A Cup that Causes Reeling
“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12:2-3)
A ‘Hot Potato!’
Once again the issue of the status of Jerusalem has become a ‘hot potato’ for the political and Islamic world. Erdogan of Turkey, Abbas and the whole Muslim world are up in arms at President Trump’s declaration that he will most definitely move the US Embassy to Jerusalem, something that former presidents Clinton and Bush also said they would do but did not do because of political expediency. In the time of President Clinton no doubt Hillary’s foundation liberally supported by the Saudis was a deterring factor in moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, not to mention the oil deals that were going down with the Saudis in the Bush era of American Politics. The reality is that you cannot make peace with Islam. “Babylon cannot be healed.”
“But I will not forget you”
All of the so called peace negotiations will not change Abbas, Erdogan or the other Arab leaders who think moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem will disrupt the peace process and unleash violence. Already we have seen the true face of Islam with all of the bombings, stabbings, shootings and chaos, murder and mayhem it has caused on a global scale. Islam’s true agenda is clearly seen in the official creed of the Muslim Brotherhood which states; “”Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur’an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope. Allahu Akbar!” The issue of the status of Jerusalem is not going to go away any time soon because God still has Jerusalem on his heart. As He says; “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)
They conspire together
Today we see leaders of nations calling for the dissolution of Israel and basically the whole Muslim World calling for the city to be the capital of a so called ‘Palestinian State.’ Abbas says he wants East Jerusalem as the Capital of the ‘Palestinian’ State but it is a ruse because he wants the lot. Not so long ago Erdogan of Turkey called for Muslims in Israel to flood the Temple Mount. Indeed the Psalmist spoke about this when he wrote; “O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more. “For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant.” (Psalm 83:1-5)
The Eternal Capital City
Whether people like it or not Jerusalem has been the Eternal Capital City of Israel since the time of King David. Those who seek to remove Jerusalem from the place where God has put it will find it a heavy stone to lift, too heavy in fact and that those who seek to move it will be “torn or ripped apart” (the Hebrew text) While God still has to deal with His wayward people in Israel and it will take the Time of Jacob’s Trouble for Him to do this, He will never abandon them as a nation. He will defend and shield Jerusalem. As it is written; “Like flying birds so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; He will pass over and rescue it.” (Isaiah 31:5) And again it is written; “On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them. “And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 12:8-9)
What does God say about His City
Let’s look at just a few of many things God says about Jerusalem in the Bible. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 125:2) “Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain.” (Zechariah 8:3) “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” (Isaiah 62:1-12)
The City of our God
God says what He will do with those nations that seek to divide Israel and Jerusalem for that matter from its divinely appointed place as the Eternal capital of Israel. “I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of My people and My heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land.” (Joel 3:2) The Bible has almost 800 references to Jerusalem called; “the City of our God.” Those who touch Israel touch the apple of God’s eye. (Zechariah 2:8b)
Donald’s ‘Trump Card!’
President Trump may not be an articulate politician like Bush or a man of smooth elusive speech as Obama was. President Trump may not be a polished speaker in the political arena with those who ‘pontificate’ in the hallowed halls of the Whitehouse and play at being political chameleons. He has his faults, as we all do, and at times his mouth might create waves in political circles and the media, but he is a man it would seem who will make good his word to relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem. This is Donald’s ‘Trump card’ that will show his total support for Israel. With a man like Mike Pence at his side he has access to a man of God who loves the Lord Jesus, loves His Word and loves Israel and is there at his right hand to advise President Trump with Godly wisdom and to help him stay the course.
Sabre Rattling?
Let leaders around the world ‘rattle their sabres’, which they are doing anyway over the status of Jerusalem, Let Erdogan, Abbas and Co call down curses upon Israel and call for its destruction they will all find themselves fighting against God and it is a fight they cannot win! Regardless of President Trump’s decision, the LORD will have the final word on the Status of Jerusalem. “In that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured.” And so we are encouraged to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. “May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.”(Psalm 122:6-7)
