Editorial - Must This Happen

Jerusalem is continually in the spotlight of the world's news in these days, and what has happened to this city in the past could very well be repeated, indeed will be repeated according to God's Word. As momentous decisions are made in the future by the various nations concerning Jerusalem's status, even as has been the case in these days, we remember that God says that this is His city, "the city of the great King" (Psalm 48:2).

The prophet paints a very sad picture of the city in the past. In the Book of Lamentations, he draws attention to its misery as if it were a woman as she exclaims: "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which has been brought on me, which the LORD has inflicted on me in the day of his fierce anger?" (1:12).

God's judgements were on His city in those days because the people had "transgressed and rebelled" (3:42), and history when it repeats itself will see again the situation when "the adversary has spread his hand over all her pleasant things; for she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, those whom you commanded not to enter the congregation" (1:10).

The nations will once again taunt the people of Israel, and "all who pass by" will "clap their hands at you" ; they will "hiss and shake their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem: 'Is this the city that is called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?'" (2:15).

Trouble and disaster and despair will surely cause God's people to turn back to Him. In desperation and when all hope has fled they will at last say: "Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD; let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven . . . Turn us back to you, O LORD, and we will be restored; renew our days as of old, unless you have utterly rejected us, and are very angry with us" (3:40,41; 5:21,22).

No way would God's anger cause Him to reject His people Israel utterly. He has made provision for their salvation as He has for all mankind in His Son, even the Messiah Yeshua, the Lord Jesus. And an acknowledgement of Him, and a return to Him in repentance and faith will surely attract His redemption both physically and spiritually.

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