Jerusalem: "May They Prosper Who Love You"

"He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me....Who is this King of glory?  The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle." (Psalm 18:16, 17 & 24:8)

Today's Psalm-- and yesterday and today's headlines:  "Arab Threats Close Temple Mount," and, "Temple Mount Again Closed to Jews, Arabs Allowed in."  The Arabs are rioting again in Jerusalem, at The Lions Gate, the Temple Mount, and other places--- see the article on our Blog- www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com.
I have gone regularly to The Lions Gate and the Western Wall, which is just below the Temple Mount.  Tension is always in the air.  I understand what the song writer said after he, "Walked Today Where Jesus Walked"--- "a sweet peace fills the air," but he wrote the poem before the triumph of the modern State of Israel.  Ever since 1947 there has been war in The Land, primarily "not...against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the ccosmic powers over this present darkness."

The Psalms are full of "battle cries."  The struggle of Israel in the Old Testament just keeps on through the New Testament age, the Middle Ages, right up to today.  The only times of "peace" were the times of neglect of The Land. Historically, any time Christians or Jews asserted their right to The Land, the Arabs and alien armies went on the march.  Since the establishment of the "modern" State of Israel, there has never been peace.

The psalmists did not ignore the fight, nor did they try to cover it up, or, as Snoopy, "hope it out."  They faced it; trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, "The Great Shepherd," for strength and power to over come the enemy, and for grace and faith to endure in the strife.  That is what you and I are called upon to be and do in this present age.  Our enemies do not take vacations, grow weary, slumber nor sleep---------
and to them I issued the warning, neither does King Jesus "slumber nor sleep," out of "whose mouth [goes] a sharp two-edged sword...and His face (is)...like the sun shining in its strength."  People of the earth: "Kiss the Son," (literally, "fasten upon") Jesus Christ, "lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.  Blessed ar all who take refuge in him."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Rule in the midst of Your enemies!"  Amen.
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October 10 & 11:                         Preaching in the CCE services
October 16-25:                         Israel
October 30-Nov. 16:               Berlin (Albania: Nov. 3-6)

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2