What is the Biblical Peace of Jerusalem
THE ISRAEL MANDATE BOOK - Chapter 16
WHAT IS THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM? Psalm 122:6
If we read this chapter carefully, we will see that there is a two-fold concentration of prayer that is being emphasized by the Spirit of God through the psalmist. He’s telling us to pray for two distinct purposes - Peace and Protection. The Hebrew word “Peace” in this verse means; to be at one with, or atonement. It means to be reconciled to God through sacrificial bloodshed of the atonement. The essence of the word “peace” is reconciliation of the whole through the sacrifice of one’s blood or life. It is not the absence of war or conflict, but the presence of sacrificial love, bringing reconciliation.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Our Westernized English interpretation of the word “peace” has often had many praying against conflict, war, or bloodshed alone, in Jerusalem. However, peace here actually has another connotation in the mind of God. It is the same connotation for peace given by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul in the new covenant book of Ephesians 2:13-15 But now in Yeshua HaMashiach, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For he is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Eph. 2:13-15
The word “peace” in Ephesians 2:14 is speaking here of a person, Israel’s Messiah, the Son of God, that comes to bring reconciliation of men to God through the sacrifice of His blood. This peace being the reconciliation of men to God and one another is what destroys the barrier or dividing wall of hostility between God and man. This definition of peace is not often taken into consideration when most believers pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Israel).
THE PROCESS TO GOD’S PEACE
In English, the word "peace" conjures up a passive picture, one showing an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from internal and external strife. The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Hebrew root slm, which means "to be complete" or "to be sound." The verb conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning" to be complete or whole" or "to live well."
This noun has many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories: (1) salom [l'v] as wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); (2) salom [l'v] as the right relationship or harmony between two parties or people, often established by a covenant (see "covenant of peace" in Num 25:12-13; Isa 54:10; Ezek 34:25-26 ) and, when related to Yahweh, the covenant wasrenewed or maintained with a "peace offering"; (3) salom [l'v] as prosperity, success, or fulfillment (see Lev 26:3-9 ); and (4) salom [l'v] as victory over one's enemies or absence of war.
PEACE – RECONCILIATION THROUGH THE ATONEMENT
The biblical New Covenant connotation of peace is speaking of peace resulting from a death on the cross of Christ being the very means by which reconciliation to God of man is secured. The First Covenant speaks of the shedding of the blood of lambs and bulls, goats, and turtledoves that would be required to be offered up by the children of Israel for atonement to be made for the sins of the children of Israel, giving them peace with God, for a whole year until the next Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16:29-34
This is what it means to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The Peace of Jerusalem-Israel is not the absence of conflict alone in Jerusalem-Israel, but it is:
1. The presence of the Messiah’s Blood being received by the nation for Israel's atonement (covering) amid the conflict: reconciling Jerusalem to God, that she might receive her inheritance...the inheritance (Blessing) of Abraham. (Land, Reconciling the nations, Blessing to the nations)
2. The presence of Messiah in the hearts of those at enmity with one another, to reconcile the brothers (nations) to one another, tearing down the dividing wall of hostility and making both groups (Jew and Palestinian) ONE, thus making peace. Ephesians 2:14-16
