Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure.'” (Psalm 122:6)

As you read this, thousands of rockets have been fired upon Israel. There have been dozens of bombings and missile strikes in the Gaza Strip. There are Jews dying. There are Palestinians dying. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis have been injured by the conflict.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into four sections: The Jewish Quarter, the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter.

When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying for all the residents in Jerusalem: the Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Armenians.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

Pray for wisdom for the leaders of both Israel and the Palestinian people. As long as they both react to one another, tit for tat, many more will die and all of Israel and Palestine will suffer.

Pray for restraint. Pray that both sides will refrain from violence and seek peaceful means for moving forward.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

The word for peace in our text is shalom. This means so much more than peace or the absence of conflict. Shalom means completeness, soundness, fullness, peace. Shalom means having all that one needs to be complete, sound, full, and at peace.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”