Topical Bible: Jerusalem: The Jews: Prayed for the Prosperity of

◄ Jerusalem: The Jews: Prayed for the Prosperity of ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Jerusalem holds a central place in the heart of Jewish faith and tradition, being the city chosen by God for His dwelling and the focal point of Jewish worship and identity. Throughout the Scriptures, the Jewish people are depicted as fervently praying for the prosperity and peace of Jerusalem, recognizing its spiritual and historical significance.

Biblical Foundation

The call to pray for the prosperity of Jerusalem is rooted in the Psalms, where the faithful are encouraged to seek the city's welfare. Psalm 122:6-7 exhorts, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you prosper. May there be peace within your walls, and prosperity inside your fortresses.'" This passage highlights the deep-seated desire for Jerusalem's peace and prosperity, reflecting the belief that the city's well-being is intrinsically linked to the blessing of those who love and support it.

Historical Context

Jerusalem's significance is not only spiritual but also historical. As the site of the Temple, it was the center of Jewish worship and the location where God's presence was believed to dwell. The destruction and subsequent rebuilding of the Temple were pivotal events in Jewish history, and the city's restoration was a matter of profound spiritual importance. The prayers for Jerusalem's prosperity were not merely for its physical restoration but also for the spiritual renewal of the Jewish people.

Prophetic Vision

The prophets of Israel also spoke of a future time when Jerusalem would be restored to its former glory and become a beacon of peace and righteousness. Isaiah 62:6-7 declares, "On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." This prophetic vision underscores the persistent and hopeful prayers of the Jewish people for Jerusalem's ultimate redemption and exaltation.

Liturgical Practice

In Jewish liturgical practice, prayers for Jerusalem are a regular feature. The Amidah, a central prayer in Jewish worship, includes petitions for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of the Davidic kingdom. This reflects the enduring hope and expectation for Jerusalem's prosperity and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance

The prayers for Jerusalem's prosperity are not only a reflection of historical and religious duty but also an expression of deep cultural and spiritual identity. Jerusalem symbolizes the heart of the Jewish nation, and its peace and prosperity are seen as integral to the well-being of the Jewish people as a whole. The longing for Jerusalem's prosperity is a testament to the enduring connection between the Jewish people and their sacred city, a connection that has persisted through centuries of exile and dispersion.

In summary, the prayers for the prosperity of Jerusalem are a profound expression of faith, hope, and identity for the Jewish people. They reflect a deep-seated belief in God's promises and a longing for the fulfillment of His covenant with Israel, with Jerusalem at its heart.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 51:18
Do good in your good pleasure to Zion: build you the walls of Jerusalem.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 122:6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Caius Commands that his Statue Should be Set up in the Temple ...
... he sent Petronius with an army to Jerusalem, to place ... you then make war against Caesar?"
The Jews said, "We ... he dismissed the multitude, who prayed greatly for ...
/.../chapter 10 caius commands that.htm

How the Temple was Built While the Cutheans Endeavored in Vain to ...
... Babylon, should be restored to the people of Jerusalem; and that ... and that they should
pay to the Jews, out of ... He also prayed to God against them, that if any ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how the temple.htm

How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured the Laws of the Jews to be ...
... grateful to these, and to all the other Jews in the ... haste to meet the elders that
came from Jerusalem for the ... stood in the midst of them, and prayed, that all ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how ptolemy philadelphus.htm

The Syrian Persecution.
... Onias prayed for him, and he was restored; the same beings ... the highest part of the
wall of Jerusalem; and the ... for they were as yet only faithful Jews, hope and ...
/.../yonge/the chosen people/lesson xvii the syrian persecution.htm

How Vespasian was Received at Rome; as Also How the Germans ...
The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem. ... by their tribes,
and their families, and their neighborhoods, and still prayed God to ...
/.../chapter 4 how vespasian was.htm

The Seven Deacons
... as Grecians, between whom and the Jews of Palestine ... the number of the disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and ... Had not their divine Leader prayed to the ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 9 the seven deacons.htm

The Prophet Nehemiah
... The Jews always got into trouble when they married with the ... a man brought up in that
atmosphere, coming up to Jerusalem and enforcing ... After I had prayed, I:said ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/iv the prophet nehemiah.htm

Christianity in Rome.
... all business on the Sabbath, fasted and prayed, burned lamps ... law, and sent tribute
to the temple of Jerusalem. ... [490] Seneca, who detested the Jews (calling them ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 36 christianity in rome.htm

The Siege. (xxi, xxxii-xxxiv, xxxvii, xxxviii. )
... inspired resistance to the Assyrian besiegers of Jerusalem in his day ... son, and in
sight of the Jews sitting in ... of sale to Baruch, Neriah's son, I prayed to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 the siege xxi xxxii-xxxiv.htm

The History Books
... Hezekiah understood and trembled; he prayed earnestly that ... Terrible troubles would
overwhelm the Jews; but, even though the wall of Jerusalem should be ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter iv the history books.htm