Jerusalem - The Lord Is There

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 11
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In the Old Testament, Jerusalem was clearly the place where Jehovah had set His name and where His temple was eventually built. “I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there” (2 Chron. 6:66But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. (2 Chronicles 6:6)). Israel was the nation specially chosen of God to have the knowledge of the true God, for “unto them were committed the oracles of God” (Rom. 3:22Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2)). They were to be a beacon of spiritual knowledge and instruction for other nations. Because they were His chosen people, God’s temple at Jerusalem was to be “an house of prayer for all people” (Isa. 56:77Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7)). In a limited way, this came to pass during the reign of Solomon, who prefigured Christ reigning in millennial glory. At that time, other nations recognized God’s blessing upon him and his wisdom, so that “all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart” (2 Chron. 9:2323And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. (2 Chronicles 9:23)). We read that the queen of Sheba, among other things, was impressed by “his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord” (2 Chron. 9:44And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her. (2 Chronicles 9:4)).
The Declension of Solomon
But as we well know, declension began in the latter half of Solomon’s reign, and his foreign wives “turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:44For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. (1 Kings 11:4)). This brought down the judgment of God and resulted in the dividing of the kingdom soon after Solomon’s son Rehoboam came to the throne. Sad to say, the decline continued, although God did give the kingdom of Judah some good kings and wonderful revivals. But eventually Israel’s sin became so great that God could no longer go on with it. First the kingdom of Israel (the northern kingdom) was carried into captivity by the Assyrians (circa 721 B.C.), and then the kingdom of Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians (circa 605 B.C.). The beautiful city of Jerusalem was destroyed; its temple was demolished, its walls were broken down, and much of the city burned with fire. Eventually, seventy years later, the Persian king Cyrus commanded the temple to be rebuilt, and later the walls of the city were also repaired, but no longer was Israel a sovereign nation, and no longer was the Shekinah glory of God seen in the temple.
The Rejection of Jesus
Various prophets were sent to the Jews who returned, but finally God was compelled to say, “What shall I do? I will send my beloved son” (Luke 20:1313Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. (Luke 20:13)). This was the last test for Israel, and we well know that the Son of God was rejected, cast out, and crucified. Our Lord’s lament over Jerusalem is most touching: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:34-3534O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Luke 13:34‑35)). Since that time, the prophecy of Hosea has been fulfilled: “The children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim” (Hos. 3:44For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: (Hosea 3:4)).
The Latter Glory
But is Jerusalem to be “trodden down of the Gentiles” indefinitely? Paul answers this question for us in Romans 11:11I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1): “Hath God cast away his people? God forbid.” All of God’s promises given in the Old Testament concerning the future, earthly glory of Israel will surely be accomplished. There will come a time when “the Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem” (Joel 3:1616The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)) against the enemies of Israel. When the Lord has destroyed Israel’s enemies, “there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited” (Zech. 14:1111And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. (Zechariah 14:11)). God will reestablish His earthly people in their land, and they will recognize as their Messiah the very one whom they crucified. At that time they will indeed say, “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Psa. 118:2626Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. (Psalm 118:26)). Other nations too will say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Mic. 4:22And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2)). The glorious millennial temple will be built, and Haggai’s prophecy will be fulfilled: “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah” (Hag. 2:99The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9) JND).
The Center of Government
At that time, Jerusalem will be God’s capital in the earth and His center of government. For most of its history, Jerusalem was comparatively small, at least geographically, but from the description in Ezekiel 48, it seems that in the millennium, the city and the temple complex will be much larger than previously. Even the Gentiles will be involved in rebuilding the city, for we read, “The sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee” (Isa. 60:1010And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee. (Isaiah 60:10)). The city will have a magnificence in keeping with the One who is there, while at the same time there will be the full results of blessing. Several years ago a friend of mine who was visiting Jerusalem mistakenly drove his rental car (with Israeli license plates) into the Arab quarter of the city. Almost immediately the young children in the street picked up stones and hurled them at the car. In a coming day, all that hatred and violence will vanish, and “the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof” (Zech. 8:55And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. (Zechariah 8:5)).
W. J. Prost