....It is for that reason that Satan seeks to destroy it. The Jewish ownership of this city represents so many ideas about God. If God gave it to them, then we may learn much from this fact about God.  For if God gave it to them, many things are implied. This fact declares many of the truths of the Bible to those who may not read it.

    Paul tells us that the oracles of God were committed to the Jews. That was a distinguishing privilege to them. They received it by revelation to their prophets. They have preserved it by the work of their scribes. Not only has Israel been the keeper of God’s word, but her very existence has been an illustration of the truths contained in it. The hand of the Jew has received and kept the written Word of God. The history of the Jew has displayed Divine workings in her midst. And the heart of the Jew pants for the prosperity of Jerusalem, because so many of the promises and providences of God are connected to this city.

 “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof”. (Psa 137:5-7).

      The prosperity of Jerusalem is so closely connected to the promises of God. Likewise, the promises of God are connected to the power of God and the character of God.

First of all, if God gave Jerusalem to Israel, then He must be its owner. The psalmist tells us in poetic terms that “the Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psa. 24:1). The psalm goes on to tell us that the earth was founded and established by the Lord. Bible believers accept this truth because it is in the pages of God’s word. However, God’s ownership and creation of the Earth is implied to the unbeliever by how God deals with it. In this case of Jerusalem, he claims the right to the Real Estate and gives it to Israel as an inheritance.

 Of course, many nations will deny Israel’s claim to the land. If God gave them the land, then He ought to be able to enforce their ownership of it. It is not difficult to see the staggering difference between what portion of the land that God said Israel would possess and what the nation actually holds. Doesn’t that negate God’s power to preserve His promise? Certainly to some it would, but we must view the whole story. First recognize that any portion of ownership on behalf of the Jew is in itself a miracle. In fact, the very existence of the Jew is a miracle. No other nation has endured such persecution, deportation, and defamation and still exists. Clarence Larkin says it well.

 “for upwards of 4,000 years, amid all civilizations and countries, and under all conditions of government, there has existed a distinct people, with laws, habits and customs distinctively their own. The history of the Jewish race…is without parallel in human history. Though oppressed, downtrodden, carried captive to other lands, scattered among the nations, like the fabled Phoenix they have risen from the ashes of their dispersions, and appear now and again upon the page of history”.

Assyria is gone and Egypt has become a base nation like the prophet foretold. But Jerusalem still has the footprint of the Jew and the fingerprint of God.

 It is apparent that their fulfillment is not the present condition of Jerusalem. That too is an illustration of God’s word. That truth not only illustrates His word, but another aspect of His character. God is just. God’s holiness demands judgment of sin; Even the sins of His people. The New Testament teaches us that His judgment must begin at the house of God. He will judge His people before He judges the world at large. This shows His ownership of them. Because of Israel’s sins, God has determined that Jerusalem would be trodden down by the gentiles.

 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luk 21:24)

           This “times of the gentiles” is not yet fulfilled. It will not be until the feet of the image appear and then are destroyed by the stone cut out of the Moutain without hands. This prophecy of Daniel refers to a coming ten kingdom confederacy that will be destroyed by Christ’s coming to judge the nations after His victory at Armageddon. The fulfillment of this coming prophecy is held at bay by the fulfillment of a current prophecy. That current prophecy’s fulfillment is the fact that Jerusalem is trodden down. While it is true that Israel has declared Jerusalem as her “eternal capital” in modern times, it is also true that Israel’s sovereignty in that city has never been the same since Nebuchadnezzar captured it. When comparing Israel’s present state to her past and future glory, it is safe to say that Jerusalem is still “trodden down” of the gentiles.

           Jerusalem is the “city of David”. King David sought out this stronghold and captured it for his capital. It was the perfect city to unite the house of Benjamin and the house of Judah. The Jebusites who held it were so confident of its fortifications, that they mocked David by putting the blind and lame to watch as he compassed it. History says that Joab went through a subterranean passage to be the first upon the wall and seized the prize of being David’s military commander. (I Chron. 11:4-7). The house of David was established here over all Israel.

God’s promise to David will be fulfilled from this very city. From “the city of peace”, David’s great son will rule for 1,000 years. The Prince of Peace will subdue the city once and for all. Jerusalem is the most volatile city in the world. Even in our day, both diplomats and military commanders walk tenderly when dealing with this explosive piece of property. But Jesus will capture it. He will not only capture the city and deal with its coming usurper, but he will capture the heart of the Jewish nation on that day also.

 “Oh Jerusalem”, is what the heart of Heaven wept one day in the past.

 “Oh Jerusalem”, will be the cry of triumph in the future as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ!