This is a bit of a play on words. Salem meaning 'peace' and Jerusalem being 'the city of peace'. This peace must be achievable otherwise David would not have been inspired to write it. But the world at present does not know peace.

In January 2015 it will be the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. That event seems emblematic of the conflict and lack of peace there was in the 20th Century. In many ways it's not so long ago that the world was involved in such a conflict that allowed such extreme persecution of certain groups especially God's elect. Therefore it is not such a big surprise to see the Middle East still enduring conflicts which are leading to many deaths.

At a recent local production of 'Fiddler on the roof', an actor gave the words, 'wouldn't this be a good time for Messiah to return?'. One can wonder whether the other theatregoers had similar thoughts go through their minds.

One of the closing scenes in this production the matchmaker fleeing the pogrom in Russia decides to return to Jerusalem. Therefore you can understand why people chose to move there in recent centuries. Many more have returned to Israel since the events of 1945.

Habakkuk is a prophetic book which has been describing the troubles of Israel and the world, but also bringing the message of hope that things will get better in due time. We rejoice in that message of hope Habakkuk and the other prophets bring to us this day.

Psalm 122 is a psalm of David when Israel still had the ark of the covenant in the Tabernacle, however it still remained for his son Solomon to build the Temple, 'the House of the LORD' in Jerusalem. At this time the people of Israel went up to Jerusalem three times a year for festivals, such as Passover, hence in many ways it represented Israel as a whole and was the Centre point of their nation.

But what does this mean to Christians today? We are like 'Solomon's Temple' or 'the house of the Lord', enjoying a covenant relationship with God, who will make up the New Jerusalem. The second part of Psalm 122.6 (YLT) reads, "At rest are those loving thee." We are at rest and at peace having heard the Good News and now stand fast in the love of God.

Our prayers for the world at this time can be to pray, 'thy kingdom come' being the remedy for our own problems as well as the whole world of mankind.