“For Zions’ sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning.” Isaiah 62:1
The Prophet Isaiah realized long ago the need to be relentless when speaking on behalf of Zion and Jerusalem. One of the Church’s biggest sins, as well as humanity, has been its passive silence in the face of the many evils in our world. That is not to say that everyone has been silent within the church, but the silent majority has been the standard throughout our history. Now is no longer the time to remain silent! Why should we speak loudly and boldly on behalf of Zion? Because we know that the kingdom of God is established beginning in Jerusalem! We talk about how we want the Messiah to come and how we want all the evils of our world to disappear, yet we do nothing to prepare for that reality! We must learn to proudly stand up for the place where God said salvation would go forth from. If we don’t prioritize Zion, then we have lost sight of the place from where our help comes. After hearing repeated calls throughout the Church body about the need for another reformation, one of my friends here in Israel began to call this new reformation the “Reforma-Tzion” (Zion) movement. The importance of Israel, Zion, and Jerusalem was one of the biggest things the Church missed, going back historically to the First Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. If we need another reformation, how about we begin by looking to the place of which the Prophet Joel spoke, saying, “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind… and it will come about that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape.” (Joel 2) Where do we find escape? God has told us the place! Now, we must relentlessly take our commission seriously. We should never hold our peace until the message of salvation found in Jerusalem burns brightly as a signal fire for the world!
Prayer for Day 22
O God, may we never be silent for the sake of Zion and Jerusalem! Father, turn in compassion and rebuild Your holy city as a place of salvation and deliverance so that the nations may seek and find You there. We need You in Jerusalem! Forgive us for leaving this vital element out of the message of salvation. We want to love Your city even as You love Your city. We want, even as it says in Isaiah 60, for “Violence [to] not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls (the walls of Jerusalem) salvation, and your gates praise.” O God, when will the violence end? When will the terrorism, hatred, and destruction cease? Perhaps it is when we, as Christians and followers of the God if Israel, stand up and refuse to be silent for the sake of Zion! As the Prophet Joel prophesied, “In Mount Zion… there shall be deliverance!” (NKJV) Lord, we know how much we, as well as the world, need deliverance! Give us the strength to move and remove the obstacles that hinder the nations from seeking You in Jerusalem. May we see You in Zion soon and in our days! In the Name above all names, Amen.
*Article used with permission: Dire Straits of Redemption – Twenty One Days to Transform the World, Samuel Wearp, 2024.
