Psalm 122:1-9

Worship should make us glad.  Our greatest source of joy should be the privilege of knowing and worshiping the Lord.  It is a great honor that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us and it is astounding that He takes delight in our worship.  God revealed Himself to and through the nation of Israel.  God formed a nation through which Messiah would come to reveal the person of God and pay the price for sin.  The nation of Israel was separated by God for the purpose of promoting the worship of the Lord amongst all the other nations of the World.  They were blessed of God so that they might be a blessing and spread the joy of worship to others.  Jerusalem was the capital of Israel and is city that is designated by God for the practice and promotion of worship.  We associate different things with different places and there are two things that we should think about when we think about Jerusalem.

JERUSALEM IS A CITY FOR PRAISE: Jerusalem is a place where the people were called to gather for festivals and corporate worship of God.  These festivals were times of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord for that which He had accomplished and in anticipation of that which He had promised to accomplish.  God is to be praised for His provisions in the past as well as His promises for the future.  Jerusalem was planned by God for this purpose.  When we think of Jerusalem we should think of worship and it should fill our hearts with joy.  God is preparing a place called the New Jerusalem that will fulfill this purpose in a way that the present city has failed to accomplish because of the sinfulness of men.  In that glorious city we will all have the joy of gathering to enjoy the presence of God and praise Him for all of eternity.


JERUSALEM IS A CITY FOR PEACE: Peace for Jerusalem is synonymous with freedom to worship.  Unfortunately, the idea of one God and one way to worship that God is not an idea that is readily accepted by sinful man.  We do not like to be told that we are wrong and we do not like the idea of one people or culture being prevalent over our own.  In fact we are willing to go to war to defend, protect and then impose our beliefs on others.  Perhaps this is why there has always been so much war surrounding the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem.  In reality all of mankind longs for peace.  However, we are not about to sacrifice our principles for peace.  We are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, because when Jerusalem is at peace it will mean that men have united in their praise of the Lord.  One glorious day Jerusalem will be at perfect peace because the Prince of peace will reign in the New Jerusalem and all of mankind will be eternally at peace.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

Hebrews 10:32-39

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.     For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.     Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.     For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.     For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”     But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Endurance...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more