Piotrków-Trybunalski, PolandSunday, May 24, 2009
.
First Jewish Ghetto in Poland
Our warfare prayer team went to lunch together at Tina’s Pizza right after the church service today. Then we chose another couple of historic sites to pray at. If you remember from a previous post on our blog that there was a revelation given to someone a while back while they were praying in Piotrków-Trybunalski about two events that had taken place in the history of this city that had saddened God; (1) The counter-Reformation that began at the Church of Saint James [which our team had previously prayed at], and (2) The anti-Semitism that began in a certain part of town here in Piotrków-Trybunalski. If you take a look at the close-up photo [below] of our spiritual map of the city, you will see the approximate area of Poland’s first Jewish ghetto in a green circle. I find it is very significant that, once again, Piotrków-Trybunalski, the city that God has drawn us to as missionaries in Poland, was the city that had the first Jewish ghetto in all of Poland. So in a sense, you could say that the open door to mass anti-Semitism in the rest of Poland had its’ roots here in this city.
.
As we walked and prayed around this area, the sense of despair and hopelessness were in the air. The buildings are run down and inhabited by some of the poorest people of the city. The streets are blocked off in many places. Anti-Semitist graffiti is all around. If you close your eyes you could imagine yourself being in that very place about 70 years ago. The sights and sounds of what must have been happening then are haunting to think about.
As we walked and prayed around this area, the sense of despair and hopelessness were in the air. The buildings are run down and inhabited by some of the poorest people of the city. The streets are blocked off in many places. Anti-Semitist graffiti is all around. If you close your eyes you could imagine yourself being in that very place about 70 years ago. The sights and sounds of what must have been happening then are haunting to think about.
.
Some impressions that I had as we walked and prayed: An image from something I have read in the Scriptures had come to me. It had to do with the fall of Babylon. Revelation 8:2 says, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!” (NKJV) I know that this isn’t the context of what is happening here in Revelation. But as I walked and prayed through what was the Jewish ghetto, on one hand I saw a place of desolation. There were tons of birds making their homes in run-down buildings. I think about the demonic spirits that must have been running rampant in this area in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s due to the mass hatred of God’s chosen people and the horrible things done to them. I wonder how many of those demons are still hanging out here today. On the other hand, I saw a small cement canal going directly through the center of once was the Jewish ghetto. I heard that this was once a beautiful river that the queen would even travel on by boat. Then I thought of another passage from Revelation about the New Jerusalem which descends from heaven to earth at the end of time. Revelation 22:1-2 says, “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (NKJV) I thought about the fact that this entire area had to do with Jews. And the symbolism between the New Jerusalem, its’ river flowing through the middle, and the healing of the nations became overwhelming to me. On one hand, I saw the desolation, and on the other hand, I felt that the heart of God was to restore what had been made desolate. In fact, there are other evidences in this place that this restoration is taking place.
Some impressions that I had as we walked and prayed: An image from something I have read in the Scriptures had come to me. It had to do with the fall of Babylon. Revelation 8:2 says, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!” (NKJV) I know that this isn’t the context of what is happening here in Revelation. But as I walked and prayed through what was the Jewish ghetto, on one hand I saw a place of desolation. There were tons of birds making their homes in run-down buildings. I think about the demonic spirits that must have been running rampant in this area in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s due to the mass hatred of God’s chosen people and the horrible things done to them. I wonder how many of those demons are still hanging out here today. On the other hand, I saw a small cement canal going directly through the center of once was the Jewish ghetto. I heard that this was once a beautiful river that the queen would even travel on by boat. Then I thought of another passage from Revelation about the New Jerusalem which descends from heaven to earth at the end of time. Revelation 22:1-2 says, “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (NKJV) I thought about the fact that this entire area had to do with Jews. And the symbolism between the New Jerusalem, its’ river flowing through the middle, and the healing of the nations became overwhelming to me. On one hand, I saw the desolation, and on the other hand, I felt that the heart of God was to restore what had been made desolate. In fact, there are other evidences in this place that this restoration is taking place.
.
In the natural, you will see on the far side of this area, giant back-hoes and tractors carving out a channel in the middle of the street. When I asked what was going on, I was told that for the first time ever, the city is putting in a sewer system for all of the buildings in the area. I totally see what was taking place 70 years ago as an “ethnic cleansing” of the Jewish race in this area. As I prayed more about this, I felt as though the Lord wanted a cleansing to take place of all the spiritual garbage that had taken place in the past. In the natural, the sewer system being installed in this area is a literal removal of garbage and filth. I believe that God would want this to be manifest in the spiritual, and this is how we prayed. We were also near a field that was the main part of the ghetto. There were many trees there. As we prayed, I looked up because a strong breeze began to blow the tops of these trees. I thought of the Holy Spirit wanting to blow through this place. As the wind picked up, it carried a ton of pollen through the air that is visible to the eye (of course this didn’t do my allergies any good). I then thought about the new life that God wants to bring to this place that has been known for death. Hope is in the air. And God is in the business of redeeming all things back to Himself. May it be so at this historic place. Also noteworthy is the fact that the film, “Jakub the Liar,” with Robin Williams was filmed here.
In the natural, you will see on the far side of this area, giant back-hoes and tractors carving out a channel in the middle of the street. When I asked what was going on, I was told that for the first time ever, the city is putting in a sewer system for all of the buildings in the area. I totally see what was taking place 70 years ago as an “ethnic cleansing” of the Jewish race in this area. As I prayed more about this, I felt as though the Lord wanted a cleansing to take place of all the spiritual garbage that had taken place in the past. In the natural, the sewer system being installed in this area is a literal removal of garbage and filth. I believe that God would want this to be manifest in the spiritual, and this is how we prayed. We were also near a field that was the main part of the ghetto. There were many trees there. As we prayed, I looked up because a strong breeze began to blow the tops of these trees. I thought of the Holy Spirit wanting to blow through this place. As the wind picked up, it carried a ton of pollen through the air that is visible to the eye (of course this didn’t do my allergies any good). I then thought about the new life that God wants to bring to this place that has been known for death. Hope is in the air. And God is in the business of redeeming all things back to Himself. May it be so at this historic place. Also noteworthy is the fact that the film, “Jakub the Liar,” with Robin Williams was filmed here.
.
Jewish Synagogue
After we walked around what was once the first Jewish ghetto in Poland, we ended our prayer walk at the Jewish synagogue which is at the outer edge of the ghetto area. It is actually amazing that this synagogue still stands today, as most of them were destroyed by the Germans during their occupation of Poland. Interesting enough, the synagogue is on “Jerusalem Street” (remember what I mentioned earlier about the New Jerusalem). Currently, the public library for Piotrków-Trybunalski is housed here in the synagogue. But another interesting thing about what is taking place at this time is that the city is finding another location to build a library so that the synagogue can be given back to the Jews. In my opinion, this is yet another sign of the times. Perhaps in the natural, all that is happening is a building being given back to its’ people. But I believe that what could take place in the spiritual is a transference of kingdoms and the possibility of redemption and reconciliation, which is so near to the heart of God. I told the Lord that I was so sorry for what had taken place to His people so many years ago. I hope that more public humility and repentance on behalf of the people here in this city will take place, and that God would cause His face to shine upon this city.
.
Christian Young
Jewish Synagogue
After we walked around what was once the first Jewish ghetto in Poland, we ended our prayer walk at the Jewish synagogue which is at the outer edge of the ghetto area. It is actually amazing that this synagogue still stands today, as most of them were destroyed by the Germans during their occupation of Poland. Interesting enough, the synagogue is on “Jerusalem Street” (remember what I mentioned earlier about the New Jerusalem). Currently, the public library for Piotrków-Trybunalski is housed here in the synagogue. But another interesting thing about what is taking place at this time is that the city is finding another location to build a library so that the synagogue can be given back to the Jews. In my opinion, this is yet another sign of the times. Perhaps in the natural, all that is happening is a building being given back to its’ people. But I believe that what could take place in the spiritual is a transference of kingdoms and the possibility of redemption and reconciliation, which is so near to the heart of God. I told the Lord that I was so sorry for what had taken place to His people so many years ago. I hope that more public humility and repentance on behalf of the people here in this city will take place, and that God would cause His face to shine upon this city.
.
Christian Young
No comments:
Post a Comment