The Shape of Peace in Our Time—From Jerusalem to Ends of the World
Daniel Downs
September 24, 2007
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps. 122:6a)
What does the peace negotiations between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas portend for the peace of Jerusalem? According to Aaron Klein of World Net Daily, Abbas will settle for nothing less than full control over the Temple Mount. If Ohmert accedes to Arab demands, it seems very unlikely Jerusalem, Israel, or the world will witness a lasting peace anytime soon, but will praying for Jerusalem’ peace lose its meaning?
What does the injunction “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” really mean? The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. It is like the “pursuit of happiness” in that it comprehends more than contemporary connotations. Today, peace means tolerance of offensive others to the point of non-violence. The deceptive concept of a Middle East Peace process is a prime example. It is a perpetual process never ending in real peace. Shalom, however, means more than the absent of violent conflict. As the context of this scripture (Ps. 122) indicates, its meaning is inclusive of material prosperity, physical well-being, mental well-being, and spiritual well-being. If we look a little deeper, we find shalom is a covenant term. As such, its meaning resides in covenant relationships. Encompassing the hope of shalom is the covenant of peace referred to by the prophet Ezekiel. (34:25) In the center of His magisterial presence, shalom is realized faithfulness to the covenant.
Consider life in the town and nation were you live; if you obey the laws of your city and state, you live in peace. It is only when laws are broken that official peace ends and conflict begins. The same is true about living in God’s world. God created nature. Therefore, all humans are subject to the physical and moral laws of God. When those laws are transgressed, peace ends. That is why the end times are likened to the days of Noah and Lot. In the midst of much tolerance, lawlessness will abound. When it does, many will talk of peace while only violence reigns. When peace becomes identical with the tolerance of lawlessness, evil will be called peace. The violence between Zion and Islam perpetuated by Western liberal diplomacy showcases this fact.
If all we have to do is live right, why is a covenant necessary? God is king of the universe. He dignifies humanity with a choice of citizenship defined by law and benefits. As an act of great magnanimity, God willingly teaches humanity how to live in peace in His world by offering terms of citizenship. God reigns whether anyone obeys or not. The consequence for not doing so is divine judgment. Redemption is not merely forgiveness of sin. It is the restoration of humanity to their rightful place in God’s kingdom, all of which reveals the government of God.
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem therefore means praying for its restoration. God chose Jerusalem as His capital on earth. Jerusalem is the center from which God’s covenant and law radiates throughout the world. The diplomatic missions of God’s kingdom originate in Jerusalem. The unity of Jerusalem under those who honor the covenant is imperative. The Temple Mount must be restored to Zion. It must be restored not only so that the Temple can be built but also so that the divine peace plan can be completed.
The Messiah must come so it can be realized.
A restored Temple means a restored Jerusalem, which means a restored Israel. Ultimately, it means true and lasting peace for Israel and for the entire world. Leaders of Israel will become leaders of Zion. Leader of the world will become governors in the God’s kingdom. The global community will live in peace because tolerance of immortality will no longer be tolerated. The law of God will be the law of the land in every land. Retribution for wrongs done will be tempered with restorative mercy. Because justice and righteousness will dominate, the poor will no longer live impoverished either by disease or by the rich.
Liberals fear a theocratic peace because many abuses of power resulted from human corruption. History teaches that the same problems occur under religious and secular governments. Liberals seem blind to the fact that the tolerance of moral relativism based on radical egalitarianism is the reason why peace is never achieved. Eliminating God and His law from human government has never produced a lasting just society. Hitler’s Germany, Stalin’s Soviet Union, Mao’s China, and Saddam’s Iraq are just a few examples. Therefore, the realization of a global theocracy envisioned by God’s law is the solution.
Paul Eidelberg, founder of The Foundation for Constitutional Democracy, provides a clue as to what governments based on the law of God would look like. In Torah Government Versus Israeli Democracy, he describes a king chosen by the people and subject to the Sanhedrin. Laws made by this court also conform to a consensus of counsel as well as acceptance of the people. He goes on to describe this type of popular government as structured on federalist principles and a citizenry well educated in the law. Above king, courts, and people is God.
When God thus becomes King of kings, of presidents, of prime ministers, of governors, and of peoples, then gentiles will flock to Jerusalem at least once a year to honor the King. God’s ambassadors will be (and are) sought out for their understanding of God’s covenantal law. Because God’s covenantal law is known and enforced throughout the world, covenantal law will contour the shape of global peace. Multicultural variations of national identity may color the application of this law, but the common framework will be covenantal law governing the politics of nations. When this happens, their will be genuine peace in our time.
What does the peace negotiations between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas portend for the peace of Jerusalem? According to Aaron Klein of World Net Daily, Abbas will settle for nothing less than full control over the Temple Mount. If Ohmert accedes to Arab demands, it seems very unlikely Jerusalem, Israel, or the world will witness a lasting peace anytime soon, but will praying for Jerusalem’ peace lose its meaning?
What does the injunction “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” really mean? The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. It is like the “pursuit of happiness” in that it comprehends more than contemporary connotations. Today, peace means tolerance of offensive others to the point of non-violence. The deceptive concept of a Middle East Peace process is a prime example. It is a perpetual process never ending in real peace. Shalom, however, means more than the absent of violent conflict. As the context of this scripture (Ps. 122) indicates, its meaning is inclusive of material prosperity, physical well-being, mental well-being, and spiritual well-being. If we look a little deeper, we find shalom is a covenant term. As such, its meaning resides in covenant relationships. Encompassing the hope of shalom is the covenant of peace referred to by the prophet Ezekiel. (34:25) In the center of His magisterial presence, shalom is realized faithfulness to the covenant.
Consider life in the town and nation were you live; if you obey the laws of your city and state, you live in peace. It is only when laws are broken that official peace ends and conflict begins. The same is true about living in God’s world. God created nature. Therefore, all humans are subject to the physical and moral laws of God. When those laws are transgressed, peace ends. That is why the end times are likened to the days of Noah and Lot. In the midst of much tolerance, lawlessness will abound. When it does, many will talk of peace while only violence reigns. When peace becomes identical with the tolerance of lawlessness, evil will be called peace. The violence between Zion and Islam perpetuated by Western liberal diplomacy showcases this fact.
If all we have to do is live right, why is a covenant necessary? God is king of the universe. He dignifies humanity with a choice of citizenship defined by law and benefits. As an act of great magnanimity, God willingly teaches humanity how to live in peace in His world by offering terms of citizenship. God reigns whether anyone obeys or not. The consequence for not doing so is divine judgment. Redemption is not merely forgiveness of sin. It is the restoration of humanity to their rightful place in God’s kingdom, all of which reveals the government of God.
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem therefore means praying for its restoration. God chose Jerusalem as His capital on earth. Jerusalem is the center from which God’s covenant and law radiates throughout the world. The diplomatic missions of God’s kingdom originate in Jerusalem. The unity of Jerusalem under those who honor the covenant is imperative. The Temple Mount must be restored to Zion. It must be restored not only so that the Temple can be built but also so that the divine peace plan can be completed.
The Messiah must come so it can be realized.
A restored Temple means a restored Jerusalem, which means a restored Israel. Ultimately, it means true and lasting peace for Israel and for the entire world. Leaders of Israel will become leaders of Zion. Leader of the world will become governors in the God’s kingdom. The global community will live in peace because tolerance of immortality will no longer be tolerated. The law of God will be the law of the land in every land. Retribution for wrongs done will be tempered with restorative mercy. Because justice and righteousness will dominate, the poor will no longer live impoverished either by disease or by the rich.
Liberals fear a theocratic peace because many abuses of power resulted from human corruption. History teaches that the same problems occur under religious and secular governments. Liberals seem blind to the fact that the tolerance of moral relativism based on radical egalitarianism is the reason why peace is never achieved. Eliminating God and His law from human government has never produced a lasting just society. Hitler’s Germany, Stalin’s Soviet Union, Mao’s China, and Saddam’s Iraq are just a few examples. Therefore, the realization of a global theocracy envisioned by God’s law is the solution.
Paul Eidelberg, founder of The Foundation for Constitutional Democracy, provides a clue as to what governments based on the law of God would look like. In Torah Government Versus Israeli Democracy, he describes a king chosen by the people and subject to the Sanhedrin. Laws made by this court also conform to a consensus of counsel as well as acceptance of the people. He goes on to describe this type of popular government as structured on federalist principles and a citizenry well educated in the law. Above king, courts, and people is God.
When God thus becomes King of kings, of presidents, of prime ministers, of governors, and of peoples, then gentiles will flock to Jerusalem at least once a year to honor the King. God’s ambassadors will be (and are) sought out for their understanding of God’s covenantal law. Because God’s covenantal law is known and enforced throughout the world, covenantal law will contour the shape of global peace. Multicultural variations of national identity may color the application of this law, but the common framework will be covenantal law governing the politics of nations. When this happens, their will be genuine peace in our time.
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