From the Pastor’s Heart
It is profoundly distressing that war has “flared up” again in the Middle East. I said “flared up,” because as the history goes, the Middle East has been in a state of “endless wars.”
Every president of the United States, that I have known, in my seven plus decades of life, has had to face wars in the Middle East. Whether it is the war on the Arabian Peninsula, or the war in Iran, or war with Turkey, or the Iraqi wars, or the war in Syria, or the Egyptian – Israeli conflicts or the Israel Palestinian wars, there seems to be no time of peace in the Middle East.
This latest flare up between Israel and the Palestinians has been simmering for a while. Israel has been pummeling Gaza with air strikes in response to Hamas’ launching of missiles into Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and other occupied areas around Gaza. The directive to strike at terrorist targets has been given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after a meeting with his military chiefs. He said “We will continue to act as necessary to restore peace and security to all residents of Israel.” And Hamas has said it will continue to launch rockets until the airstrikes stop.
As of the time of writing, 216 Palestinians have been killed and twenty Israelis. Among the dead are 61 children. The efforts of President Biden and others to encourage peace seems to be falling on deaf ears, and will continue until the Israelis and the Palestinians can come to a common understanding regarding their claims to Jerusalem and its environs.
Yes, it is of interest to me is that Jerusalem has been called the “The city of Peace” and yet it has been the center of wars since its founding by the Jebusites. When in its earliest history king Melchizedek – the king of Jerusalem – the king of Peace met with Abraham, Abraham was coming from a war with five kings in the valley of Shitim where the kings were in constant warfare. (Genesis 14)
Because of its history of wars and claim to be a city of peace, a holy city, Jerusalem has taken center stage in geopolitics. So many wars are fought in a city where God’s name is invoked by three religions, namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
As I reflect on the prospect for peace in Jerusalem and the Israeli Palestinian lands, I am led to think back on what I had read many years ago in Professor Jacques Ellul’s book, The Meaning of the City, when he says:
“Jerusalem is a holy city. But she is still a city. She carries man’s (sic) mark, even in her (sic) election, even in her adoption by God. She never escapes from all the characteristics of the city, as is indicated by the accusations constantly aimed at her, aimed all the sins she never ceases falling into anew. Her sins are those of the other cities, she acts like them and is condemned like them.
“Jerusalem is a bloody city – built in blood and living in sacrifices, crime and war. The terrible curse pronounced against builders weighs her down also, and God adopted her when she was covered with blood. . . (Mic. 3:10; Ezek. 16). She is the city of pride. She, also, like the other cities, insults heaven with her mad desire to plunder heaven itself (Jer 13:9). City of pride and injustice. . . (p. 97)
“Everything in the city of Jerusalem that still belongs to the world of the city, the creation and pride of man (sic), is condemned to be only a devasted cemetery. (97).”
I did not write here to discourage the diplomatic efforts, but to make the point that as long as human pride and prejudice, and the struggles for possessions continue in the earth, that, the prospect from peace is elusive.
However, I wish to ask those of us who are not doing the work of the diplomats and the presidents and prime ministers to negotiate the peace, to join the Psalmist in a prayer:
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 brethren and 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).
And for those of us who understand that a legacy of peace is not going to be possible so long as humanity continues in the state that there is so much hatred in their hearts. Let us ask the Lord to cleanse our hearts, take away the hatred, and hasten the day when the New Jerusalem will “come down from God out of heaven, as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2) Only then will there be peace – lasting peace (Revelation 21).
