A Psalm for Peace
Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122 How I rejoiced when they said to me: “Let us go to the house of God!” When I heard it was time to go, I leapt up with joy like a young kid on Christmas! I could not wait to set forth! “Let us go to God’s place,” we shouted, for we hungered for it with all our being, for we knew what it was to be heart-broken, to bear witness to the world’s violence, to watch that which we love topple to the ground. And now, after journeying, our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem. Jerusalem restored! The city one united whole! Jerusalem, who represents God’s presence here on earth, has been restored, it has been re-built stone by stone, with rocks that will last, rocks of dignity, equality and justice. Here the tribes ascend, the tribes of God. They come to praise God’s Name, as God commanded Israel – Here, where the tribunals of justice are, the judgment seats of David’s house. The judgment seats are not what you expect. God’s judgment comes in form of mishpat, the Hebrew word for when the neediest, the marginalized, and those who no one cared for, are cared for. In Jerusalem restored, in God’s holy presence, the least of these are lifted up as bright, brilliant, beloved children of God who are beautiful to behold. In Jerusalem restored, those who dwelt in the darkness are seen, […]