Daily devotion – Why pray for the peace of Jerusalem?
“Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem”
Psalm 122:6–7 – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.’”
As the world marks the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Holocaust survivors are warning that the levels of antisemitism in the post–October 7 era are alarmingly similar to the hatred that gripped Europe in 1938.
Walter Bingham, now 101 years old, was just 14 when Nazi mobs plundered Jewish shops and burned synagogues during that horrific night known as the “Night of Broken Glass.” Ninety-one Jews were murdered, over 1,400 synagogues set ablaze, and 7,500 Jewish businesses vandalized. Some 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps.
Bingham, saved through the Kindertransport mission to England, was separated from his parents—who later perished in the Holocaust. Today, he warns, “We live in an era equivalent to 1938, where synagogues are burned, and people in the street are attacked.”
As we witness the rise of antisemitism, even here in Australia, God’s Word calls us to prayer. This hatred of the Jewish people is not new; it is spiritual—fuelled by Satan himself, who opposes all that belongs to God. History reveals that this campaign of hatred against Israel and God’s chosen people has endured throughout the centuries.
Through the light of Bible prophecy, we understand that Israel will yet face further trials before the Lord’s return. But Scripture assures us that when Jesus Christ returns, He will establish His righteous rule from Jerusalem, and every nation that has opposed His people and His land will be judged.
Some may ask, “Why pray for the peace of Jerusalem if more conflict is prophesied to come?” The answer lies in understanding the heart of God’s promise. When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are ultimately praying for the coming of the Prince of Peace—for the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6–7, when Christ will reign on David’s throne.
To pray for Jerusalem’s peace is to pray, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10) and “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).
Let our prayers for Israel flow from hearts that love God and His people. Though darkness may seem to grow, Christ is coming, and with Him will come true and everlasting peace.