Psalm 122:6 - Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you, may peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces."
This Psalm, probably composed by David shortly have Jerusalem was designated by Him as the place where God would dwell with Israel, is a tribute Psalm asking for all to see the beauty and value of the City of Jerusalem as a place where God would dwell in the tabernacle (and, eventually, the temple). There are several things this Psalm teaches us: 1). That God is the giver of peace. We don't earn it, deserve it, produce it, or, even discover it on our own. Only God can grant and give peace (John 14:27). 2). God wants us to pray for peace. Prayer seems to be a conduit whereby we are able to engage God in the peace delivering mode. Our prayers, offered up in faith, are intended to be the method God uses to bless His people with the beauty of peace. 3). We are specifically to pray for peace for a specific location. This may be the one variable that controversy starts. Since God now dwells in the hearts of believers the question would be asked, "Do we still pray for Jerusalem? Or, do we pray for peace where God dwells?" Since God now dwells in the hearts of His people via faith via the Spirit of God, we should be praying for peace within the "walls" of those hearts? I believe that is the principle of prayer we are to follow. Today God dwells in the "walls" of the Body of Christ. I believe, just as Christ prayed we would all be one in Christ in John 17, we are to both pray and strive for the peace within the body. I don't think we are to neglect praying for Jerusalem and the nation of Israel, but I do think we are to pray for peace within the walls of the body. Pray for peace in the body of Christ today.
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