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LET JERUSALEM COME INTO YOUR MIND
Jeremiah 51:50
INTRO: The chapter of our text is a prediction of the destruction
of Babylon (vv. 47-49) at the hands of the Medes and Persians. Before that happens, Judah will have been in Babylonian exile for 70 years. While there, they were not to forget God. And so here, those that had not been slain by the sword of Babylon are told "let Jerusalem come into your mind." God also told Ezekiel, "son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem" (21:2) The captive Jews longingly waited for the time when they could go back to their beloved city; it was to be in their minds. But the admonition to "let Jerusalem come into your mind" also has great implications for God's people today! No - the literal city of Jerusalem probably means little to us today except for historical interest. The term "Jerusalem" is used in at least three ways in the Bible. Let us look at them, and be reminded that we too should "let Jerusalem come into your mind. I. A. History. 1. Some earliest mention found in the Tell el-Amarna tablets in letters written by its then king Abd-Khiba to Amenhotep IV, Pharaoh of Egypt at that time (circa 1450 BC). i. Here it is called Uru-Salem. "city of 2. Earliest Biblical appearance is found in Gen. 14:18 where it describes Melchizedek as "king of upon the patriarch's returning from the slaughter of the kings. i. It was formerly called Jebus (Josh. ; Jud. ). ii. Inhabited at that time by the Jebusites. iii. First actually mentioned by " B. Geographical location. 1. In the Judean mountain range, 2500 feet elevation. 2. On a plateau intersected by deep valleys, major ones being the Tyropean valley to the south, with the Kidron valley separating the city from the 3. From earliest days a walled city. C. Meaning to the Jews. 1. David anointed king in 2. From 3. Then moves against 1 Sam.5:6ff). i. Made years, and all succeeding kings of i. All their worship and sacrifices to God offered there. ii. And so to the Jews. D. Later history. 1. After the kingdom divided, while S 2. Relate account of 3. Finally, 4. Upon the return from with the temple. E. BUT - this is not the II. SECOND WAY " A. Predictions of the prophets - a new, spiritual kingdom under the Messiah, Jesus Christ. B. Note Zechariah's prophecy (2:1-5, his third vision). 1. He sees " i. Not the old, physical city, for if one wanted to know its measurements, he could simply go to the proper authorities; a walled city of very definite proportions. 2. This " i. Would not need physical walls, for God would be her protection (v. 5). 3. This " cattle within..." (ibid.). i. Symbolic of the all inclusiveness of this " ii. Isaiah said men of "all nations" would come into this kingdom
(2:2-4).
iii. A universal kingdom, for "sea to sea, from the river even unto the ends of the earth" (Zech. ). iv. It would be a "strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks" (Isa. 26:1). v. It would be a city whose "walls will be called Salvation, and thy gates Peace" (Isa. 60:18). C. Fulfillment of these (and other) prophecies: 1. Found in God's spiritual kingdom, ruled over by God's ideal king, Jesus Christ (Acts ). 2. The greatness of this " i. Composed of all the saved (Acts ; Eph. ). ii. Displays the great wisdom of God (Eph. ). D. What is your attitude toward it? 1. Only time you think about it is on Sunday, or perhaps Wednesday night? 2. Wonder during the week how things are going with it? 3. Mind so filled with mundane things that no room is there for the 4. We urge all: "Let Jerusalem come into your mind!" III. A THIRD WAY THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK OF " A. See Revelation 3:12. 1. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem , which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." i. This " B. See Revelation 21:1-2.
1. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." i. Again, a reference to heaven! ii. Note description of how it will be (Rev. 21:3-4). iii. See also Rev. 21:10. C. What is your mindset toward this great " 1. Is it some ethereal, faroff place to merely dream about? 2. Do we truly believe such a place exists? 3. Or, do we have Abraham's attitude toward it (Heb. )? i. How often do you think about heaven (cf. Phil. 4:8). 4. We urge all: "Let CONCLUSION: Does "Jerusalem" in which you now live come often to your mind? How about the “new Jerusalem” that John spoke of? Do you think often about it? With
minds so distracted by worldly things, it may well be that we often fail to "let Jerusalem come into our minds." May such never be the case. Spiritual people dwell on spiritual things, and God's spiritual kingdom now, and that great one after awhile, ought to occupy our minds above all else. |
