[Apologetics] 14 Biblical Names for Jerusalem (and How to Read the Psalms like a Catholic)

[Dianne Dawson]

Monday, June 06, 2011 
 
14 
Biblical Names for Jerusalem (and How to Read the Psalms like a Catholic)  
Posted by Taylor Marshall   
 
Below are fourteen names for Jerusalem. Recall 
that it is Catholic Tradition to speak of Heaven as the New Jerusalem and so 
these titles apply also to Heaven, which is the eternal City of 
God.

Saint Paul identifies the communion of saints in Heaven as 
"Jerusalem" and as our mother: “But that Jerusalem which is above is free, which 
is our mother” (Galatians 4:26, D-R).

This is another reason why 
Catholics refer to the Church as the New Jerusalem and as Holy Mother Church. When Catholic priests, monks, and nuns chant the 150 
Psalms of David, they often mentally apply the meaning of "Heaven" or "Church" 
to those passages that refer to "Jerusalem." Saint Paul's use of allegory in 
Galatians serves as an interpretive key to reading the Old Testament in a 
spiritual way.

In the Psalms, Jerusalem = Heaven. David = Christ. 
Sufferings of David = Sufferings of Christ. Sacrifice = the Mass. Thanksgiving = 
Eucharist. Priests = Priests. This makes the Psalms one of the most 
Christological books on the Old Testament and they very heart of New Testament 
worship.

Below are the various titles of Jerusalem in the Old 
Testament.
1. The city of David 2 Sam. 6:12

2. The city of the 
great king Matt. 5:35

3. The holy city Isa. 48:2; 52:1; Matt. 
4:5

4. Salem, which means "peace" Gen. 14:18

5. The city of God 
Ps. 46:4; 48:1; 87:3

6. The city of the Lord of hosts Ps. 48:8

7. 
The city of righteousness Isa. 1:26

8. The city of truth Zech. 
8:3

9. The city of the Lord Isa. 60:14

10. The perfection of 
beauty Lam. 2:15

11. The joy of the whole earth Lam. 2:15

12. The 
Lord our righteousness Jer. 23:6; 33:16

13. The Lord is there Ezek. 
48:35

14. Ariel, the hearth of God Isa. 29:1



Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.
Ps 42:1
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