Luke 19:41-48 | Psalm 48
Humans are fairly obsessed with cities. Have you noticed? When you really think about it, they are pretty amazing in terms of the ability for so many people to live so closely together. Architecture, transit, commerce - it’s pretty neat. Cities require systems to keep going and to be held together. It’s remarkable when it works.
But God in scripture doesn’t seem to care as much. Babel, Sodom/Gomorrah, Ninevah…even Jerusalem in the end was propped up more by Solomon, David, and their followers than it was by Yahweh.
And Jesus’ relationship with cities is less than one might think it is. The vast majority of his life was spent in the countryside and small villages. There’s nothing overly salvific to take from this, but it is interesting. As important as Jerusalem was and is, Jesus spent little time there. He surely went for festivals - probably even annually. He died, was resurrected, and ascended there or thereupon the outskirts. But the bulk of his ministry was throughout the land of the Galilee. He lived during a time of the Roman Empire when cities were something else. But he never went to Rome and barely skirted around the edges of Caesarea Philippi.
Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem is a powerful thing. There seems to be something about the city that he laments, a blindness toward God from deep within.
As you read this passage, consider:
How do we know God? What blocks our vision from seeing God?
Luke 19:41-48
As Jesus came to the city and observed it, he wept over it. He said, “If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes. The time will come when your enemies will build fortifications around you, encircle you, and attack you from all sides. They will crush you completely, you and the people within you. They won’t leave one stone on top of another within you, because you didn’t recognize the time of your gracious visit from God.”
When Jesus entered the temple, he threw out those who were selling things there. He said to them, “It’s written, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a hideout for crooks.”
Jesus was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests, the legal experts, and the foremost leaders among the people were seeking to kill him. However, they couldn’t find a way to do it because all the people were enthralled with what they heard.
Psalm 48
In the city belonging to our God,
the Lord is great and so worthy of praise!
His holy mountain is a beautiful summit,
the joy of the whole world.
Mount Zion, in the far north,
is the city of the great king.
God is in its fortifications,
revealing himself as a place of safety.
Look: the kings assembled themselves,
advancing all together—
when they saw it, they were stunned;
they panicked and ran away frightened.
Trembling took hold of them right there—
like a woman giving birth,
or like the east wind when it smashes
the ships of Tarshish.
Just like we had heard,
now we’ve seen it for ourselves
in the city of the Lord of heavenly forces,
in the city of our God.
May God make it secure forever! Selah
We dwell on your faithful love, God,
in your temple.
Your praise, God, just like your reputation,
extends to the far corners of the earth.
Your strong hand is filled with righteousness.
Let Mount Zion be glad;
let the towns of Judah rejoice
because of your acts of justice!
Walk around Zion;
go all the way around it;
count its towers.
Examine its defenses closely;
tour its fortifications
so that you may tell future generations:
“This is God,
our God, forever and always!
He is the one who will lead us
even to the very end.”
Prayer
God,
What impresses you? Does anything impress you? When the Eiffel Tower was completed, did you care? …the Taj Mahal? Come on, I know you’ve seen the Golden Gate Bridge. You gave us these minds and abilities. Do you enjoy watching us build?
Something tells me that you care more about other things we do. Human grandiosity does not move you unless it’s a thing of the heart.
In a way, God, this comforts me. I need not accomplish Rome to have your attention and care.
So help me to build a large love and a considerate compassion. May the pillars of my life be found in the things of your spirit, gifts of an open heart and giving hands.
So help me, God.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.