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The tragic irony of those Gates of Jerusalem. . .

April 7, 2014

Psalm 122

I was so glad when they said unto me,
“Come, let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing here within your gates,
O bless’d Jerusalem, of God adored.

See now Jerusalem, the city great,
Built as a city close – compacted well;
To which the tribes go up – tribes of the Lord,
To praise His name, as He told Israel.

There were the thrones for judgment set by God;
The thrones of David who ruled all the land;
Pray for the peace now of Jerusalem,
“May all who love you prosper well, and stand.”

“May peace be always there within your walls;
Prosperity within your citadels.”
So for the sake of brothers and of friends,
And for the sake of all of Israel;

Thus, I will say, “May peace within you reign.”
And for the sake of the house of the Lord,
I will seek your prosperity and good,
O bless’d Jerusalem, of God adored.

CONSIDER THIS. . .

We find ourselves now walking through the final weeks with Jesus on this Lenten journey to Jerusalem. Lazarus’ resurrection party is now in the rear view mirror. The time for pilgrimage has come again. We march to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion. We hear the litany spoken across the throngs of pilgrims,

The great call, “I was glad when they said unto me,” met with the resounding response, “Let us go into the house of the Lord!”

We are here, Jerusalem! Standing within your gates! And all we have heard of this marvelous place is true. You, Jerusalem, our Citadel. We pray for your peace. In your peace we find our own.

The stage is set for the final weeks. Come Sunday, the throngs will wave their palm branches as the Nazarene enters the city on back of a donkey. The King of Kings comes into the Great City of Kings. Yes! We will agree, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Soon we will find ourselves in a second floor room of an obscure house in the middle of the city, sharing a meal that will be known to all of history as the Last Supper. Who could know that the cosmic drama of redemption would play out in such a way. Behind it all we hear the echo of the Baptist’s voice, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” he will cry out, “You who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you. How I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you were not willing.”

Irony of ironies: the Peace of Jerusalem, Himself, comes into Jerusalem. He will pass through her gates lifted on the accolades of great acclaim; only to be led back through them slammed under the shame of withering scorn.

We are here! Jerusalem! Standing within your very gates!

Maranatha!

Sing now. CLICK HERE.

J.D. Walt writes daily for Seedbed’s Daily Text. He serves as Seedbed’s Sower in Chief. Follow him @jdwalt on Twitter or email him at jd.walt@seedbed.com.

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WHAT IS THIS? Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus that transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.

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