Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
Yesterday, we discussed ruined cities of Nineveh, Pripyat, and Detroit becoming ruined and a haunt for wild animals. The Prophets also described these ruins as a place to graze sheep. Perhaps this is because, in the wake of destruction, there is a lot of NEW vegetation growing where there once was a city.
Tomorrow we will see Isaiah predicting the same fate for the city of Babylon. The Passages in Zephaniah and Isaiah are very similar, but describe two entirely different cities. The cities has something in common, though. Both were used by God to chastise Israel.
There is no question that these were pagan cities, who worshiped idols and were hostile to The One True God. For centuries, scholars have puzzled over why God would use countries that were even more wicked than His Own People to punish them.
We have seen such parallels even in our own century and historians still argue over who was worse...Stalin or Hitler, Batista or Castro, the Shah or the Ayatollah? Sometimes we can only sigh and side with whoever was our ally at the time, but it is a very old and familiar dilemma.
Which is worse, ignorant people who are wicked because they don't know any better, or people who have the Revelation of God and rebel against it?
Truly, an entire civilization can be like "Sheep Without a Shepherd" and stray in every direction. The straying sheep are the first ones to get picked off by the predator, who, has no compunction about "doing what comes naturally".
Jesus saw His own People in a similar state. The Roman Empire (who were idolaters) had conquered Israel, and in less than 40 years would be destroying the Temple, leaving "not one stone left upon another." But with death comes new life. Fresh grass pokes its way through the tumbled stones. Unless a seed falls to the earth and dies, it can't germinate and grow into a tree.
Don't give up!
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS