In The Word
Read: Psalm 122 – 123
Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
122 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem,
3 Jerusalem, that is built
As a city that is compact together;
4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord—
An ordinance for Israel—
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 For there thrones were set for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
7 “May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “May peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.
Prayer for the Lord’s Help.
A Song of Ascents.
123 To You I lift up my eyes,
O You who are enthroned in the heavens!
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He is gracious to us.
3 Be gracious to us, O Lord, be gracious to us,
For we are greatly filled with contempt.
4 Our soul is greatly filled
With the scoffing of those who are at ease,
And with the contempt of the proud.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The pilgrims could now see the great city! “Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:2). Great excitement can be read in both Psalms as they worshipped their God. But I want to bring attention to a particular verse: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm122:6). At such a time as this, we have been challenged to do this very thing. At no other time in my life have I seen the relationship between the United States and Israel so fragile. Our leadership has begun to withdraw its support from its great friend Israel. It was the United States who helped Israel become a nation once again in the 1940s.
Why is it important that we pray for Jerusalem? There is a truth in Genesis 12:3 that reads, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” Time and time again, throughout history, God has raised and destroyed nations because of their actions towards Israel. The United States is a prime example of the blessing of God because of its relationship with Israel. In Psalm 122:6-7, we read, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, May they (those who pray for Israel) prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity in your palaces.” Those who pray for Israel have prosperity, protection, and peace. It is important that we remind our leaders how important it is that, as a nation, we choose to protect Israel, not forsake it. If that leadership fails to do this, it must be replaced. Our lives depend on it.