Three thousand years before Christ, King David wrote a collection of psalms known as the “Songs of Ascent.” One of the verses in that collection commands God’s people to:
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
(Psalm 122:6a, KJV)
The Hebrew word for “peace” used here is “שָׁלוֹם” (Shalom), which encompasses more than just the absence of conflict. Shalom implies wholeness, completeness, prosperity, and well-being. It is a peace that permeates every aspect of life.
At the time these verses were penned, Jerusalem might have faced numerous threats from surrounding nations or internal strife. The call to pray for Jerusalem’s peace was not merely spiritual but also a practical plea for stability and safety in the city that housed the Holy Temple, the very heart of Jewish worship and community life.
What about today? Well…
At the time I write this devotional post, Jerusalem is not at peace. Israel is at war with Hamas, a militant Palestinian group that is widely (and correctly) regarded as a terrorist organization. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a coordinated land, sea, and air assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The surprise attack resulted in more than 1,200 deaths, primarily Israeli citizens. There are corroborated reports of torture and grisly murders too graphic for me to write about here. Suffice it to say that it was the deadliest and most traumatizing day for Israel since its independence.
Hamas also kidnapped over 250 people. As of this writing, over 120 remain in captivity or are unaccounted for.
Since the October 7 attacks, Israel has launched retaliatory air strikes and land operations which have resulted in tens of thousands of casualties in Gaza. World opinion (while initially sympathetic after Hamas-led terrorist attack) is turning against Israel. This is the case even in the United States, especially among young people.
If this isn’t a time for prayer, I don’t know what is.
While I’m sure some readers desire it, I will not get into the complexities and controversies of Israel’s military operations, its foreign policies, or its approach to settlements and occupations. I want to keep the focus on what the Bible says. How should Christians view this war? How should we view Israel?
The Bible is clear that God chose the Jewish people, and I categorically and passionately reject “Replacement Theology” which asserts that the church replaced Israel. It did not. God has plans for His church and God still has plans for the Jewish people (and Israel by name). If you have questions about this, I encourage you to read this article (click here) from One For Israel and then take 35 minutes and watch the following (recent) sermon by Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, VA. (My thanks to Nadine Bowser for bringing this message to my attention).
I also want to register my complete denunciation and contempt for the anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish bigotry that still (sadly and shamefully) permeates our world. And has even infected many in the Christian world. There is no place for bigotry in the kingdom of God. Not in any form.
That said…and this is important… the fact that God chose the Jewish people and has a special relationship with Israel does not mean that Israel is always right. If you doubt me, just read the Old Testament. Was Israel always right in the Old Testament? Why then should we expect the Israeli government to always be right today?
Besides, modern-day Israel is not the same entity as ancient Israel. Modern-day Israel is not legally governed according to the Law of Moses as ancient Israel was. While modern-day Israel is officially a “Jewish state,” it is still largely secular in its politics and culture.
We are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem — and, by logical extension — Israel. But no Christian should feel automatically obligated to support or affirm everything the Israeli government says or does.
Still, the reconstitution of Israel in 1948 can’t be seen as anything other than the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. (For a more in-depth take on this by Chosen People Ministries, click here). And the call to pray for Jerusalem (which, again, can effectively be extrapolated to include Israel generally) and the importance Jerusalem and Israel have in the Bible (not just in the Old Testament but in prophecy) should give us pause. This is not a casual exhortation. It’s a serious command from a Holy God — One who still has plans for His chosen people and the nation of Israel.
Is Jerusalem a super-spiritual city? Not in and of itself, no. God was willing to destroy it, along with his own temple more than once. But it is holy because God chose it. Like his own chosen people. God chose Jerusalem to be the geographical location from which he would redeem the world; it is the location of the death and resurrection of the Messiah. That event happened in a specific time and a specific place, but the results flow into eternity. It is also the place he is coming back to! So Jerusalem is God’s chosen city in real time and space, but the significance and effect is eternal.
A DEEPER LOOK AT PSALM 122: PRAYING FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM – One for Israel
As believers, when we pray for Jerusalem today, we are participating in a tradition that dates back thousands of years. Our prayers link us with countless generations who have sought God’s blessing on this city, which holds deep significance for both historical and prophetic reasons in Christian and Jewish faiths. And (as the organization One for Israel argues above) praying for Israel keeps us in alignment with God’s unfolding plans.
Thus, while you may disagree with Israel’s government from time to time (or you may feel that it should have a different government presiding), you should not be running to take sides with Israel’s enemies.
More specifically, you may disagree (even strongly) with how Israel handles its settlements and its occupation of places like Gaza, and that is your prerogative. I’m not wading into the details with this post. It’s not my intention to use this platform to debate politics with you or anyone else. But…
When it comes to a terrorist attack (like what happened on October 7, 2023), there is no appropriate response for God’s people to make other than complete and total condemnation. And…
Whatever your feelings may be about Israel’s military operations in Gaza, no one should be celebrating the continued loss of life. We should be praying for peace. A just peace, certainly. And a peace without terrorists planning their next attack to renew hostilities. But we should be praying for peace.
We should also be praying for our fellow Christians caught up in this conflict — on both sides. There are Christians in Israel. There are Christians in Gaza. Let’s not forget that.
And there are people in Gaza who, though they may not be Christian, don’t support Hamas or what it did on October 7, 2023. If we don’t have compassion for them, we really have to examine our hearts.
At times like these, God’s people must “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). And part of that is praying for the peace of Jerusalem — a call that resonates through the ages, reminding us of our shared hope for a future in which peace will ultimately reign when the Prince of Peace sits on the throne of David.
As we lift up Jerusalem in prayer, let’s remember our role as peacemakers, called to spread the Shalom of God in every corner of our lives.
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