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Weekly Devotional

August 18, 2008
 

Psalm 87:1-5  On the holy mount stands the city he founded;  ² the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.  ³ Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah  ⁴ Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; Philistia too, and Tyre, with Ethiopia¹ -- "This one was born there," they say.  ⁵ And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in it"; for the Most High himself will establish it. 

The psalm above is the scripture reading for today in “Bread for the Day”, a daily devotional and prayer book.  As we read these verses, we are reminded of the work that God is doing.  In the case of this psalm, God has established the city of Zion, or Jerusalem.  He did not just establish it anywhere, but he established it on the holy mount. 

The city of Jerusalem has a quite interesting history.  We know that there has been two temples built, both of which have been destroyed.  We also know that the Jews and Muslims fight over the temple mount, with Islam having current control.  But why is the city itself so important?  For starters, God has claimed that he will rule from the city of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 3:17   At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no longer stubbornly follow their own evil will.)  But Jerusalem is also important in terms of its location in the region.

Jerusalem is positioned on a specific piece of land for a reason.  It is built on a hill, so that it can be more easily defended.  To the south and west of the city is the Hinnom Valley.  To the east of the city is the Kidron Valley, which separated Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.  Furthermore, this was a place where water could be found.  The region of the world that includes Israel, Jordan, etc. is mostly desert.  Places that have water are very important so life can be sustained.  Jerusalem has the Gihon spring that helps provide much needed water to the area.    

But besides all of this, Jerusalem is seen as the place where God’s kingdom will permanently reign on earth.  All three of the major religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) lay claim on this sacred city.  The Mount of Olives has become a massive cemetery, because people think this is where the Messiah will appear first.  The temple mount is now occupied by a mosque and the Dome of the Rock (both built about 1300 years ago).  The “old city” is now archeological digs, and many of the regions around the city are also inhabited by archeologists (except Indy, who has already found the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant) looking for religious artifacts to back up their claims.

For more information about Jerusalem, I encourage you to Google it.  I also have a book in my office about biblical archeology that shows some pictures of the old city and the way Jerusalem looked.  Feel free to ask me about it or borrow it. 

In our prayers this week: 

Alma, the mom’s of Doris and Gail, Doris, Olga, and her sister Addie.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Judson