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This is what Yahweh says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of Yahweh of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain." (Zechariah 8:3) The Temple Mount in Jerusalem has become the focal point of world interest. Why should such a small piece of real estate attract such interest? Those of us who believe God's Word know His answer to that: it is "the city where I chose to put my Name." Repeatedly in the Torah, God told the descendants of Israel that when they arrived at the land He had promised them, there would be a special place designated: "You are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go." (Deuteronomy 12:5 NIV) The Lord "chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved." (Psalms 78:68 NIV) "He has set his foundation on the holy mountain; the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, O city of God!" (Psalms 87:1-3 NIV) But why would this place foment such interest now? Because it is the place from which the Messiah Jesus will rule the earth after His glorious and raging return. "From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages." (Psalms 50:2-3 NIV) God Himself has decreed it as an accomplished fact: "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." (Psalms 2:6 NIV) The theme of Psalm 2 is the resistance of the nations, political leaders, and the powerful to this decree, and their plots to thwart it. This is being played out today, right before our eyes, and the contention for Jerusalem and the Temple Mount will only intensify. Micah tells us that "Yahweh will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever. As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; the sovereignty of the daughter of Jerusalem." (Micah 4:7-8) Today, the dispute over who will have sovereignty over the Temple Mount is front page news. It belongs to Israel, for God has given it to them. But the world powers are trying to wrest it away. Today, the news agencies are reporting a scheme to grant sovereignty of the Temple Mount to the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. This insidious proposal was initiated by the governments of the United States, France, and Egypt, among others. Prime Minister Barak of Israel is reportedly in favor of the idea, apparently in a desperate attempt to keep sovereignty of the Temple Mount out of the hands of the Palestinians. The United Nations is cleverly manipulating the situation to their desired end, which is control of the place where God said His name would dwell forever. Will they succeed? Perhaps for a short time, but God will show His greatness and power by smashing their feeble attempts to dethrone Him!
Our prayer: "O Lord, remember Mount Zion, where you came to dwell. Look and see how your opponents mock you. Rise up, O Lord, and act, on behalf of your great name, and your throne. Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men."
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