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Day 181

Luke 13 :31-35 "A DEEP LAMENT FOR JERUSALEM"

Day 181 – Luke 13

Text: Luke 13 :31-35

A DEEP LAMENT FOR JERUSALEM

In order to fully appreciate the lament that Jesus made over Jerusalem, let’s do a little research about this ancient city.

1. Jerusalem was originally a city-stronghold of the Jebusites. It was so well defended that there was a proverbial saying that even the “lame and the blind” could defend the city (Cf. 2 Samuel 5).

2. It was captured by David’s army. The King then made it the capital of Israel. Jerusalem was called, “Zion, the city of David” (2 Samuel 5:9).

3. The Ark of the Lord was brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6).

4. In time to come, the Temple of Solomon was constructed in Jerusalem.

5. When the Temple was dedicated, the glory of the Lord filled it so powerfully, that the priests could not enter in (2 Chronicles 7).

6. God promised Solomon that should he and his sons walk faithfully in His ways, they would never lack a king to it on the throne. However, if they should ever desert God, and turn to idols, then the Lord would uproot the people, and He would cast even the beautiful Temple out of His sight (2 Chronicles 7:19-22).

THE PUNISHMENT OF ISRAEL FOR ITS APOSTASY

Sadly, the words of the Lord to Solomon were soon forgotten – by none other than King Solomon himself! He fell into idolatry (Cf. 1 Kings 11:1-8). God showed great kindness and mercy to Solomon, and did not destroy the nation – for David’s sake (1 Kings 11:12-13).

In the reign of his son, Rehoboam however, Israel became two nations. The kingdom was split into two. The larger kingdom in the north was called Israel. The capital of the northern kingdom was Samaria. The smaller kingdom in the south was called Judah (Cf. 1 Kings 12). The capital was Jerusalem.

The northern kingdom practised idolatry until it was put away by God. Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 BC (Cf. 2 Kings 17). The southern kingdom continued to exist for a while more, before it also was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. (2 Kings 25).

Jerusalem had a chequered history. There were high moments, but they were very few. It always remained the capital city of the southern kingdom, but by and large it was a city forsaken by God.

Jeremiah wept much over Jerusalem. His famous dirge for Jerusalem was recorded in the Book of Lamentations,

“How lonely sits the city
That was full of people!
How like a widow is she,
Who was great among the nations!”
Lamentations 1:1

A NEW AND DEEP LOVE FOR JERUSALEM

It wasn’t till the fall of Jerusalem, and all Jews went into captivity, did a great and passionate love for the old capital begin to take root in the hearts of those exiled. Typical of the patriotic love for Jerusalem that many exiled Jews had may be found in Psalm 137.

“By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down; yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion…

If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget her skill!
If I do not remember you,
Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth –
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.”
Psalm 137:1, 5-6

This love for Jerusalem continued to grip the imagination of all Jews. Some were even fanatical in their love for their beloved city. This phenomenon of love for Jerusalem continued right up to the days of Jesus.

AN INSIDIOUS ASPECT OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM

Jesus understood the love that men may have for their country. Jerusalem, the capital, was loved. It wasn’t just Jerusalem that was loved. The Jews loved their nation! Their nationalistic passion for Jerusalem sometimes blinded them from admitting that there was a dark and insidious past.

The lament of Jesus provides an important insight. Let us consider why Jesus lamented, as Jeremiah the prophet did, when He gazed upon the city. It had an illustrious beginning, but before too long, shadows of sin darkened and blighted the history of this erstwhile great “city of David”.

1. It was a city that killed the prophets of God (Luke 13:34)

2. It was a city that was not willing to be gathered by Jesus to listen to God’s Word (Luke 13:34).

“SEE! YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT TO YOU DESOLATE…” Luke 13:35

Once again, solemn words were pronounced against Jerusalem. Jesus prophesied the ruin of Jerusalem because the city was steeped in the ways of sin. It had killed prophets in the past, and it would add to its notoriety when it finally killed its Messiah!

With these words, Jesus turned Himself to minister to other cities in the Judean region. He would not minister in Jerusalem, because it had proven itself unworthy of His Presence!

They would see Jesus… when He made His triumphal entry into the city (Luke 13:35). Jerusalem would not benefit from His preaching, teaching and healing ministries. They did not know how to appreciate and value the worth of the promised Messiah. Some of the leaders had even rudely sought to chase Jesus away (Luke 13:31)!