Examining a Prayer for Jerusalem
One of our favorite passages from scripture comes from Isaiah 62. It reads:
“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”
This passage is not only a prayer for Jerusalem, but it also acts as a promise and prophecy.
The first line talks about the promise God has made to protect the people of Israel and Jerusalem. “I have set watchmen on your walls” is an image of safety and protection. Watchmen stay up day
The neo-gothic fresco of prophet Isaiah by Leopold Bruckner (1905 – 1906) in Saint Nicholas church.
Renata Sedmakova / Shutterstock.com
and night to protect others, and the second line reinforces this imagery, saying the watchmen “shall never hold their peace day or night.” This is a comforting passage, showing that day and night, God is watching out for the people of Jerusalem. This is especially comforting in times of violence or strife.
The next several lines are a bit more interesting in the sense that they transfer some responsibility for the future of Jerusalem on to believers in God. “You who make mention of the Lord” refers to believers and the Jewish people. By saying “do not keep silent,” the prophet implores us to continue spreading the news of God and to continue singing His praises, even when it is not necessarily easy to do so.
The next two lines are “And give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Again, the prophecy shows the importance of believers continuing to be open with their faith and praising God until Jerusalem once again becomes a “praise in the earth,” a light to the rest of the world to follow in terms of holiness and faithfulness.
At Curt Landry Ministries, we believe it is our responsibility to help Jerusalem become a “praise in the earth,” which is why we engage in so much humanitarian work in the area. We have many opportunities for you to support this work. Please feel free to contact us for more information, and continue to pray for the people of Israel.