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Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
In order to understand what is happening in the Middle East in our days we need to be familiar with the Bible.
3 min · Øyvind Johnsen
In order to understand what is happening in the Middle East in our days we need to be familiar with the Bible, in which the Old Testament relates the history of Israel and God’s dealings with the Jewish people. We also need to understand the historical facts about the events in the Middle-East during the past century.
As Christians who believe in the Bible, we view the nation of Israel as a sign that the prophecies spoken by the prophets of old are being fulfilled in our days. Jesus Himself says in Luke 21:29-31: “Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” The fig tree is a symbol of Israel as a nation.
Israel: God's people
God has had, and continues to have His own plans and way with the people of Israel. Simon spoke of how God from the beginning selected from among the heathen a people for His Name's sake. This coincides perfectly with the words of the prophets, as it is written in the Scriptures. “‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things’” Acts 15:16-17. (Amos 9:11)
We see with the State of Israel that “the tabernacle of David” is being rebuilt in our time. By manifesting His goodness and faithfulness toward a nation, God can speak to people so they seek Him. God has not rejected His people even though they did not receive Jesus as their Messiah. (Romans 11:1) As “wild olive branches,” we Gentiles have been grafted into the olive tree, “… and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,” Romans 11:17. The entire Old Testament stems from the Jews. From these “roots” and from this “fatness,” we who are Christians of the Gentiles can receive comfort, power, and nourishment for our life of faith. We have no basis for arrogantly exalting ourselves above the Jews. Quite the contrary! See verses 18-21.
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Under God's protection
God kept His promises to Abraham. Abraham got his Isaac. God has also kept His promises to the people of Israel. They got their country back after 2000 years of “wandering in the wilderness.” The land is being cultivated and the desert is blooming. The nation of Israel is surrounded by many enemies, but is under God’s protection. (Isaiah 41:14 and Isaiah 32:17-18)
“I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:14. This is one of the many scriptures that prophesy this. We see this is now being fulfilled. It is just as impossible to destroy the people of Israel as it is to cause the sun to cease from shining by day or the moon and the stars to cease from shining by night. (Read Jeremiah 31:35-37)
The best thing we can do for people who live in the Middle East today, whether they be Jews or of other ethnicities, is to support the nation of Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6)
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, unless otherwise specified. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.