Peace Be to Jerusalem

How great is the Lord, how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain! It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King! God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers, revealing himself as its defender. The kings of the earth joined forces and advanced against the city. But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away. They were gripped with terror and writhed in pain like a woman in labor. You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind. We had heard of the city’s glory, but now we have seen it ourselves— the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever. Interlude” 
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭48:1-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jerusalem was the greatest city in the world to the Jewish people. The city represented the worship of the LORD (YHWH - Jehovah). King David had made this the capital city around 1000 B.C. This city was the epicenter of all of Jewish life. God had established the city as the centerpiece of the world and it still is. No city on the world is like Jerusalem! The name itself means "City of Peace". The Hebrew word "Shalom" is used to proclaim the blessing of "peace".  This city has endured an unthinkable history. Destroyed twice, besieged many times, and attacked many times, yet it still exists. Only God could preserve such a city.  As Christians, we should love Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem!  “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭122:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ All the way back to Genesis we read of God's blessing upon the descendants of Abraham. God proclaims blessing upon those who bless them and cursing upon those who curse them (see Genesis 12:1-3).  I love Israel and I love Jerusalem!! One day, all of God's born again family will gather in the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21 and 22 reveals that the Prince of Peace (Jesus) will reside with us in that eternal city. We will live in heaven on earth in resurrected bodies, on a resurrected earth, with our Resurrected Lord!  Peace be to Jerusalem!!!