Prerequisite for Peace
Psalm 122:6 ; Isaiah 32:17
Our passage speaks of praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Jerusalem means city of peace and yet it has been one of the most fought over places on the face of the earth. Even today as we are giving this sermon there are battles raging regarding Israel and the land that belongs to them. As will show in this sermon there will eventually be peace in Jerusalem but there are some things that must happen according to the word of God before that can take place.
The Prerequisite for Peace:
In Isaiah 32:17 we see that before there can be peace there must be righteousness. Eventually all forms of government, Republics, Democracies, Dictatorships, Monarchies etc. will fail. The reason for this is because man is corrupt and sinful. The only form of Government that will truly last is a Monarchy with a righteous King. One day Jesus Christ will be that king and there will be peace in Jerusalem and on earth as well.
Israel and the Bible:
Here we will give a brief history from the bible regarding Israel and Jerusalem along with some future events that will lead to the peace of Jerusalem.
- God called out Abraham and promised to make a people out of him. Note the prophecy regarding blessing and cursing him given in Genesis 12:3. This should prove that God’s word is true when compared historically.
- Melchizedek was first King of Salem (Which is Jerusalem (Psalm 76:2 ; 1 Kings 8:1) recorded in the word of God (Genesis 14:18).
- According to Hebrews 7:1-4, Melchizedek was king of righteousness and peace. Note that righteousness was listed first.
- Once Israel was given the law, following it would yield them righteousness (Deuteronomy 6:25).
- If Israel would follow God’s word he would bless them in the land, if not they would be cursed in the land (Deuteronomy 28).
- Note God’s promise to Solomon regarding the Kingdom (1 Kings 9:4-9).
- The true King was born, and no one knew about it (Matthew 2:1-12)
- Israel crucified their King (John 19:14-15) and when asked about Jesus, they said let his blood be on us and our children (Matthew 27:15). Ever since that time it has been.
- After the rapture of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:51-57 ; 1 Thessalonians 4;13-18) there will be a false peace under that anti-christ but it will not last long (Daniel 11:21-23 ; Daniel 9:27)
- Then Jesus will return at the 2nd Advent and destroy the anti-christ and his army (Malachi 4:1-6 ; Revelation 19:11-16).
- Jesus will set up his 1000-year reign on this earth and there will be peace in Jerusalem.
Application for us:
Lost people today are looking for peace, not just in society or politically but where it counts the most, on the inside. The prerequisite for peace is righteousness. Before you can have the peace of God (Philippians 4:7) you must first make peace with God (Romans 5:1). This can only be done through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
1) It is the righteousness of God, which is Jesus Christ that you must have (Romans 3:19-28)
2) Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness (Romans 10:1-4)
3) We like Paul must desire to have the righteousness of Jesus Christ instead of a personal righteousness of our own achieved by works (Philippians 3:7-9).