Blog Detail

Notes for ‘Thoughts on Jerusalem.’ – (Part #1)                                            Pg#1
— Study from the song, ‘The Holy City’ …(lyrics below)

Suggested answer sheet found at end of this questionaire… (KRK)

Stanza 1. Last night I lay a sleeping, There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem, Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing, And ever as they sang,
Methought the voice of angels, From Heav’n in answer rang;

Methought the voice of angels, From Heav’n in answer rang:—

Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift… up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to your King!

 

Stanza 2. And then methought my dream was changed, The streets no longer rang,
Hushed were the glad hosannas, The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery, The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose, Upon a lonely hill,
As the shadow of a cross arose, Upon a lonely hill.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Hark! how the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to your King.

 

Stanza 3. And once again the scene was changed, New earth there seem’d to be,
I saw the Holy City, Beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets, The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter, And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night, Or sun to shine by day,
It was the new Jerusalem, That would not pass away,
It was the new Jerusalem, That would not pass away.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Sing, for the night is o’er!
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna for evermore!
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna for evermore!

Author: Anonymous.

 

‘Thoughts on Jerusalem.’ – (Part #1)                Pg#2

Let’s allow these lyrics to lead us into a study the city of Jerusalem from God’s Word.

1st Kings 11:9-13 (ERV) So Solomon did not remain faithful to the LORD, the God of Israel, even though God had appeared to him twice. The LORD became angry with him.  (10)  He had told Solomon that he must not follow other gods, but Solomon did not obey the LORD’S command.  (11)  So the LORD said to Solomon, “You have chosen to break your agreement with me. You have not obeyed my commands. So I promise that I will tear your kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.  (12)  But I loved your father David, so I will not take your kingdom away from you while you are alive. I will wait until your son becomes king. Then I will take it from him.  (13)  Still, I will not tear away all the kingdom from your son. I will leave him one tribe to rule. I will do this for my servant David and for Jerusalem, the city I chose.”

— God led king David to choose Jerusalem as the capital which promoted unity among the tribes of Israel, as it was a neutral site not previously dominated by any single tribe.
— And David not only established Jerusalem as the political capital, but also the spiritual heart of Israel, when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem… (SEE: 2nd Samuel 6:12-15).

Q1. What does this tell us of the disputes over Jerusalem in the time of David, and today?

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Q2. Can we gain any confidence of God’s purpose in our own lives from His faithful claim on

His chosen city of Jerusalem?                 …YES ☐ …NO ☐

Q3. If you chose YES, why does this give you confidence in God today?

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

— From Vs. 9-10 above, we find the reason Solomon fell into disfavor with God was that he brought false gods (idol worship) into the kingdom.

Q4. What might that teach us about our own walk with God?

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Q5. Can you think of anything in our lives today that might be like this idol worship?

(Things that distract us from putting our trust in God.)

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

Now let’s see how these lyrics from the first stanza of this song line up with scripture…  Pg#3

Stanza 1. Last night I lay a sleeping, There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem, Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing, And ever as they sang,
Methought the voice of angels, From Heav’n in answer rang;

Methought the voice of angels, From Heav’n in answer rang:—

Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift… up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to your King!

(Here are scriptures which support the idea contained in these lyrics.)

SEE: John 12:12-16 (ERV) The next day the people in Jerusalem heard that Jesus was coming there. These were the crowds of people who had come to the Passover festival.  (13)  They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Jesus. They shouted, “‘Praise Him!’ ‘Welcome! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ God bless the King of Israel!”  (14)  Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, as the Scriptures say,  (15)  “Do not be afraid, people of Zion! Look! Your king is coming. He is riding on a young donkey.”  (16)  The followers of Jesus did not understand at that time what was happening. But after he was raised to glory, they understood that this was written about him. Then they remembered that they had done these things for him.

First let’s find the reference for Vs.15-16 above…

Zechariah 9:9-10 (ERV) People of Zion, rejoice! People of Jerusalem, shout with joy! Look, your king is coming to you! He is the good king who won the victory, but he is humble. He is riding on a donkey, on a young donkey born from a work animal.  (10)  I will take the war chariots away from Ephraim and the horse soldiers from Jerusalem. I will destroy the bows used in war. Your king will bring news of peace to the nations. He will rule from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

Q6. As in John 12:16, are we also at times reminded that God keeps his Word? …YES ☐  NO ☐

Q7. Who was the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9-10 pointing ahead to? ______________________

Q8. Can you think of anything that would motivate this crowd to sing these praises to Jesus?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Q9. Is (are) the answer(s) to Q8 able to lead us to follow God’s plans today?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Q10. Does God’s faithfulness to His Word give us confidence in God working in our lives today?

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Let’s always remember to take this confidence into our times of prayer…(KRK)

______________________

Suggested answers for: ‘Thoughts on Jerusalem.’ – (Part #1)                                                                              Pg#2

Let’s allow these lyrics to lead us into a study the city of Jerusalem from God’s Word.

1st Kings 11:9-13 (ERV) So Solomon did not remain faithful to the LORD, the God of Israel, even though God had appeared to him twice. The LORD became angry with him.  (10)  He had told Solomon that he must not follow other gods, but Solomon did not obey the LORD’S command.  (11)  So the LORD said to Solomon, “You have chosen to break your agreement with me. You have not obeyed my commands. So I promise that I will tear your kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.  (12)  But I loved your father David, so I will not take your kingdom away from you while you are alive. I will wait until your son becomes king. Then I will take it from him.  (13)  Still, I will not tear away all the kingdom from your son. I will leave him one tribe to rule. I will do this for my servant David and for Jerusalem, the city I chose.”

— God led king David to choose Jerusalem as the capital which promoted unity among the tribes of Israel, as it was a neutral site not previously dominated by any single tribe.
— And David not only established Jerusalem as the political capital, but also the spiritual heart of Israel, when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem… (SEE: 2nd Samuel 6:12-15).

Q1. What does this tell us of the disputes over Jerusalem in the time of David, and today?

– In David’s time the tribes disputed over choosing a capital.___Jerusalem has been chosen by God, therefore, what power on earth can succeed in keeping it from Israel’s possession?__________

Q2. Can we gain any confidence of God’s purpose in our own lives from His faithful claim on His chosen city of Jerusalem?

…YES ☒ …NO ☐

Q3. If you chose YES, why does this give you confidence in God today?

– We see that God does not want rivalry in His body of believers (the church) today either. ____

_This shows that God always keeps His Word, see how Jerusalem always returns to Israel’s possession. _ Just as Jerusalem has been chosen of God, so we are also His chosen people, and He also watches over us._

— From Vs. 9-10 above, we find the reason Solomon fell into disfavor with God was that he brought false gods (idol worship) into the kingdom.

Q4. What might that teach us about our own walk with God?

___We must also be careful not to let anything take priority over God’s will in our lives. ______

Q5. Can you think of anything in our lives today that might be like this idol worship?

(Things that distract us from putting our trust in God.)

___This is not just about ‘OBJECTS’, _________________ it is more about motivations, such as:
ambitions; finances; comfort; jealousies; anger; unforgiveness; health concerns…____________

____________________________

Now let’s see how these lyrics from the first stanza of this song line up with scripture…  Pg#3

Stanza 1. Last night I lay a sleeping, There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem, Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing, And ever as they sang,
Methought the voice of angels, From Heav’n in answer rang;

Methought the voice of angels, From Heav’n in answer rang:—

Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Lift… up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to your King!

(Here are scriptures which support the idea contained in these lyrics.)

SEE: John 12:12-16 (ERV) The next day the people in Jerusalem heard that Jesus was coming there. These were the crowds of people who had come to the Passover festival.  (13)  They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Jesus. They shouted, “‘Praise Him!’ ‘Welcome! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ God bless the King of Israel!”  (14)  Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, as the Scriptures say,  (15)  “Do not be afraid, people of Zion! Look! Your king is coming. He is riding on a young donkey.”  (16)  The followers of Jesus did not understand at that time what was happening. But after he was raised to glory, they understood that this was written about him. Then they remembered that they had done these things for him.

First let’s find the reference for Vs.15-16 above…

Zechariah 9:9-10 (ERV) People of Zion, rejoice! People of Jerusalem, shout with joy! Look, your king is coming to you! He is the good king who won the victory, but he is humble. He is riding on a donkey, on a young donkey born from a work animal.  (10)  I will take the war chariots away from Ephraim and the horse soldiers from Jerusalem. I will destroy the bows used in war. Your king will bring news of peace to the nations. He will rule from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

Q6. As in John 12:16, are we also at times reminded that God keeps his Word? …YES ☒  NO ☐

Q7. Who was the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9-10 pointing ahead to? _____ Jesus ____________

Q8. Can you think of anything that would motivate this crowd to sing these praises to Jesus?

__ Some may have been remembering the words of the prophet Zechariah. ___ The power of God’s Holy Spirit. (See what Jesus said in Luke 19:37-40); also upon Saul (1st Samuel 19:18-24.)

Q9. Is (are) the answer(s) to Q8 able to lead us to follow God’s plans today? ___ YES ___ God’s Word, and His Holy Spirit, are still able to help us understand His will in our lives today. _______

Q10. Does God’s faithfulness to His Word give us confidence in God working in our lives today?

_ Even looking back through history, we see God is faithful to keep His possession Jerusalem, as it always is returned to His chosen people. So too we are confident He is lovingly watching over us.

Let’s always remember to take this confidence into our times of prayer…