Series - 7 - "Jerusalem"

16 August 2012 at 00:55

I first heard this song on the Gaithers' Toronto Homecoming video. I saw the video in 2006.

The idea of "going home", which the Homecoming videos capture, came very vividly to me in this particular song. It was significant for a number of reasons.

In 2005, my mother took a trip to Jerusalem. I thought she was overdoing it a bit - I thought, like many of us Christians still think today, what could really be left to see in the rubble of that ancient city? Besides, is God really tied to a piece of land on earth?

The song got me thinking, though. I guess it had been building for a while - this deep, aching longing to find out what exactly God was doing in choosing Jerusalem. The words of the song also brought a very deep, soothing balm to my soul, to be honest - Jerusalem... I want to walk your streets that are golden....and I want to run where the angels have trod.....Jerusalem....I want to rest on the banks of your river...in that city...City of God!  I remember, a bit later, looking at the panoramic photo that Wikipedia has of Jerusalem, and being deeply attracted. Why is this city such a flashpoint in our world today? God chose Jerusalem; but today the Muslims and the Jews are holding the world to ransom about this very piece of land......what gives?? There's got to be something there...simply CANNOT be mere coincidences !!!

I read through its post-70 AD history, eagerly finding out how many hands it had changed after that, this City of God. Its history is nothing short of unique. I began to ask, does God still care what happens to this city He chose for Himself?

I found out He does care very deeply; after all, it still is His City; and His choice is irrevocable. In 2009 (or thereabouts) I read Derek Prince's book Promised Land and became a fervent Zionist. I then madly went through the Bible, seeking out all the restoration promises and was nothing short of amazed to discover how specifically they were worded and how ardently the prophets (including Jesus Himself) spoke about it; and how the Jews wait for this more eagerly than "for the watching of the dawn."

Promised Land is a unique book; Derek Prince writes firsthand because he was in Jerusalem at the time it was divided by the British and he and his family had to face the horrors of partition. I eagerly learned about the emergence of the state of Israel in 1948, and the wars that followed, especially the Six-Day War in 1967. I was absolutely thrilled to discover that in 1967, the Jews got hold of the most important part of Jerusalem - the Temple Mount, for the first time since 70 AD when the city had been sacked by Roman general Titus' army. It had taken 1997 years!!! I was amazed. Was God fulfilling the restoration prophecies?

Today I am not a Zionist; I no longer believe that the present nation of Israel that is on the map even begins to fulfill any of the restoration prophecies; I believe this nation is no better (or worse) than any other nation that is on the map today - they certainly are no different from any other nation. They are just about as violent, self-seeking, bloodthirsty as any other nation. The restoration of the TRUE nation of ISRAEL has not yet begun.

*******************************************************************************

No matter. I also pleasantly (and very significantly) found out that though the true NATION may not exist yet, God still cares about the place Zion. It is still His chosen land, and He will redeem it when He sees fit:

1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

 - Joel 3:1-3

So my mother was RIGHT to go to see this place God had chosen for Himself!!! How dare I think He would revoke His choice!!!!

Since then, I have been anxious to find out every bit I can about the status of ownership of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is now, of course, owned by a Muslim Waqf board and the Dome of the Rock still stands. But God knows how to redeem the place He chose!!!!

The Hoppers' song also looks ahead to the heavenly Jerusalem that John saw in Revelation 21 - 22. I was amazed it was still called JERUSALEM - the name given to the earthly city. This showed me without doubt that the earthly city is by no means given over by God - it is VITALLY important to Him in His plans. We must keep our eyes peeled to the earthly city and keep abreast of what goes on there!

*******************************************************************************

Coming to the music of the Hoppers' pivotal song, it is anthemic and the portion where it includes the legendary "Jerusalem" song is masterly.

I don't know about the Biblical basis for the line where the song says "John saw the lion lay down by the lamb" - this I have not seen in Revelation, though it is in Isaiah 11 and 65. Isaiah 11 is one of the grandest Messianic passages and does allude to apocalyptic, so I guess it's okay.

*******************************************************************************

We live in a world where "holy" and religious sites are fought for tenaciously and cause a lot of bloodshed; Jerusalem has been no different. What is really unique about it? To someone unfamiliar with the Bible, nothing. But to those of us who believe the Bible, it is the one place God chose for Himself. This alone makes it unique and raises it above all other earthly religious sites. It is a flash point in our world today precisely because the stakes are not merely human; they are primarily DIVINE.

What do we Christians feel when we see the Dome of the Rock? Or the Al Aqsa mosque? It is a question worth asking. What do we feel about this piece of land God chose for Himself?

Even more importantly, are we looking ahead and forward to the NEW JERUSALEM where God Himself will be our light and there will be no temple in the City? It's not about merely believing in "going to heaven" and "pie in the sky". The book of Revelation devotes its last two entire chapters to a minute description of the New Jerusalem after this earth and heaven have passed away. What does this evoke in me?

Speaking from my personal walk with God, it fills me with a strange and soothing balm; I echo the words of the Hoppers' song. I feel peace when I think of that City. I think it's because God Himself will live with us. That brings comfort; it makes every bit of suffering I go through while on earth, mortal, worth it all. If THAT (the New Jerusalem) is what God has achieved for us who believe, it is all WORTH IT. Praise God for that!!!

I think often and hard about God wiping our tears away, that sorrow, grief and death will pass away. I look ahead confidently to see this happen.....do you?