"THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S"
Jerusalem. There’s no shortage of songs when it comes to singing about this city. No less than sixty songs have been written about it. And those don’t take in consideration the number of Psalms in the Bible about it. Psalms, as you know, is another word for songs.
It’s the capital of the nation of Israel. Great events have occurred in it. We could start with the wars and battles. I believe there have already been sixteen great battles fought over it. At least nine of them are presented in the OT [David takes it in 1,000 B.C.; Shishak in 925 B.C.; when Jehoshaphat joined with Ahab at the Battle of Qarqar in 853 B.C.; the Philistines, the Arabs, and the Ethiopians sacked it in 850 B.C.; Hazael of Damascus sacked it in 830 B.C.; and Jehoash (king of Israel) in 786 B.C.; Tiglath Pileser III of Assyria in 733 B.C.; Sennacherib of Assyria in 712 B.C.; and Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C.] – found on www.wikipedia.org]. And that’s not counting the Roman Empire. That’s not counting the NT.
Great people have lived in it. The Jews claim it because it’s been their capital for centuries. The Muslims claim it because they believe Muhammad ascended into Heaven from here. And Christians are vitally connected to it because of the person and work of Jesus and because the Church was born in Jerusalem.
And the LORD Himself has a great love for the city. Here’s what we read from the OT. Zechariah 1:14 “So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.”
There’s even a reference to a New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation. Now you may already know that one day this New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven.
And Jerusalem is, of course, often in the news. The caption on the ABC article says this. “Ultra Orthodox ZAKA volunteers and members of the public tend to a person who was injured after an explosion near a bus stop March 23, 2011 in central Jerusalem, Israel.”
Did you know that this past week, Thursday, August 18th, there was a triple terrorist attack in Israel that left six dead and twenty-five people wounded and injured? It clearly plays a vital role in our modern world.
Today I’d like to take you on a trip to Jerusalem. But in today’s trip, we’ve only got to open our Bibles and see what the LORD says about it. So, this morning I’d like you to open your Bible with me to the place called “The City of David.” Would you open your Bible with me to the Book of II Samuel and chapter five?
Most people call the City of Bethlehem “The City of David.” But that’s only because David was born in Bethlehem. The city of Jerusalem is also known as “The City of David.” And the reason it’s called the City of David is because one of the first things David did when he became king over Israel is he conquered it.
Look with at verse the seventh verse of this fifth chapter. (7) “Nevertheless David took the strong hold [fortress] of Zion: the same is the city of David.”
Everyone everywhere knows something about the city of Jerusalem. Janet and I were here in 1999 during a lull in the outward hostilities between the PLO and the nation of Israel. It is an old, old city. How old? I’d like to show you today what the Bible says about it.
Now, here are just a few words on the history behind the city of Jerusalem. The old city of Jerusalem is divided up into four pieces; four quarters. There’s the Christian Quarter. There’s the Muslim Quarter. There’s the Jewish Quarter. There’s the Armenian Quarter.
It’s the capital of the nation of Israel. Great events have occurred in it. We could start with the wars and battles. I believe there have already been sixteen great battles fought over it. At least nine of them are presented in the OT [David takes it in 1,000 B.C.; Shishak in 925 B.C.; when Jehoshaphat joined with Ahab at the Battle of Qarqar in 853 B.C.; the Philistines, the Arabs, and the Ethiopians sacked it in 850 B.C.; Hazael of Damascus sacked it in 830 B.C.; and Jehoash (king of Israel) in 786 B.C.; Tiglath Pileser III of Assyria in 733 B.C.; Sennacherib of Assyria in 712 B.C.; and Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C.] – found on www.wikipedia.org]. And that’s not counting the Roman Empire. That’s not counting the NT.
Great people have lived in it. The Jews claim it because it’s been their capital for centuries. The Muslims claim it because they believe Muhammad ascended into Heaven from here. And Christians are vitally connected to it because of the person and work of Jesus and because the Church was born in Jerusalem.
And the LORD Himself has a great love for the city. Here’s what we read from the OT. Zechariah 1:14 “So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.”
There’s even a reference to a New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation. Now you may already know that one day this New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven.
And Jerusalem is, of course, often in the news. The caption on the ABC article says this. “Ultra Orthodox ZAKA volunteers and members of the public tend to a person who was injured after an explosion near a bus stop March 23, 2011 in central Jerusalem, Israel.”
Did you know that this past week, Thursday, August 18th, there was a triple terrorist attack in Israel that left six dead and twenty-five people wounded and injured? It clearly plays a vital role in our modern world.
Today I’d like to take you on a trip to Jerusalem. But in today’s trip, we’ve only got to open our Bibles and see what the LORD says about it. So, this morning I’d like you to open your Bible with me to the place called “The City of David.” Would you open your Bible with me to the Book of II Samuel and chapter five?
Most people call the City of Bethlehem “The City of David.” But that’s only because David was born in Bethlehem. The city of Jerusalem is also known as “The City of David.” And the reason it’s called the City of David is because one of the first things David did when he became king over Israel is he conquered it.
Look with at verse the seventh verse of this fifth chapter. (7) “Nevertheless David took the strong hold [fortress] of Zion: the same is the city of David.”
Everyone everywhere knows something about the city of Jerusalem. Janet and I were here in 1999 during a lull in the outward hostilities between the PLO and the nation of Israel. It is an old, old city. How old? I’d like to show you today what the Bible says about it.
Now, here are just a few words on the history behind the city of Jerusalem. The old city of Jerusalem is divided up into four pieces; four quarters. There’s the Christian Quarter. There’s the Muslim Quarter. There’s the Jewish Quarter. There’s the Armenian Quarter.
Go On To Page Two