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In Psalm 122:6, King David calls his readers to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Join me for a bumpy ride I took on the back of a cart through the peaceful Old City of Jerusalem in 2022, all the way from the Jaffa Gate to the Western offer a Psalm 122 prayer for peace in the Comment Section... (then Like & Share so more can join us) SUPPORT ISRAEL TODAY: CRY FOR ZION: Provide Humanitarian Aid to Israel’s Active Reservists. (A good friend of mine in Israel works with this ministry!) MAGEN DAVID ADOM: Israel’s Official EMS Organization FIRM: Dear friends in Jerusalem transforming lives through Gospel-centered ministries. ——— SONG CREDITS: WORDS MUSIC: Aaron Shust King David PRODUCER: Sam Hart MASTERING: Bob Boyd (Ambient Digital) VIDEO EDITTING: Yaakov Schwarz CITY AMBIENCE CAPTURE: Jamie Hilsden MUSICIANS: Aaron Shust: Piano, Guitars, Vocals, Background Vocals Gideon Klein: Cello, Viola Josée Klein: Violins Sam Hart: Guitars, Programming ——— BEHIND THE SONG - For a few years now, I’ve had my phone set for 12:26pm to remind me to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I pause for a moment, and offer a whole-hearted prayer, “Father, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May blinded eyes see, deaf ears be opened, and hearts of stone be replaced with hearts of flesh, beginning with my own.” Then I pray for a few friends by name, as they come to mind that day. I’ve always believed God’s words to Abraham in Genesis 12, spoken later to Isaac and Jacob, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse…” I took those words seriously when I first read them, and started by praying blessing over Israel, especially the peace of the city David mentioned. Even Jesus wept over the city for deep love of the people in it. Does this mean we shouldn’t pray for Gaza and Tehran? Glasgow and Tampa? Of course we can, and should, pray for all cities, and all peoples. But, Psalm 122 tells us to pray specifically for Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 5:5, the Sovereign Lord says, “This is Jerusalem which I have set in the center of the nations with countries all around her.” The prophet Isaiah said, “Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.” (Isaiah 62:1) So, I’ve been praying for Jerusalem for a long time. In August of 2023, I began to sing a pleasant little tune about praying for Jerusalem. But, on October 7th of 2023, when Israel was savagely attacked and rocket sirens began to sound throughout the City of Peace, the melody of my heart changed to a minor key. I cried out to God, driving home from the airport, “May the Guardian of Israel arise! May His chariots of fire fill the skies!” I thought of my best friend’s daughter serving in the Israeli Defense Forces and remembered Psalm 121:7 “The LORD will protect you from all evil. He will guard your life.” I pray that over Emma. I thought of my friends Chaim and Hananya being called up to service… “For the sake of my brothers and friends, I now say, “Shalom be with you.” I knew this song had to be recorded as soon as possible, and only with the brilliant help of my dear friends, was I able to launch this song within 8 days of writing it. Gideon and his wife Josée recorded all the strings in one afternoon off at home…Sam and Yaakov were tireless and they all felt the same weight of importance that I did. Sam even designed the gorgeous album cover! Bob Boyd, my long time Mastering Engineer, cleared his day to provide the final product practically immediately. I’m deeply deeply grateful to work with such beautiful people. I believe that ultimate peace in the Middle East, and the world, will only be ushered in by the Prince of Peace, the Messiah. (As the old Jewish joke goes, when Messiah comes, we can ask Him, “Is this Your first time, or Your second time?”) Until that day comes, Jewish and Christian alike, we are charged to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Shalom Shalom Aaron ——— LINKS: GATHER THE NATIONS: CONTACT AARON: BOOK AARON: ——— LYRICS: JERUSALEM Words and Music: Aaron Shust October 8th, 2023 We pray for the peace We pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps 122:6) For the sake of our brothers and friends We now say, “Shalom be within you” (Ps 122:8) We pray for the peace We pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps 122:6) For the sake of the House of the LORD We seek your good (Ps 122:9) So may the Guardian of Israel arise (Ps 121:4) May His chariots of fire fill the skies (2 Kings 6:17) To protect you from every evil and keep your lives (Ps 121:7) We cry, “How long, O LORD, How long?” (Ps 13:3)
