THE WEEPING PROPHET (2)
*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*THE WEEPING PROPHET (2)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Luke 19:41 *And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,*
*Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.*
*Call to Word action.*
Isaiah 52:5: *He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.*
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem.
It is the first ever recorded of Jesus weeping.
Jesus is God, though more than a prophet was a prophet (ref Mk 4:6) who wept as a human and sorrowful as God over the people He created in His image.
No where is God recorded as weeping, but He is recorded as regretting over His decisions for creating the children of men. Among his many regrets is making Saul King over Israel, Gen 6:6, 1 Sam 15:11.
The plan of God for Jerusalem on earth is eternal
Jesus was born in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth, north of Galilee.
His triumphal entry into Jerusalem marked events to His Last supper and crucifixion. Golgotha, His place of crucifixion is in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is so important to God in Christ's days, so also, it is today.
It remains a holy land for Christian pilgrims.
In the Old Testament, it was attacked, besieged, and made desolate.
The temple built by Solomon was destroyed. The worst was still to come. In 2 Kgs 25:2, Jer 39:2
Nebuchadnezzar besieged it, broke through Jerusalem's walls, conquering and destroyed the city. King Zedekiah and his followers attempted to escape but were captured and taken to exile.
This continued, and in Jesus's days, Jerusalem became a rubble of pity, and Jesus cried, saying if only Jerusalem knew how much God loved it, the people would not treat it the way they treated it.
The peace that was for Jerusalem was not forthcoming as intended by God but had to be prayed for, Psalm 122:6.
Till today and until Jesus comes, the nation of Israel, wherein Jerusalem lies, peace has been far from them.
Jesus foresaw this further devastation and cried.
We are this Jerusalem, pitiful and needing immediate restoration to God's initial intended purpose.
Christ is sorrowful concerning the state of many of us. Many of us are far from Him. Many treat Him with no honor and give their lives to Satan, Jesus's enemy, rather than to Jesus, who gave them life.
Are you like the Jerusalem that brings shame and tears to Jesus's eyes?
Why cause Him to weep?
*Remorse.*
You can begin to be like the New Jerusalem where all tears will be wiped away, where there will be no tears, no weeping, if you accept Jesus, today.
*Call to Word action.*
Though the Jerusalem on earth is destroyed, we will have a New Jerusalem, Rev 21:21.
*The Christian clarion call*
Does your life cause Jesus' joy?
If not, let it bring Jesus joy.
*Prayer.*
May Jesus never weep over me in Jesus name.
Good morning, and be blessed as you come into His presence today.
God bless you.