“When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel” (23:1), and he also arranged and instructed all those who would serve at the temple, which Solomon would build: the Levites and their responsibilities, the priests, the temple musicians, the gatekeepers, the treasurers, officers, and judges. Now, Jerusalem would be not only the political capital of Israel but, also, it would be the place where God would meet with his people, the people and the tabernacle no longer having to move from place to place: “David said, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever. And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service’” (23:25-26).
How Jerusalem has, since, stood at the very center of human history! There is the earthly Jerusalem but, then, there is the heavenly Jerusalem, which John saw: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:1-5). Oh, my!
Jerusalem, my happy home,
When shall I come to thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end?
Your joys when shall I see?
O happy harbor of the saints,
O sweet and pleasant soil!
In you no sorrow may be found,
No grief, no care, no toil. --Joseph Bromehead (1790)
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