His father Elyada is said to have been the first Israeli Jew to move back into the Jewish quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem following its restoration to Israel in the fabled 1967 Six Day War.  And reflecting the resilience of beauty even in times of war, just a few days after that, Elyada opened an art gallery there on the old Roman Cardo, the original north-south street in ancient towns, now sunken well below the current landscape of the modern city.

 It’s no surprise thus that Udi Merioz, Elyada’s son, became an artist as well, with his talents recognized not just in Israel but worldwide.  For in addition to becoming the curator of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Art Collection, Udi created artwork for the bicentennial Independence Celebration in the United States which still hangs today in the White House.

What is striking about his artwork, however, is the manner in which it is almost a “communicative language” in itself, as one has called it, embodying both the hope and courage that is a part of the Israeli national spirit.  His depiction of four young soldiers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, for instance, shows them not only huddled fervently in prayer together, but with both their weapons and a prayer shawl.  And the point is that at times we are called not just to pray but to fight as well, not for personal motivations or gain, but rather for goals that go beyond our own lives.  

It reminds us, as well, of the passage from Zechariah 4.6 that Udi Merioz has attached to the print, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.”  For it is in that sense that the people of Israel are now combatting not simply the forces of another nation, but those who embody Evil and the ancient enemy of us all, the prince of this world, as well.

Such is not to say that the Palestinian people do not deserve our support and attention, for they do.  They have suffered long, and much and humanitarian efforts are desperately needed.  And it is noteworthy to add that though it is greatly underreported, the Israelis themselves are providing much of that even now.

But the terrorists who have overtaken Gaza are nothing short of satanic in their brutality and singular desire not just to establish a Palestinian homeland, but to utterly obliterate the nation of Israel—“from the River to the Sea”—and indiscriminately kill all those who are Jewish.  There is no moral equivalency involved in that equation, and those who argue for such do so out of either ignorance, misinformed bigotry, or pure malevolence.  

All of which is why the ancient admonition of Psalm 122 to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” has never been more appropriate.  For the city whose name literally means “peaceful” is anything but that right now.  But God has a long history of faithfulness with Jerusalem and one day we are told that Christ will return to that very city to reign.

Until then, it is a time for faith and courage indeed, for “brave hearts again and strong arms,” as the hymnist once said.  For the Lord is looking for “watchmen on the walls” to call upon Him until God establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. (Isaiah 62.6)

And in that respect—if only with our prayers—perhaps all of us indeed have been called to be “Soldiers at the Wall.”

(Photo used by the kind permission of the artist. Copies of Udi Merioz’ work, “Soldiers at the Wall,” Artwork Serial Number 271, the most famous hand-signed print in Israel, are available through the gallery website at  www.BlueAndWhiteArt.com. )