Let us consider the question of Jerusalem and Israel's relevance to the church of Jesus Christ.
Firstly let us look to the Psalms for some context.
Psalm 122 1 I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: 4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.
Verse 6 The Psalmist tells God’s people to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and invokes prosperity on the lovers of Jerusalem and Israel.
But you say that was the old covenant, what does the new covenant say to the church about Israel?
Romans Chapter 11 addresses this issue in depth (to see my personal commentary please go to https://www.psalmonesermons.com//post/romans-11-1-36).
Very briefly in Romans Chapter 11 We find that Abba Father has not forgotten the Children of Israel. It was always God’s intention to bring together a remnant of the Jews and a proportion of the Gentiles into one family through Jesus Christ. This chapter outlines the process through which God has led the Jews and Gentiles to get them to becoming one family.
The Jews always sought to achieve right standing with God through keeping the Law and of course, were unable to do so. Only the elect remnant of the Jews achieved right standing with God through faith but the others, the majority in some way were hardened by the influences of God. Paul now gives examples of this hardening from Moses and David. Moses spoke of a spirit of stupor that produces mental and spiritual apathy that was still working on the unbelieving Jews in Paul’s day.
God is not finished with his people Israel
Zechariah 12:10 I will bring them (Israel) again also out of the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. 12 And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.
Here is something wonderful for the church from Psalm 122:6 (see above).
Jerusalem means the ‘possession of peace.’
Today the church of Jesus Christ is also a ‘possession of peace’.
The New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The heavenly Jerusalem is prepared as a ‘bride’. Spiritually speaking, Jerusalem can be likened to the church God is building, which ties in with Zion.
Remember that our bodies are temples of Holy Spirit, in other words, God’s dwelling place. A place of giving praise and thanks.
This Psalm 126:6 is a special prayer for both Israel and the church.
Let us take the actual words of the above scriptures and turn them into our prayer;
Lord, in Jesus’ name we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
We pray, for Jerusalem that peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces.
Peace be within thee and we shall seek thy good always.
Amen
Shalom
