6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. 7May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”
Jerusalem was the capital of ancient Israel. If there was peace in the capital, the country was secure. If the capital was in trouble, the whole nation was in trouble. That is why the psalmist writes about peace. He wants a secure nation. Don’t we all want security? Those mothers whose sons are strapping on explosive and walking into market places, don’t they want peace? Don’t they want the simple things in life for their children? Of course they do! But they are trapped. Don’t we want to be able to go to a Sears store, or a Walgreens, and not want a mob of teenagers to descend and steal hundreds of things and rush out? Wouldn’t it be nice to get on an airplane without having to go through all the crazy security measures? We all want peace, but we are trapped, trapped in a world of sin and sinful choices and their consequences. When was the last time you prayed, really prayed, for peace in your world, the world you touch every day? Have you been taking peace for granted? Maybe it is time we start influencing the world we touch by praying for it and then being involved in bringing God’s kingdom here as it is in heaven. Peace is not going to happen to our world as a whole until the Prince of Peace, Jesus, begins his earthly reign. But until then, we can reflect His character in our small worlds. We can be people of peace with those we touch every day.
The Arnold Journey 