The Controversy of Zion

Last week I read that Palestinian President Abbas pointed a finger at Israel, saying that it crossed red lines in Jerusalem. He also said that Israel damaged the chances for a peace process. He even called on the American administration to "stop the adventure which may ignite a religious war in the region."

 The clashes began as Arabs started to hurl stones at the Western Wall plaza and police forces stationed at the Mugrabi Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. The Arab attacks on Jews followed a sermon that area residents said encouraged Muslim violence. Israeli police forces removed the stone throwers and stormed the Temple Mount compound, using stun grenades.

Let’s see, who started it? The Arabs! They even threw stones at tourists. What did the Israelis do? They sent their police to stop the stone throwers. – But who gets blamed for hindering the peace process? The Israelis.

On June 7th, 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited for the first time since its partition in 1948. On June 14, 1967, the rubble was cleared from the Western Wall Square. Once again, the holiest place for all Jews was open, and all were invited to visit. It was estimated that 200,000 Israelis visited the Western Wall, though they had to pass through six police barriers to reach the site.

Today, the Jews are again faced with the prospect of their beloved city being divided for the sake of appeasement. Israel faces not only the bias of the entire Arab world, and many in the European Union, it faces unwarranted bias from our own U. S. State Department’s refusal to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

So, to whom does Jerusalem belong?

Over 3000 years ago, G-D told King David: "...I have chosen Jerusalem, so that my name can be there: and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel" (II Chronicles 6:6). In (II Chronicles 33:4) he says: “My name will be in Jerusalem forever.”

 In the Hebrew alphabet the letter Shin ש is the first letter in the name of God, Shaddai. Shaddai, meaning "the keeper of the doors of Israel", is inscribed on the mezuzot on all the doorways of a Jewish home.

The map above identifies the geography of ancient Jerusalem. Three valleys surround Jerusalem, the Kidron Valley on the east, The Refaiim Valley, just east of the City of Zion, and the Hinom Valley south and west of the City of Zion. Together with the Temple Mount and Jerusalem in their midst, they form the Hebrew letter Shin (high-lighted in red).

Could it be that G-D constructed the geography of the region to fulfill the verses above and actually, and physically, put His name on Jerusalem? Is the "fingerprint of HaShem" on Jerusalem for all to see? Maybe. Just a coincidence, perhaps, perhaps not, but it is something to meditate on.
The prophet Isaiah predicted: "The Law will go out from Zion, and the word of Adonai from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)

The Almighty has preserved Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem has been leveled to the ground five times. Her people have been carried away captive, yet Jerusalem always rises from the rubble because G-D has ordained it through the centuries! –Jerusalem belongs to G-D.

It is therefore not wise to “mess” with Jerusalem, especially not the people who’s Koran never even mentions that city.

G-D takes a very dim view indeed of any nation that puts its hand to the division of His land. He has vowed to deal extremely harshly with those who do this. God has, He says, “a day of vengeance for the controversy of Zion.” (Joel 3:2; Isaiah 34:1-8)

 It would be best for any nation not to mess with Jerusalem, because they will fall into the hands of the living G-D and the consequences will be awful.