Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.” Psalm 122:6
by Dr. Ritch Boerckel
December 2012
for the peace of Jerusalem? 2. What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem?
As the bus climbed to the crest of Mt Scopus just north of the city of Jerusalem, the weary travelers in our tour group began to sing, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Lift up your gates and sing; Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to your King.” We experienced chills as we looked down across the deep Kidron Valley to gaze upon this precious city where so much of God’s plan for man’s redemption took place. The city felt so peaceful as we entered it that night. Quiet. Calm. Beautiful. Little could we predict that in less than two weeks from our group’s first glimpse of the Holy City on November 3, rockets from Gaza would be fired to harm the people of this city.
Why pray for the peace of Jerusalem? The short answer is because God tells us to! Yet God does not give us commands that have no meaning. Jerusalem is precious to God because He chose this city for His saving purposes. We remember that God ordained for King David to build the capital of Israel here where the government for His people would reside. God then ordained for Solomon to build God’s Temple here and for this city to be the place of His localized presence for His people to come and worship Him. Here the Ark of the Covenant would find a home and sacrifices of atonement would be made for those who believed in Him. Even more, Jerusalem is the city where David’s greater During our trip to Jerusalem we talked about Son, Jesus, would be dedicated in the Temple the command in Psalm 122 to “Pray for the as a baby, then as a man teach upon the steps peace of Jerusalem.” I think about this leading up to the Temple and ultimately be command even more now that we have tried, condemned, crucified, buried and returned to the US and have followed the resurrected. In this city, the Holy Spirit first reports of violent aggression against the descended upon the apostles gathered for people of Israel by the Hamas terrorists who prayer to begin the New Testament church. control Gaza. Here, Peter preached his first sermon and 3000 The call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem stirs people repented of their sins and believed the up two questions in our minds: 1. Why pray Gospel. Even now, God continues to fashion a
(Continued on page 2)
Cont’d on page 2
Over the Coffee Cup
2
Christmas Office Hours Children’s Ministry
2 3
Youth Group News
3
Engage 2013 Missions
3 4
S. Africa Resources Update Make Disciples
4 5
The Gospel Institute
5
December Calendar Birthdays/Anniversaries
6 7
Men’s Basketball
8
Ommen Anniversary PrimeTime
8 8
Christmas Services Advent Resources
8 8
GriefShare
8
Rummel Baby Shower
9
Reality Check Ladies Event
9
Ladies Studies
9
No Regrets Men’s Conf.
9
Evangelism Explosion
9
A Community Christmas
10
FFH in Concert
10