Psalm 87

1 On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord.
2 He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel.
3 O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!
Interlude

4 I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me— also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!
5 Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, “Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.” And the Most High will personally bless this city.
6 When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.” Interlude

7 The people will play flutes and sing, “The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!”

I'm Norwegian, Swedish, English, Scot and French. Oh, and I recently discovered I'm Irish!

Few people get excited about my viking heritage but everybody seems pleased that I'm Irish. Very strange...

It's an identity issue. "I'm Irish...and you're not!"

On a practical level it doesn't mean much. After all, from where I stand I'm primarily an American...with pre-American roots. For most of my life everybody wanted to be an American.

Today everybody wants to be unique. "I'm Irish-American." "I'm Italian-American." "I'm African-American" or "I'm Hispanic". The list is as long as the number of nations in the world. There's a price to be paid for this. If America has taught us anything through history it's that what binds us together and makes us strong is the unique identity we forge when we come together. We are first, and foremost, Americans. Many of us have lost sight of that...which may be one of the root causes of the disintegration of our culture.


Few people claim to be "Jerusalemites." We should...it means "Place of Peace."


Yet, it's hard to argue that Jerusalem isn't some of the most coveted real estate in the world. The world's three major religions call it home. Each one wants to make an exclusive claim. Isn't it ironic? People fighting over the "City of Peace?"

And...all three just don't get it. This is not our city...this is God's. He says so himself. "On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel." More to the point, God decides who can call Jerusalem home.

Some aren't going to like His decision. After all, the point of making a claim on something is that we don't want to share it with others. In the case of Jerusalem our psalmist says "When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, “They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.” So much for London, Paris, Rome or DC. Jerusalem is going to become the capital of the world. Why not? It's God's home town.

So much for being Norwegian. Or, even American. There will come a day when God decides we are all "Salemites." "Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.” Some will not be happy with this decision. I'm sure they will argue with God.


Another approach might be to begin making the transition today. Of course, that means acknowledging God's authority to make such decisions. It also means we need to begin aligning our priorities with God's. Still...getting a head start isn't a bad idea.

It's been said "two things are certain...death and taxes." Well, it seems our home town is certain too.

Live boldly out there today...