Jerusalem, City Of God

 Joshua 15:63

"But the Jebusites, who live in Jerusalem, cannot be driven away by the children of Judah. So, the Jebusites live with the children of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day."

In the Old Testament Bible, we know that the city of Jerusalem was taken from the Jebusites, then the city was in turn controlled by various nations. So that finally now, the city is controlled by Israel, which makes it the capital of the country, even though it is not recognized by various countries in the world.

The city of Jerusalem is now a holy city for 3 religious’ people in the world, Jews because of its temple (which now only has walls only), and also because the holy book says that this city is the CITY of GOD. Islam considers this city the third holiest place with its Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Christianity with its Jesus Christ and the same as Israel because this is the CITY of GOD.

The problem is that God Himself has chosen this city to be His city of choice, although in its history God has often punished this city because its inhabitants chose to worship idols rather than God. And according to the Bible, God will come and live in Jerusalem on the day of His second coming for eternity.

What is our attitude as Christians towards this city: There are 3 attitudes that we can do as Christians?

First, support the existence of this city as the holy city of Christians.

Second, indifferent, because after all, it has nothing to do with me.

Third, rejecting the existence of this city as a holy city for Christians, and only considering it as a historical city, because of the many historical relics of Christianity.

To find out the status of the city of Jerusalem before Christians, we have to "back to basic" that is, back to the Bible which is the guide for our life in this world. In the Bible from the beginning God has designated this city as His city, His chosen city.

About the reasons why God chose this city as the chosen city is God's own "Prerogative Rights". Maybe in Heaven later we can ask HIM, about His reasons for choosing the city of Jerusalem.

The verses in the Bible that say that Jerusalem is the city of God are: (from the Old Testament)

 1 Kings 11:36

"And I will give to his son a tribe, so that my servant David will always have descendants before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen so that my name may reside there"

 Psalm 137: 5

"If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be dry!"

 Isaiah 62: 1

"Because of Zion I cannot be silent, and because of Jerusalem I will not remain still, until his righteousness shines like light and his salvation burns like a torch"

 Isaiah 62: 6

"I have placed watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem. All day and all night they will never be silent. O ye who must remind the Lord of Zion, do not remain silent"

 Isaiah 2: 3

"and many nations will go and say," Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways, and that we may walk on them; for the teaching and the word of the Lord will come out of Zion from Jerusalem"

The Lord Jesus Himself wept over Jerusalem, because of the ignorance of the inhabitants of that city, and He said in

 Matthew 23:37

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who killed the prophets and stoned those who were sent to you! I have longed to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing, but you will not"

And God Himself has said that He will live forever in Jerusalem, even though the place that will become the city of God is not the present city of Jerusalem, because the city of Jerusalem which is now will be destroyed, as a result of the wars of the end times and also caused by earthquakes at the time of Jesus' second coming.

God will bring down the new Jerusalem from heaven, where His saints will occupy the city, and God will live in it, but it must be remembered, that the new city of Jerusalem is or is located in the present city of Jerusalem.

Supporting verses:

 Isaiah 65:19

"I will rejoice over Jerusalem and rejoice in my people; there shall be no more crying and no groaning"

 Revelation 21: 2

"And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, from God, adorned as a bride adorned for her husband"

 Revelation 21:10

"Then he led me in the spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God"

So, what is our attitude as Christians towards city of Jerusalem???

 There are some of the things we can do:

- We pray for this city for peace and prosperity

- If we have money, we can make a pilgrimage to the city of Jerusalem

Finally, here is David's Psalm about the City of Jerusalem:

 Psalm 122: 1-9

1 David's pilgrimage song. I rejoice when people say to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD".

2 Now our feet stand at your gates, O Jerusalem.

3 O Jerusalem, which has been established as a compacted city,

4 where the tribes of the LORD make pilgrimages, to give thanks to the name of the LORD according to the regulations for Israel.

5 For the thrones of justice are there, the seats of the house of the king of David.

6 Pray for the welfare of Jerusalem: "Let those who love you be secure.

7 Let there be peace within your walls, and security in your citadels! "

8 Because of my brethren and friends, I would say, "May peace be within you!"

9 Because of the house of the LORD our God, I will pray good for you.

We pray for Jerusalem not that Israel will continue to occupy the city. We pray for Jerusalem not because we support Israel, we pray for Jerusalem because:

"She is the city of the LORD, and the LORD OF ALL NATURE will live with His people in that city forever and ever"

Jesus loves you and whole your family