Pray For Peace

Although I strive to remain neutral when it comes to politics and other controversial issues, there is one issue that is steaming hot and boiling over right now, and this issue is the conflict in Israel. The current Israeli-Palestinian conflict has caused many arguments to erupt between both believers and non believers alike, there are those who believe the Israelis are over reacting and bullying the Palestinians, and there are also those who view the Palestinians as nothing more than terrorist and murderers. This issue has become extremely controversial and divisive; therefore, it is an issue that must be addressed before irreparable harm is done to the unity of the Body of Christ. As a Bible believing Christian who reads and studies the word daily, it just seems natural to me to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel as a whole; however, there are many Christians and others who do not feel as I do, and so I will attempt to explain my position here. It is my opinion that the reason some Christians choose not to pray for Jerusalem, Israel, or her inhabitants is they simply do not understand why we should pray for Israel, nor do they understand what it means to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel; therefore, I will attempt to explain the Biblical basis and mandate requiring all Bible believing Christians to pray for the peace of Israel.

Psalm 122:1-4
 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord . Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of The Lord...

The first reason is simple, Jerusalem is the earthly home of God, the place where the Holy Temple was built, and a place that is Holy to all the Abrahamic monotheistic (One God) religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Now, I know there are those who will wonder, "why did he include Islam?" The answer is simple, those who practice Islam, are also the children of Abraham; therefore, they too play a role in God's plan, and we are to pray for them as well. (Gen 16:11-12, 17:20)


Genesis 12:1-3
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed...

Psalm 122:6-7
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces...

The second reason is also very simple, just as Abraham followed the directions and mandates of God when directed to leave the land of his father, we are to follow the directions that God has left for us, and that is to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. God tells us that those who pray for Jerusalem will be blessed; however, God also stated in His Holy word that those who curse Jerusalem will be cursed, and I do not know about you, but I'd rather not be cursed by God. Although we can clearly see that God has mandated that we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Israel, and that is a mandate that we should follow, as we know, obedience is better than sacrifice, (I Sam 15:22, Acts 17:11) there's also an added bonus; when we pray for Jerusalem, we too shall receive a Blessing from our Heavenly Father. God is not a man that He should lie; therefore, we can take Him at His word, knowing that as a result of our prayers for Israel, we too shall be Blessed...

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God...

Finally, whether you agree with the actions being taken by the Israelis and Palestinians at this time, Jesus stated in His sermon on the mount that the peacemakers shall be called the children of God, and a child of God is who I am striving to be... I pray that you too shall find it in your heart to pray for Jerusalem, Israel, and all those who live within her borders, the Jews, the Christians, and the Followers of Islam, they all deserve our prayers and respect; just as Christ has taught us, if we only love those who love us, we are no better than those in the world, (Matt 5:43-48) but to love all as we love ourselves, (Matt 22:37-40) this is the true measure of who we are, and the completion of all the Law and the prophets... God Bless... Amen...