Jerusalem: Redeemed and Crowned.

For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest …’ Isaiah 62:1

 Yahweh’s honour is linked with Jerusalem. He claimed the area for His own. His presence was known in the Temple. When He left it for the mount of its Eastern side He promised to return. Isaiah revealed the condemnation by God upon the city. He is also the one who unveils its redemption and future glory. Isaiah 62 is a beautiful chapter of God’s heart and intention for this city. Though He enacted judgement upon it Yahweh never cancelled His promise to reign from there.

Verse 1. There is a restlessness beating in the heart of God. He set a time known as ‘the times of the Gentiles’ which is still operating (Daniel 2). It will conclude when Christ returns to earth. God asked those who believe in Him and His word to keep making Him restless. Each time people pray for the peace of Israel His restlessness must increase. The daily prayer of Orthodox Jewry reminds Him, “May it be your will Lord God, God of our Fathers, that the temple be built speedily in our days.”  How can He rest when each year Israel’s feast days remind Him of His promise? How can He rest when His people and heritage are violated?

Verse 2. Jerusalem is raised from rubble to righteousness when Jesus reclaims it. What is meant by that term? How is righteousness ’seen?’ the Bible says no one or thing has this quality apart from God and His Son, Jesus the Messiah. Redemption provides forgiveness but it is only the presence within of the Redeemer which makes anyone righteousness. How then can Jerusalem be called righteous? ‘In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgement and righteousness in the land … and Jerusalem … and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33:15-16. 23:6).

Verse 3. When Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar the prophet Jeremiah cried ‘the joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head; woe unto us, that we have sinned’ (Lamentations 5:15-16). The crown returns when the Lord comes to dwell in the midst of His people. Jesus as their Redeemer/Kinsman is also their King. He is also their glory and their joy. We who are not of the Nation of Israel still can taste the wonder of Christ Jesus’ grace. For He is our Redeemer. He is the Head of the Church. He is our praise, joy and hope. We have been allowed to share in the promises of God also, Ephesians 2:12-13.

Verse 4. The Lord had turned His face away from the Nation. He had forsaken them for their faithlessness. It is for a season. This verse tells us that the time has come to an end. They are forsaken no longer. They have become His Hephzibah, His delight. Such is the power of their Messiah’s substitutionary death at Calvary. Such is the grace of their (and our) Lord in accepting their repentance. This has allowed the Almighty to rejoice.

Verse 12. What a transformation is written about in this verse. The nation described as disease and plague ridden by wilful disobedience in a land defiled (Isaiah 1) is now called holy. How this was accomplished is stated in Isaiah 53:5 when the Servant, as the Passover Lamb, also became the Nation’s healer.  Jerusalem then will be called ‘sought out,’ why? Because the Lord Jesus will take up residence on His holy mount. To Him will come individuals and Nations to worship and learn (Isaiah 2). No longer forsaken, now transformed and chosen!

 

 

Rewriting History

The weak–kneed U.N. cancelled an exhibition entitled ‘People, book and Land: 3,500- Year Relationship of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.’ Why cancel it? Was it pornographic? No! Was it a lie? No! What then! It offended Islam. Why? Because this collection of Koran adherents are trying to deny Israel’s right to exist. This requires rewriting history, fabricating events and demonising people they hate.

Why should we worry?

Well, if we are Christians there is a lot riding on such lies and censure–ship. For if Israel didn’t possess the land then there is no King David (and others). No David means, there can be no Davidic lineage. Therefore Jesus Christ isn’t what the bible claims about Him. Namely, He is the descendent in the flesh of David; He is of the tribe of Judah. He was born in Bethlehem. Crucified in Jerusalem and rose from the tomb. And so I could go on. The credibility of the Bible and its historical accounts is also at stake. That in turn means every major doctrine of the Church can be dismissed. It is no light matter for historical truth as well as Biblical truth that Islam be held accountable for its falsification of history.

Islam has deliberately and consciously tried to erase evidence of Israel relationship to the Promised Land. The amount of destruction of artefacts from around the temple site is huge and tragic. The unceasing media blitz denying Israel’s right to exist fuels this endeavour. Unfortunately for them they will need to change a lot of Babylonian, Greek and Roman history, as well as their own for Israel is inextricably intertwined with them all.

There is a lot of social and general media concerns raised about bullying of children or in the workplace. Unfortunately the bully boys of the Taliban supporters seem to prevail when it comes to the U.N. and other political outlets. In many cases it is prevailing in and over the Church scene. However it is doomed to fail.

Within the pages of the first thirty–nine books of Scripture is a recurring theme. It points to God actively involving Himself in history. Why? ‘So that people will know that there is a God and He is not silent, indifferent or unjust.’ The events of the Passover were not only to point to Calvary and Christ it was to declare something to Pharaoh and Israel. What? ‘That they may God. Perhaps the place where this is most prominent is in Ezekiel. At least 71 times it is recorded that God has done or will do something specific so that Israel, the Nations, you and I might know Him and His word.

Therefore whether historical or prophetic what the Lord God has done or will do as declared through the Scriptures will be known. He has done this so you are without excuse. No one can plead ignorance. From Creation to Calvary and future events the Lord has declared His heart and mind. His purpose is for you to not merely have an intellectual bonanza but a faith commitment to Him through trusting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. The end result of all this is ‘So that they may know, from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the lord, and there is no other.’ Isaiah 45:6.

The deniers of history, especially Biblical history are in for a rude and tragic shock. They need to rethink their rewrite before it becomes an embarrassing shame and a millstone around their neck, forever.