Scripture
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
13 All
of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a
distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were
strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But
as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has
prepared a city for them. (NRSV)
Devotion
Recently, I came across a YouTube video of several Swiss churches participating in the Jerusalema Challenge. The challenge (which began on TikTok but quickly spread to other platforms) is simple:groups of people record themselves dancing to South African DJ and producer Master KG's song "Jerusalema" and them post it to the internet. The basic choreography comes from the group Fenómenos do Semba (a group in Angola who recorded themselves doing a well-known wedding dance to the song). With just a few clicks, you can see Austrian airline workers, Romanian firefighters, Irish police officers, and Brazilian beach-goers all adding their own cultural flare to the African dance moves and Zulu lyrics. Churches all around the world have joined the challenge as a way of praising God.
It only took about 30 seconds of watching my first "Jerusalema" video for me to fall in love with it. Once I saw a translations of the lyrics, I loved it even more. The song calls Jerusalem (and not the place we are now) our true home. Then, it asks God to not leave us here but to rescue us. While the request itself is plaintive, the upbeat music and celebratory dance move shows that the singer and dancers do not feel despair. Instead, they rejoice in the promise that God will help them reach that promised homeland...that city of God.
Referring to Jerusalem or a "holy city" as our true home is not a new concept. Because Mount Zion and the Temple are located in Jerusalem, it is a focal point Hebrew life and faith. To be in Jerusalem was to be in the presence of God. Whenever the people were attacked or deported as slaves, they longed to return to the land where God dwells. No other land could be their true home.
Scripture also frequently uses the Jersualem to talk about the coming Reign of God. The prophets speak of a throne descending from on high and of people from every nation coming to live with God forever in that special city. Revelation even talks about a "new Jerusalem" descending from Heaven.
When the author of Hebrews refers to the city of God--the city that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all longed to see built--they are looking forward to the time when God's promised reign finally begins. On that day, all the world will become like one great country, and the faithful of every time and place will finally see all of God's promises fulfilled. Until that day arrives, we must be like our ancestors--living like foreigners seeking a homeland and keeping our eyes focused on the vision of that perfect realm that shines in the distance. Having faith in that joyful vision will enable us to keep traveling down the paths God sets before us.
The song "Jersualema" expresses joy in God's promise that wherever we live, whatever Christ calls us to do, and whenever we take our last breath, God will not leave us where we are. There will come a day when we awaken to discover that God's promises have come to fruition and that we have finally arrived in the Kin-dom of God that we spent so long seeing from afar. On that great day, we will be find ourselves alongside people from India to Switzerland, Brazil to Ireland...and all the places in between. There will be people of all races, all ethnicities, all genders, all classes, all denominations, and all walks of life. We will dance with Catholic nurses and Reformed pastors...with nuns who ran feeding programs and laity who taught schools. And we will raise our arms and our voices with joy, because we will finally understand how our own small part in doing Christ's work fits in with the vast global "dance" that has slowly built up God's Kin-dom on Earth.
As we continue through the season of Lent, let us live in hopeful anticipation of the Kin-dom to Come. The fulfillment of God's promises may seem like a far-off dream, but as long as we hold onto our faith and keep moving forward in our journey, that dream will become a reality. And as we continue that journey may our actions in the world continue to reflect that joy in our hearts. And let us all celebrate our both our unity and our diversity as we each do our part to contribute to Christ's dance.
Prayer
Today's prayer is watching at least one "Jersualema" video. Option 1 is from a collection of Swiss churches celebrating ecumenism. Option 2 shows Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood carrying out various ministries in Africa. Option 3 comes from India, where the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church Youth Council celebrates the diversity found throughout their nation. The translation of the Zulu lyrics can be found below the videos.
Song translation:
Jerusalem is my home
Guide me
Take me with You
Do not leave me here
Jerusalem is my home
Guide me
Take me with you
Do not leave me here
My place is not here
My kingdom is not here
Guide me
Take me with You
My place is not here
My kingdom is not here
Guide me
Take me with You
Guide me
Guide me
Guide me
Do not leave me here
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