Yom Yerushalayim 5778—A Day to Rejoice With Jerusalem!
Today’s Text Isaiah 66:10
ISRAEL ED

The Eternal City of Jerusalem and the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have been inseparably intertwined for 3,000-plus years. Contrary to dissenting voices, Jerusalem’s legitimacy as the undivided capital of the modern State of Israel has a solid historical precedent. The modern nation’s past is substantiated through the biblical record, history and on-going archeological research.

The stronghold of Jebus became the new capital and the location of David’s royal residence in 1,000 B.C. when the tribes of Israel were still gathered following his coronation as King of Israel (2 Sam. 24:18). Shortly thereafter, David moved the Ark of the Covenant with plans to make the Eternal City not just the seat of governance, but the spiritual center for united Israel (2 Sam. 6:12). (1)

David’s son, Solomon, completed the task of building the First Temple in ancient Jerusalem. And following the Babylonian exile, the construction on the Second Temple began in 536 B.C. with help from Cyrus King of Persia (Ezra 1:1-11). Throughout history up to the current Diaspora, the Jewish people have maintained Jerusalem as central to their political and spiritually identity.

Fast-forward to November 8, 1995 when both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate adopted the Jerusalem Embassy Act. The legislation officially recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, calls for Jerusalem to remain an undivided city and allocates funds for moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by May 31, 1999.

Two decades and three administrations have passed since that decision. Every six months, presidents have postponed the move via waiver for fear of antagonizing Israel’s enemies—a strategy that failed to achieve the objective. There have been two Intifadas and a seemingly endless wave of terrorism since the Jerusalem Embassy Act became law.

Then on December 6, 2017, President Donald J. Trump’s announcement from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House sent shock waves around the globe, even though he pledged to do so. The president officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital and revealed plans to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem—a move long overdue.

The prophet Isaiah captures the proper response to the events unfolding on Jerusalem Day celebrating 51 years since the reunification followed by U.S. Embassy move ceremonies:

ISAIAH 66:10

Rejoice with Jerusalem,

And be glad with her, all you who love her;

Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her.

For people of faith living in the 21^st century, the prophetic implications are staggering. More than 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah urged us to rejoice with Jerusalem!

Jerusalem is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible and is the only city where God has chosen to place His name (2 Chron. 7:16). For those who love Israel and routinely pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the Yom Yerushalayim 5778 celebration is a momentous time to remember!

Charles E. McCracken is an international Bible teacher, long-time friend of Israel and advocate for the Jewish people. Rev. McCracken authentically communicates biblical truth making his presentations relevant for those seeking to understand the significance of Israel and the church in Bible prophecy. He staunchly supports the nation of Israel and the Jewish people’s right to exist and live in peace.

© Charles E. McCracken 2018, devotional comments only. Repost/Reprint with permission from the author via Contact Form under ABOUT. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Emphasis added).

ENDNOTE:
1) “The New Capital (1 Chronicles 11:7-9),” by Charles E. McCracken, via the website.

IMAGE:
1) President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Joint Press Conference, February 15, 2017. By The White House from Washington, DC (Foreign Leader Visits) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons – Enhancement: MKM Portfolios

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