For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” – Psalm 122:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 14, 2019): Psalm 122 & 123

Albert Einstein argued that “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” And yet, our natural path seems to be one of trying to force our opponents into peace. We spend so little time trying to understand each other and trying to comprehend that we all share very similar needs and dreams. It doesn’t seem to matter the arena in which we are fighting. We keep fighting. If understanding is the path to peace, then it is a path that we seem to struggle to find.

And one of the global arenas in which we have long sought for peace is in the Middle East. The Middle East has long been a place of struggle and war. It has also been an area of our world where there has been a lack of understanding. We continually see images dance across our news screens of the latest violence in the area; of missile and bullets being fired back and forth across imaginary lines in the dirt. And there seems to be just a declaration of want from each of the combatants, rather than a desire to understand and for peace.

David longed for Jerusalem to be a place of peace. To keep Jerusalem in a state of peace, he worked hard to push the borders of the nation further and further away from the city. He created puppet states around the edges of Israel so that there would be a further buffer to keep his city secure. David had the power to keep his city safe, but that power proved to be an illusion. Without understanding, the city could never experience real peace.

Today, Jerusalem is a divided city, and often a place of potential violence. I am one of the many friends of Israel around the world, even if I am not a Jew. But I am also one of the ones who urge caution with any moves in the Middle East. For instance, I do not believe that moving Israel’s capital city from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem is an appropriate move because it seems that such a move could only increase the tension rather than help to provide understanding. And in the end, it is only understanding that can give lasting peace.

And so we continue to pray for peace. We want peace for Israel. But peace for Israel also means peace for the Palestinian States. And it means an increased understanding that in a global world, we are all global residents, living in the same neighborhood, with an innate need to be seen and understood.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 124 & 125