Psalms 122:5-7 For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”
Last week, we discussed the significance of Jerusalem in the culmination of the age. Here, we’ll continue to scratch that surface. The word “Jerusalem” is so rich with meaning that a single devotion will only begin to unpack it; there are so many etymological approaches. But most agree that the root letters at the end, שלם (shalem) spell a Hebrew word requiring numerous English words to fully comprehend including, “perfect”, “complete”, “sound”, “whole”, “harmony”, “peace”, etc. In addition, the concept of payment is present, as לשלם (leshalem), “to pay”, also suggests “reward”.
There are two options of meaning for the letters at the beginning of the name, Yerushalayim, “ירה” (yara, with the letter “hey” ה at the end), means “to throw, cast, or shoot; to cause (cast) a particular effect or result by means of many small elements or impulses”, (e.g. arrows, words, instructions, raindrops, etc.)”. From this, we infer that Jerusalem is a place where peace, wholeness, fulfillment, and completion (shalom) are cast or released (yara) through a patient, repetitive process of instruction, a softening produced by a “rainfall” of God’s word, or a piercing of sin and ignorance by “arrows” (of truth), etc. These processes describe the spiritual history and unique identity of Jerusalem, a central place of God’s self-revelation. Also, this name testifies that the first appearance of the Prince of Peace (Sar Shalom) there was preceded by an extended process of patient and repeated prophetic revelation cast over centuries.
An alternative root beginning the name “Yerushalayim”, ירא (yara’ with “aleph”, (א) instead of “hey” (ה), means “to revere”, “to give heed”, “to be in awe”, or “to fear”. In this case, the name “Jerusalem” carries an exhortation to heed, revere, or be in awe of (Yara) perfection, wholeness, and peace (shalom) and, therefore, God Himself, who is the Author of all these. Both of these beginning roots express true characteristics of the “Holy City”.
Additionally, within “Yerushalayim”, we find the Hebrew word “Yerusha”, meaning “inheritance”, the legal transfer of property across generations. This makes reference to the verses above concerning judgment and prosperity. In Jerusalem, there are thrones of judgment set in the house of David [Ps. 122:5]. Here, we see a prophetic reference to the judgment seat of Christ, David’s royal successor, Yeshua (Jesus). At His throne, all the works of men will be judged, assessed, and rewarded with an inheritance in the age to come [Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10]. Yerushalayim thus holds a promise for prospering as believers who, understanding its significance, serve faithfully and endure to become co-heirs with Messiah and reign with Him [Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12 ]. Finally, “May they prosper who love you”, [verse 6], reaffirms the prosperous reward for all who love and appreciate YHVH’s Holy City and its purpose in history and eternity.
So much of the Gospel message of Messiah is found in the name of the city where it happened, Jerusalem. Here, the raindrops, the water of God’s Word, repeatedly and patiently fell onto both the fertile and fallow soil of men’s hearts. Here YHVH’s prophetic “arrows” repeatedly pierced both the tender and hardened hearts of men, in the hope of repentance for acceptance in God’s Kingdom. Here, the awesome nature of God Himself was revealed in His Word and Personal Image, Yeshua the Messiah. Finally, in Yerushalayim, perfect redemption and peace with humankind were fulfilled and completed by the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Yet, before this took place, Yeshua gave a final word to His beloved Jerusalem; “You shall see me no more until you say, ‘Baruch haba b’shem Adonai’, (‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD’) [Matthew 23:37-39], a most serious word of warning and hope in light of His rejection by Israel. In this light, praying for the peace of Jerusalem takes on a dimension of significance that includes Israel’s final redemption and acceptance of their Messiah and becomes a “last days” participation in the Lord’s eternal purposes, with the expectation of rejoicing with Him for Israel’s salvation and the fulfillment of Jerusalem’s eternal destiny.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]Over the past few days, I’ve been discussing the will of God and how to walk out His will daily in our lives. The Lord’s general will involves the development of our character and the ways in which we relate to Him and to our fellow man. Much of this is the same for every believer. But each of us is unique, and each has a potential life vision unlike any other. God has an individual will for every soul that belongs to Him, an individually shaped destiny which varies according to our gifting and calling and purpose in His Body.
As God worked on creation for six days and rested on the seventh day, so our seven day week is established on that pattern. If, as the scripture declares, with the Lord one day is as 1,000 years and 1,000 years as a day, then the seven-day cycle also finds expression in a great historical “week”. As we approach the 1,000-year reign of the Messiah, this “millennium” as it is called, (described in some detail in Revelation chapter 20), is clearly understood as a time of global rest, peace, and righteousness throughout the Earth.
The word for “restitution” in this passage is the Greek word – “apokatastasis”. This is the one and only place it is found in the New Testament. The word literally means to “restore again” or “to repair”. The plan of God in sending His Son Yeshua (Jesus) was to restore that which had been broken and ruined. The Lord’s saving work is a global repair job. Each one of us has come to Him already ruined by sin. But God’s will and His promise is to restore and renew us through His Son.
These past few days, writing about the will of God, has reminded me of the prophet Jeremiah, and how the Lord knew him – even before he was in his mother’s womb, and he was sanctified by God as a prophet to the nations. A similar foreknowledge and ordination of God belongs to us who are under the New Covenant. God’s foreknowledge of His people is clearly stated in scripture. We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless, and created in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) unto good works which He foreordained that we walk in them.
Writing daily devotions throughout the years I’ve often been asked the question, “How do I find the will of God?” There are probably many good scriptural approaches to answering this question; but I want to offer something very basic as you think about understanding the will of God. That is, simply, that you’ll know His will when you come to know the heart of God.
For the past few days we’ve been delving into the multiple meanings of “Amen”. While “Amen” is most commonly found at the end of prayers, the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) often used it at the beginning of a statement: “Truly, truly, I say unto you …” more accurately translated, “Amen, Amen, I say unto you…”
Murmuring or complaining is one of those sins that are overlooked. Sometimes we get so focused on the “big sins” such as murder and adultery that we overlook this sin — but the Lord doesn’t give this sin a free pass — quite the opposite. It’s a hidden killer! This sin unleashed a plague that killed thousands of Israelites! [Numbers 16]