Jerusalem: City of Peace or Controversy?

Salem, as the ancient city of Yerushalayim was once known, has had seventy different names throughout its long history. It has also engendered more controversy than any other city the world has ever known.

True to form Jerusalem continues to be the focus of world attention as a May 11, 2015 headlines shows: US Slams Israel’s Plan to Build in Jerusalem.

Historically, Jerusalem’s geographical location, on the land bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe, bestowed strategic importance on this tiny capital. But the advent of airplanes and super tankers would seem to banish Jerusalem to relative obscurity, save for a pesky connection to the sacred.

Interestingly, its importance, in the age of micro processes and speed measured in nanoseconds, makes it more central to world events than it has ever been. And why is that?

Certainly we are too sophisticated, especially in the techno-savvy west, to believe ancient myths and legends, yet Jerusalem remains the epicenter of the world’s attention. With no disrespect to Washington, London, Paris, or other renowned world capitals, this tiny capital city in this diminutive country of Israel holds the world’s attention as unceasing diplomatic efforts attempt to forge a peace that seems elusive.

All the while, failed efforts echo down the empty hall of history—of lessons not learned—with the world’s demands for one last effort and sacrifice which is usually, if we’re being honest, predominantly being demanded of the Jews. I’m sure, as I’ve read somewhere, they haven’t sacrificed enough already.

There’s an old saying about those who forget history. So perhaps it’s a good thing, even a very good thing, there is One that does not forget, who is biding His time until He reminds us what history has failed to teach us.

In his debut novel Torn Blood, David J. Bain takes you into an Israel you never knew, where reality is harder than the Jerusalem stone that adorns her buildings, as long-entrenched enemies vie for a city in a land where compromise is viewed as surrender and surrender is worse than death.