Dwelling Places

 1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
   for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
   her salvation like a blazing torch.
2 The nations will see your vindication,
   and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
   that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand,
   a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 No longer will they call you Deserted,
   or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah,
   and your land Beulah;
for the LORD will take delight in you,
   and your land will be married.
5 As a young man marries a young woman,
   so will your Builder marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
   so will your God rejoice over you.
 6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
   they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD,
   give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
   and makes her the praise of the earth.
Isaiah 62:1-7

For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling:
Psalm 132:2


1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise,
   in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its loftiness,
   the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
   the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels;
   he has shown himself to be her fortress.
4 When the kings joined forces,
   when they advanced together,
5 they saw her and were astounded;
   they fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there,
   pain like that of a woman in labor.
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish
   shattered by an east wind.
8 As we have heard,
   so we have seen
in the city of the LORD Almighty,
   in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
   forever.
9 Within your temple, O God,
   we meditate on your unfailing love.
10 Like your name, O God,
   your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
   your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
   the villages of Judah are glad
   because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
   count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
   view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
   to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
   he will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 48

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
   throughout all generations.
Psalm 90:1


Jerusalem. City of the Great King, of God Himself. Yerushalayim shel Zahav...City of Gold...the very name conjures such strong emotions in me, it pulls my heartstrings, my existence is tied to this place, for some reasons I can explain, and some that are too deep for words. Anyone who has been there will tell you that it is haunting, unforgettable...
Jerusalem is God's dwelling place, chosen and owned by Him. The Lord Himself is our dwelling place.
For decades, with increasing intensity and ferocity, the battle for ownership and control of Jerusalem rages. This is nothing new- Jerusalem, the "City of Peace", is the most contested and bloodied place of the earth. Conquered, and reconquered, the prize of Crusaders, Muslims, Babylonians, Turks, Romans, Assyrians, and countless others, Jerusalem could no more be theirs, than the Ark was the possession of the Philistines, the Lord bringing down curses and destruction. The reason is purely spiritual, as those enemies of God have tried, and are still trying to steal, that which they will never own or master-Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is owned by the Lord Himself. It's unique and special, because He fashioned it for His dwelling place. The people that He has chosen to live there, that He decided to bless, and bring back to the Holy Land are the Jews. that is not our decision...not yours, mine, the Muslims, the UN's, no one's- the power and authority is the Owner's alone. But we have, by spiritual algebra, a connection to this amazing place...Jerusalem is God's dwelling place, and He is ours.
Because Jerusalem is the Lord's and we are His, as God's enemies continue to rage, we must stand with Jerusalem, with Israel. Battle lines have been drawn, Israel's enemies have not been able to steal Jerusalem by force, so they're using craftiness like their ancestors- the Hamans, Pharoahs, those who came against Nehemiah, using other nations and the UN who are deluded, thinking they have power to carve up this place. Instead they only bring future judgement and destruction on themselves as they align themselves against Israel and ultimately, God Himself.
Today, consider this place, meditate on it, go there in your spirit, if not physically:

Walk about Zion, go around her,
   count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
   view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
   to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever