Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good. Psalm 122:6-9
The psalmist David, was not praying for his own peace and prosperity, but that of his brethren and friends. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem, who’s name by the way means “peace,” is appropriate because Jerusalem is Israel’s capitol and is the residency of the God of peace (Isaiah 9:6). The Bible has a lot to say about the peace and blessings for His people Israel, and for those who support her. Let’s have a closer look. In Genesis 12, God declares a promise that extends through out the whole Bible, we read in verse 1: Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12-1-3) Now God is establishing a covenant with Abram (soon God extends his name to Abraham), But first, he had to get out of his own country, out of his father’s house, and leave his old life of idolatry behind. God was now introducing Abram to Himself as His only source and provider the One true God, and go to a land He would provide for Him. And He would show Abram how to get there, and make him into a “great nation.” And all of these promises God fulfilled in Abraham: “I will bless you, I will make thy name great; and you shall be a blessing (Gen.12:2). So Abraham did become a great nation, God had also blessed His name and made him great, honored and respected.
And we find out it is an everlasting covenant. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen.12:3) And from here is the promise of the coming Messiah who would come through Abraham’s offspring. Not just the Jews but all the families of the earth will be blessed by the arriving of Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). It is an everlasting covenant which contains four elements: 1) Seed where it refers to Christ: “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you. Also I give to and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:5-8). From what we read we get the 2nd) the establishing through Abraham the land. And 3rd) That it would become a nation we know as Israel. And finally 4th) A divine blessing would God give it with His protection. Now this covenant is unconditional in the sense of its ultimate fulfillment of a kingdom and salvation for Israel, but conditional in terms of immediate fulfillment.
Now in the New Testament, we read that Paul makes its spiritual importance based on what God did through Abraham’s response to all of this: And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord, and He (God) accounted it to him for righteousness. The apostle Paul quoted these words as an illustration of faith over and against works (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6), Abram was justified by faith! And so our we today. Our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, who is our salvation. When we are obedient to the Word of God, there comes with it a great blessing. Here is where we started today. Do you pray for the peace and prosperity of the people in your local “house of God, Your church family?” Do you pray for God’s people Israel? One day the True Prince of Peace will rule this earth again, and when He rules, there will be true peace in Jerusalem.
Beloved friend, David’s psalm is a model of intercessory prayer. God still honors when we intercede in prayer on behalf of others. I want the assurance that if I should be called by God home to be with Him, And I leave this earth, that My family, my wife and children, my son’s in law, and daughter’s in law, my grandchildren would all have their faith rooted and grounded in Christ for their salvation. I want to live without ever regretting that the time I spent on their behalf in prayer, God took very seriously, and honored my prayer requests for them. So that my life’s legacy would be a reminder to them that their faith will be strong enough to keep them steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). For the hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ makes all the efforts and sacrifices in the Lord’s work worthwhile. No work done in His name is ever wasted in light of eternal glory and coming reward. Prayer: Lord Jesus, like what we learned from Abraham, You grant us far more than what we could ever ask for. Thank You for the blessed assurance of Your love and peace You promised to give us who come to You in faith. For we know Your promises are as real and assured of as that of Your servant Abrahams. Let it be all for Your glory and honor, amen.
May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!
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