Praying for peace in Jerusalem

The steep slopes of the hills overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City appear peaceful enough today. But 50 years ago this week, these same hills saw some of the fiercest fighting in Jerusalem’s long and sometimes violent history.

Some would say those hills had seen a miracle during the days of June 5-10, 1967.

I’m back in Israel this week, observing a national celebration of one of the most famous wars in history. Indeed, as our most recent tour group visits dozens of biblical sites, it’s hard not to give biblical overtones to the Six-Day War.

Even as a young boy, I remember how concerned the adults in our church were as news stories unfolded in the weeks preceding the 1967 conflict.

Jesus had once told his followers what to watch for as end-times events approached. “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by her enemies,” Jesus had warned in Luke 21:20, “you will know that its desolation is near.”

Of all the confusing details that were reported in the news media in those days, one thing was crystal clear. The modern-day State of Israel — just 19 years old — was completely surrounded by her enemies!

Egypt rolled tanks into the Sinai Peninsula. Syria prepared for an attack from the Golan Heights in the north. Jordan, already possessing Jerusalem and large areas of land on the western side of the Jordan River, was also part of an Arab alliance determined to “push Israel into the sea.”

All of this happened under a cloud of international fear. The Cuban Missile Crisis, for instance, was only five years past. Nuclear war between American and Russia was an ever-present worry. With Israel facing an all-out attack, it seemed to be a fair question for readers of the Bible to ask. Was the end of the world eminent?

As it turns out, only the demise of the Egyptian Air Force was eminent. In a surprise blitz, Israeli jets attacked and destroyed practically the entire Egyptian Air Force. Once the skies belonged to Israel, the tables were turned and the Arab forces on the ground were at a distinct disadvantage.

By the end of the week, Israel had tripled the area of land it controlled and established itself as the dominant military force in the Middle East. It was one of the most surprising victories in modern military history.

But the most stunning of all events that week came on the hills surrounding Jerusalem, when Jewish commanders suddenly realized there was an opportunity to capture the city.

Jewish people had been exiled from Jerusalem for nearly 1,900 years. The Western Wall — the most revered site in the Jewish world — was completely off limits to them.

For two nights and a day, the hills around Jerusalem were marked by hand-to-hand combat in what was called the fiercest fighting of the week. On the third morning of the war, Jordanian forces retreated.

Jewish troops stormed through the Lion’s Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City and captured the Temple Mount. The photographs of Jewish storm troopers standing next to the ancient stones along the western side of the Temple Mount retaining wall are among the most famous news images from the 20th century.

Had you stood on the Mount of Olives where Jesus likely made his comments about end-times warning signs (Mark 13:3), you could have seen all of the events unfold in that first week of June, 50 years ago.

What a transformation, in only a week’s time!

Pastors of Christian churches struggled to take it all in. Was God’s hand protecting modern Israel the way he had so often rescued the tiny nation in ancient times? The same question was being asked in Tel Aviv as Jewish residents celebrated their feelings of divine blessing.

As for me, I will stand at the Western Wall this weekend praying again for the peace of Jerusalem. I will be praying with Jews and Christians alike, for people of all faiths are welcome at what is now known simply as “The Wall.”

Had it not been for the outcome of the Six-Day War, this would have simply not been possible.

This story was originally published June 8, 2017 at 7:21 AM with the headline "Praying for peace in Jerusalem."