Thought for June 21, 2024

  • 68: Vespasian conquers Jericho during Jewish Revolt. His son Titus would destroy Jerusalem two years later
  • 1768: First medical diploma in America granted to John Archer, College of Philadelphia 
  • 1788: US Constitution becomes effective
  • 1834: Cyrus McCormick patents reaping machine 
  • 1879: FW Woolworth opens his first successful "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"
  • 1893: First Ferris wheel opens at the Columbian Exposition, Chicago
  • 1939: Lou Gehrig retires suffering with ALS
  • 1948: Columbia Records unveils the 33 1/3 rpm phonograph record
  • 1989: Supreme Court allows burning of flag as political expression
  • Born: Increase Mather [Puritan minister], Jean-Paul Sartre, Chris Pratt, Prince William, Reinhold Niebuhr, Jane Russell, Judy Holiday, Matt Kuchar, Edward Snowden, Scottie Scheffler
  • Died: Machiavelli, John Smith  [colonist], Santa Anna, Leland Stanford, Sukarno, Maureen Connolly, Bobby Dodd [Ga. Tech], Carroll O'Connor, Leon Uris ["Exodus"], Bob Evans [restaurants], 
Thought:
I do not write about politics, but I am struck again by Psalm 122. This is a song of ascents by David as he approaches Jerusalem. My Bible calls it "A Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem." The psalm contains two commands--Pray for the peace of Jerusalem [6] and I will seek the good of Jerusalem. [9]. 

The psalm begins with a familiar verse--I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord. Think about that this morning. Is that how you feel every Sunday? Does the thought of going to the house of the Lord make you glad, make you rejoice, make you fill with anticipation? Or are you tired from a long week, wish you could sleep in like your neighbor, worry that the sermon will go long and interfere with lunch or the ball game. Maybe getting the children ready has caused conflict, impatience. Maybe the sermon series is really not what you like. Maybe the hymns will be those modern ones that you don't like. Or maybe someone in your Bible study group will be irritating. Some of you know that I often play music as I drive to church. When we were attending Brentwood Baptist, the drive was long enough to play entire songs. For a year or more I played the Hallelujah Chorus on the way each week--that really put my mind and heart in the right place for worship. My drive now is very short, maybe 3 minutes or 4. I hear less music during the drive. How do you prepare for worship on Sunday. Coaches used to say that we played like we practiced--church may be the same way. 

Consider that the word Jerusalem means city of peace. Shalom or salem means wholeness, completeness and indicates a desire that the object of that peace will be in right relationship with God and experience His wholeness or completeness. So here David is praying that the condition of Jerusalem will match its name. As it is called/named so be it. We all know what families, businesses, teams and churches are like when there is strife and conflict. David wants the city of God to be complete, whole and at peace. We pray for unity in the body of the church and Paul was very concerned about this in his letters. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

The psalm ends with David saying that he will do all he can to seek the good of Jerusalem. Today, Jerusalem is a divided city in the middle of constant conflict. One day Jesus will stand on Mount Zion in victory and glory then Jerusalem will be at peace. Until then as we pray for the peace of Jerusalem we are praying with John in Revelation 22--the Spirit and the bride say come. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Blessings
Larry

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