Why is it important to pray for the peace of Jerusalem?
Psalm 122:6–9 says,
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!'
For my brothers and companions' sake
I will say, 'Peace be within you!'
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good."
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is clearly a good thing.
People who believe the Bible also pray for the peace of Jerusalem because God says He will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel (Genesis 12:3). Jerusalem is the cultural, religious, and political capital of Israel. Praying for its peace makes sense.
The word Jerusalem means "the place of peace"—the place where the God of peace symbolically resided during the temple times. In ancient times, it may have been a common blessing to say "Peace be upon Israel." The phrase is found in Psalm 125:5 and Psalm 128:6. We also know that Jerusalem is where Jesus will return (Acts 1:11; Zechariah 14:4).
Jesus included peacemakers in His beatitudes, saying those who made peace would be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). Romans 12:18 instructs us to seek peace with all people. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem certainly fits into these instructions.
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