O city of God,  what glorious things are said of you!  (Psalm 87:3)

When the descendants of Korah penned Psalm 87, Jerusalem was the center of Israel, the place where God had chosen to place his temple, the physical representation of his presence. God himself was said to dwell in the temple, and this gave Jerusalem a unique value beyond all other cities. Thus, it could be said that God “loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel” (87:2).

So how are Christians supposed to respond when we read Psalm 87 today? To be sure, we are reminded to pray for Jerusalem, a city divided by its history and a hotbed for ethnic and religious conflict. Yet, from a theological point of view, today’s Jerusalem is not equivalent to the city praised by the Korahites. The temple is no longer there, having been destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Yet the “temple” of God continues to exist on earth, now in the form of the community of the disciples of Jesus. As we read in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

Thus, in a way, the city of God is still on earth, but now dispersed throughout the world. The prophetic words of Psalm 87 have been realized: “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!” (87:4).

You and I have the high calling of representing God in the places where we live and work. In a sense, we are part of today’s “Jerusalem,” as we reflect God’s truth and grace in our world. People no longer need to travel to Jerusalem to meet God, because God has come to people, first in Jesus Christ, and then, through Christ, in those who believe in him, including you.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Are you living in this world as a citizen of God’s “Jerusalem”? If people only knew God through what they see in you, what would they think about God?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I’m reminded to pray for the city of Jerusalem. It needs your peace more today than ever. I pray especially for the political leaders of the Middle East and for those in other nations who impact the Middle East, including the leaders of the United States. Give them a yearning for genuine peace, Lord. Give them wisdom as they seek to deal with the terribly difficult challenges posed by Jerusalem and the rest of the Middle East. And help the people in that region to seek peace beyond retribution and honor.

In a different key, I pray today for my life in this world. May I be an effective part of your “Jerusalem.” Wherever I am, Lord, whether at work or at home, at church or in the community, may I reflect you, your grace and truth. By your Spirit, help me to live out my heavenly citizenship on earth in every facet of my life. Amen.