Topical Bible: Jerusalem: Specially Chosen by God

◄ Jerusalem: Specially Chosen by God ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Jerusalem holds a unique and central place in biblical history and theology, being specially chosen by God as a focal point for His divine purposes. This city, often referred to as the "City of David" and the "Holy City," is deeply woven into the narrative of the Bible, serving as a spiritual and political center for the people of Israel and a symbol of God's enduring covenant with His people.

Divine Selection and Significance

Jerusalem's significance is first highlighted in the Old Testament, where it is chosen as the site for the Temple, the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. In 2 Chronicles 6:6, God declares, "But I have chosen Jerusalem that My Name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel." This divine selection underscores Jerusalem's role as the heart of worship and the center of Israel's religious life.

The city's importance is further emphasized in Psalm 132:13-14: "For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling: 'This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired this home.'" Jerusalem, often synonymous with Zion, is depicted as God's chosen dwelling place, a perpetual symbol of His presence and favor.

Historical and Theological Role

Jerusalem's role as the capital of Israel was solidified under King David, who captured the city and established it as the political and spiritual center of the nation (2 Samuel 5:6-10). David's son, Solomon, built the First Temple there, further cementing its status as the focal point of Jewish worship and sacrifice (1 Kings 6:1-38).

Throughout the biblical narrative, Jerusalem is portrayed as the site of pivotal events in Israel's history. It is the city where the prophets delivered God's messages, where kings reigned, and where significant religious reforms took place. The city's destruction and subsequent restoration are recurring themes, symbolizing both judgment and redemption.

Prophetic and Eschatological Significance

Jerusalem's significance extends beyond its historical role to its prophetic and eschatological importance. The prophets frequently speak of Jerusalem in the context of future hope and restoration. Isaiah 2:2-3 envisions a time when "the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains... and all nations will stream to it." This prophecy points to Jerusalem as a center of divine teaching and peace for all nations.

In the New Testament, Jerusalem remains central to God's redemptive plan. It is the city where Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was crucified and resurrected, fulfilling the prophecies of salvation. The Book of Revelation further highlights Jerusalem's eschatological role, describing the New Jerusalem as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise, a heavenly city where God will dwell with His people forever (Revelation 21:2-3).

Symbol of God's Covenant and Presence

Jerusalem stands as a powerful symbol of God's covenant with Israel and His enduring presence among His people. It represents the intersection of the divine and the human, the temporal and the eternal. As the chosen city, Jerusalem embodies the hope of redemption and the promise of God's unending faithfulness.

In summary, Jerusalem's selection by God as a special city is a testament to its profound spiritual and theological significance throughout the biblical narrative. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereign choice, His covenantal love, and His ultimate plan for humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 6:6
But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 135:21
Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwells at Jerusalem. Praise you the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Approaching Doom
... first time besieged and captured Jerusalem, and carried ... and his companions, with
others specially chosen for service ... trust in the promises of God found these ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 35 approaching doom.htm

Of the Eternal Election, by which God Has Predestinated Some to ...
... a withered stock, one people is specially chosen, while the ... it is elsewhere said,
"I have chosen thee, and ... angel, the Lord "shall choose Jerusalem again," as ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 21 of the eternal.htm

How the Gospels came to be Written
... of Levi, and this tribe was specially chosen in the ... time, that a Gentile could, at
God's bidding, write ... John wrote his Gospel, Jerusalem had been destroyed and ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter xi how the gospels.htm

Whether Christ Suffered in a Suitable Place?
... First of all, because Jerusalem was God's chosen place for ... of the earth""-that is,
in Jerusalem, which is ... Thirdly, because it was specially in keeping with ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ suffered in a.htm

An American Reformer.
... to know the truth, was the man specially chosen of God ... Yet God had bidden His messenger,
"Make this man ... commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /18 an american reformer.htm

An American Reformer
... to know the truth, was the man specially chosen of God ... Yet God had bidden His messenger:
"Make this man ... commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 18 an american reformer.htm

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
... that is written among the living in Jerusalem."[526] The ... appears from the record
of the specially momentous day ... of Jacob yet to be reclaimed, as chosen of God ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter viii covenanting according to.htm

Sanctified by God the Holy Ghost.
... all Christians as distinctively and specially the Sanctifier ... describing, to the Church
at Jerusalem, the occurrences ... God hath from the beginning chosen you to ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter xiii sanctified by god.htm

The Child-Life in Nazareth
... Admitted in the number of God's chosen people by ... clothes...trained to recognise God
as their ... Two Rabbis of Jerusalem, specially distinguished and beloved on ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the child-life in.htm

The Good Samaritan
... In journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho, the traveler had to pass through a ... They
were of the class specially chosen to be representatives of God to the ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 54 the good samaritan.htm