Stepping Stones To Shalomনমুনা

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” is probably among one of the most well-known lines from Psalm 122:6. It has been made into songs; it is said as a prayer by millions around the world. Most of us understand how badly Jerusalem – whose very name is derived from the word shalom, peace – needs our prayers for the peace that has eluded her for over 2,000 years. 

However, what many don’t realize is that when we pray for Jerusalem, we are essentially praying for ourselves. 

It has been said that whatever happens in Israel will determine the fate of the world. Israel is a country smaller than the U.S. state of New Jersey and her population is less than 2 percent of humanity, yet Israel continues to make headlines across the world almost daily. That’s because Israel is at the epicenter of the war between good and evil, peace and terror. Whatever happens in Jerusalem is bound to affect the rest of the world. 

Once, terror attacks predominantly happened only in Israel. Israeli cafés, public transportation, and public areas were the primary targets of suicide bombers and other terror attacks. But unfortunately, as we have come to know, terror has spread around the globe. As long as Israel is at war, the rest of the world will feel the effects. 

Spiritually speaking, this makes sense. Jewish tradition teaches that when God made the world, Creation began in Jerusalem. This is the place where everything began, and it is also the place where everything will culminate. Mount Moriah in Jerusalem is the place that Jacob called “the house of God . . . the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:17). Jewish sages describe Jerusalem as the heart of the world — and a body is only as healthy as its heart is.

This is why the next words in verse 6 of Psalm 122 are: “May those who love you be secure.” While we may have thought that when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are doing the Israelis a favor, the truth is that we are helping ourselves. Those who love Jerusalem and pray for her peace, bring peace and security upon themselves. Only when Jerusalem is secure, can we hope to find our own security.

Jerusalem needs your prayers today now more than ever. Let’s raise our voices in asking God to bring shalom to His holy city, and may we merit seeing Him bring shalom to the entire world.

Stepping Stone 11: Pray for peace. Prayer is one of our most effective “weapons” when it comes to fighting for peace. Every day, pray for peace in the world, and pray specifically for peace in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the heart of the world, and if we can heal our heart, the rest of the body will follow. When there is shalom in Jerusalem, there will be shalom in the world.