doing we are saying maranatha! Come Lord Jesus. We are longing for the day when “the nations will walk by the Lamb’s light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into” the New Jerusalem, come down from heaven to earth (Rev 21:22-24). God’s peace upon God’s people in God’s place according to God’s Messianic Promise. That’s our hope! That’s our passion! That’s our unity! We long to see all the true children of Abraham gathered around the throne singing “Worthy is the Lamb” (Gal 3:6-14; Rev 5).
So, our priority must always be to pray, give and go, to a lost and dying world, to proclaim the gospel of peace. May God help us be just as passionate to see ethnic Jews come to faith in Jesus as we are passionate to see all other peoples of the world saved. God’s great glory is in the mysterious way He has purposed to save sinners from every tribe, tongue, people and nation – so that “in this way all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:26). May we stand in awe that God saves anyone. Grace! Grace! May we be willing to admit our understanding is always finite. In the end, we say,
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who have given a gift to Him that he might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen (Rom 11:34-36).
by Keith McWhorter