Understanding the Heart of the Conflict

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalm 122:3-6)

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is not a suggestion. It’s a command. Christians should take the time to understand what is happening in Israel and stand in prayer and faith for the conflict there to end. To comprehend the ongoing struggles in the region, we must delve into its history. In 1948, the establishment of the Jewish state led to immediate tensions with Arab nations, sparking a conflict that has endured for decades. The intricate web of religious beliefs adds complexity to the geopolitical landscape. Islam, born in the seventh century, challenges the Christian faith, rejecting the Lordship of Jesus and condemning Jesus' followers in the Quran. Israel's victory in 1967’s Six-Day War resulted in the acquisition of important territories. Calls to revert to the 1967 borders have continued to be raised, which is saying to Israel: “Although you were attacked, and even though you defeated all your enemies, you still must give your land back.” However, that land belongs to them.

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 put the Ayatollah in power. Not only is the Ayatollah one of the largest benefactors of terrorism, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and other groups fighting against Israel; He also hates both Israel - which he calls the little Satan–and the United States, whom he calls the big Satan. The recent outbreak of violence in Israel underscores the deep-rooted tensions Muslims have about Israel. Surveys of different Muslim groups in the area say a significant percentage support armed attacks against Israel. A two-state solution is simply not possible when one group wants the complete annihilation of the other. When Israel gave up the Gaza Strip in 2007, there was an election. Hamas won that election, and there has never been another election.

Practical Application

How do we respond to these complexities? First, recognize the historical and spiritual significance of Jerusalem. Second, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, aligning our hearts with God's desire for peace and prosperity for the Jewish people.

Psalm 51:18; Jeremiah 29:7

God’s Plan Will Work

Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. Thus saith the Lord God; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. (Ezekiel 36:32-36)

God always fulfills His Word. If God said it, that settles it.

The Holy Spirit gave the prophet Ezekiel a prophecy that would not come to pass for thousands of years. It had to do with a desolate land that became a garden, wasted cities becoming fenced (or controlled) again, and inhabited.

This prophecy was fulfilled on May 14, 1948, just three years after the Holocaust, claimed the lives of six million Jewish people during World War II. In the aftermath of victory, the Jewish people needed a home. Before this point, the Jewish people were scattered without a home for hundreds of years. Think of the amazing implications of this historical moment! Think of how many nearly impossible factors needed to happen for this to come to pass!

But nothing is impossible with God. If God said it, it will come to pass, no matter how impossible it seems to the world. God’s plan will work. Obstacles may be great and many, but nothing can stand against God’s eternal plan and covenant with His people.

Practical Application

Do not allow the enemy to convince you that what God has said over you is impossible! If God said it, God will make it come to pass. He specializes in miracles, and He is always good for His Word. Find some promises of God in the Word today and rejoice that God’s plan shall be accomplished in your life!

Ezekiel 17:24; Ezekiel 37:14

The Power of Covenant

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:22-28)

Ezekiel was a prophet of God in the Old Testament. The prophecy of Ezekiel 36:22-28  was given around 592 BC, about 600 years before Christ became a human child on earth and more than 2,500 years from the current conflicts we see in Israel now. Ezekiel prophesied why God would protect and fulfill His promises to Israel. God said: “I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.” This prophet told Israel that God would restore them, not because of their goodness, but because God is a Covenant Keeper!

The covenant God initiated with Abraham remains strong and true, despite the shortcomings of God's chosen people. God, in His mercy, orchestrated a regathering of His people, fulfilling the promise of restoration to their homeland and a cleansing that goes beyond the physical to the spiritual, purifying the hearts and minds of His people. He promised to remove calloused, rebellious hearts and replace them with hearts sensitive to His leading.

Practical Application

Reflect on the power of God's covenant—a covenant based on those who trust in His name. The promises of renewal, redemption, and restoration are just as true for us as it is for the people of Israel. God has a plan to renew and restore those who are in covenant with Him.

Ezekiel 37:27; Jeremiah 32:38