"Jerusalem"

PSALMS 122 "A Song of degrees of David."

  Sometimes we need a little encouragement to get up and face another day. If you can accept it, this Psalm touches on the place where the Jewish people looked to for encouragement. Not because it was just a place of worship, but because it was the face of worship, meaning that you could look and see. To understand the importance of what David is trying to say, it is not just about the place, even though the actual place has great importance in the life of Israel; but because it is that God has established as the place, for His glory, and for His amazing grace and mercy to be witnessed by all. We tend to forget that this place is so important to God, He has a New Jerusalem that will be established for all of eternity. These are very interesting times that we are living in; we should really pay attention to what is going on throughout the entire world. There is an enemy of Israel that has gained great ground in many different places; and now it is gaining ground here in the United States. Don't think for a moment that it is not important, because each and everything that is important is connected to Israel, in some way or another. With that in mind, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel; it was established by David to be that in his day, and it was established by God when He made His promise and covenant with David. Long story short, Jerusalem represents the makings of God! It is the visible sign of God's work, throughout centuries and regardless of all the opposition, God's work is still going to get done! "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it," is brought to life in a particular place of worship; not because it is a place to be worshipped, but because it was established by God to be a particular place! The name Jerusalem means, "teaching of peace." If you had anything strike a cord from the last week or so, it should be that peace comes from knowing God is the One who has all things under His control. Speaking of which, peace has many different functions: the possession of peace, the people of peace, the habitation of peace, the foundation of peace; how about the Prince of peace...

"In the last days, the mountain of the LORD'S house will be the highest of all -the most important place on earth. It will be raised above all other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob's God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For the LORD'S teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The LORD will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, and there will be nothing to fear. The LORD of Heaven's Armies has made this promise!" (Micah 4:1-4) NLT