SATURDAY 2 July, 2016
A Cities Stones
Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.” - 2 Samuel 17:13
Hushai described to Absalom how pointless it would be for David if he retreated into a city. With all of Israel behind him they would use ropes and if need be, pull the city down stone by stone. Notice their persistency, there was no safe haven or fortified city that could keep him safe.
Jerusalem is regarded as a holy city. Our Lord, even as a child, often visited there; it was a city He loved and wept over. Being God, He knew the future of this ‘City of Peace’ and prophetically told his disciples of its destruction:
…Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it… For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation” - (Luke 19:41-44).
Just as Jesus said in AD 70, forty years later, Roman armies under Titus lay siege to the city. The temple was set on fire. As it burned the gold from the temple melted from the fierce heat and settled in the massive stones. The soldiers greedy for the precious gold ordered the temple walls to be taken down stone by stone so the gold could be extracted.
Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt in history––but this earthly city is a shadow of a heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, a glorious city built with precious stones that will be our dwelling place for all eternity.
And the foundations of the wall of the city
were garnished with all manner of precious stones.
~Revelation 21:19~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!