The Nugget:
Psalm 122:6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (KJV)
Psalm 122:6. Pray now for the peace of Jerusalem: and let there be prosperity to them that love thee. (LXX, Brenton translation)
Psalm 122:6. Pray for all that brings Jerusalem peace! May all who love thee dwell at ease! (Ronald Knox translation)
Psalm 122:6. O make prayers for the peace of Jerusalem; may they whose love is given to you do well. (Basic English Bible)
Psalm 122:6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love her prosper! (Net Bible)
Psalm 122:6. Jerusalem, we pray that you will have peace, and that all will go well for those who love you. (Contemporary English Version)
My Comment:
Psalm 122:6 is not a controversial verse for those who have studied and understood the Bible correctly. But there are many today who find the idea uncomfortable that we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem as well as pray for our own political leadership in these currently very troubled times. Many, including the Pope, believe such prayers are mistaken.
The Bible is very clear that when God makes an everlasting covenant with an individual, such as Abraham, or with a nation, such as Israel, He will not break the covenant or transfer its benefits to someone else or to another group, not even the New Testament Church.
There are those who believe in “Covenant theology.” The problem with Covenant theology is that it is not based on the named Covenants (Abrahamic and Davidic) found in the Bible, but upon imagined covenants (the covenant of works, the covenant of grace, the covenant of redemption) nowhere stated in any verse or passage of Scripture and not derivable by necessary inference from the Bible itself. These imaginary covenants were developed in some theological systems of thought to meet the exigencies of those mistaken systems.
Some Bible readers correctly understand that God’s covenant promises to Abraham and to the nation of Israel are irrevocable (Romans 11:29, ESV). This is stated clearly in Romans 11:25, 26, 27, 28, 29.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (KJV)
Rom 11:25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
Rom 11:27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
Rom 11:28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (ESV)
Paul knew the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures well: far better than most modern Bible translators and commentary writers! The key to properly understand what Paul has written is to search out just what passages and promises of Scripture he is referencing.
Here are some of the clearest relevant passages I have found that emphasize that God will never abandon the nation of Israel but will see to it that the promises He has given them will ultimately be fulfilled to Abraham personally and to the nation of Israel specifically:
Romans 11:1. I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Genesis 17:7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Leviticus 26:42. Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
Leviticus 26:44. And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.
Leviticus 26:45. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.
1 Samuel 12:22. For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
1 Kings 11:39. And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
Psalm 89:34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Isaiah 41:8. But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
Isa 41:9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. [Emphasis added]
Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isa 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
Isa 41:12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
Isa 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isaiah 54:10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Malachi 3:6. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.