The Lord Loves Zion

(Psalm 87)…..His foundation is in the holy mountains. ² The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. ³ Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God!  Selah

⁴ “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia:
‘This one was born there.’ ” ⁵ And of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her; And the Most High Himself shall establish her.” ⁶ The Lord will record, when He registers the peoples: “This one was born there.”  Selah

⁷ Both the singers and the players on instruments say,“All my springs are in you.” This Psalm is one of the Songs of Zion Psalms that speak of Mount Zion the city of God. They include this Psalm as well as (Psalm 46, 48, 76, 84 and 122). It is in Zion where God is praised, where He makes Himself known, where there is joy and beauty beyond measure. In this place Abraham was told to offer Isaac. It is here where worship was offered to God day after day, year after year, with festivals and sacrifices that pointed God’s people to His work of redemption. And outside the gates of this city Jesus was taken and crucified, here He died, was buried and rose again on the third day. But what is this place called Zion? And how significant is it to the believer today. Let’s begin back where the word Zion is used for the first time in the Bible (2 Samuel 5:6-7)

So from the time of David, Zion was synonymous with the city of David. What begins to make this place so significant is that David brings the ark of the covenant into to this city (2 Samuel 6:12). The ark of the covenant was the sacred seat of the holy of holies where God met his people in the tabernacle, so Zion becomes the center of worship and of God’s presence. Then Solomon moves the arc of the covenant into the temple that he had built (1 Kings 8:1). Here then – the whole of Jerusalem came to be known as Zion, the city of great hope for God’s people.

1. (Psalm 51:18) – Zion is Jerusalem
2. (Psalm 9:11) – So Zion is the place on earth where God has chosen to makes his presence especially known – read also – (Psalm 78:67-69)
3. (Psalm 74:2) – It is called a mount because David’s stronghold and then the temple were on mountains or hills in Jerusalem

So Zion meant the place where God was present and near to his people, it also became the place from which the people expected help. Zion became the source of deliverance and salvation (Psalm 20:1-3) (Psalm 3:4). A place where the Lord Himself would one day rule from His throne (Psalm 2:6)(Isaiah 24:23) (Isaiah 2:1-4) again in (Micah 4:1-6). The Old Testament points not only to a, future, glorious Zion where God will reign on earth, it also points to a heavenly Zion where God already reigns now. If Zion is the earthly place of God’s presence, His power, His blessing, His protection, the hope of God’s future rule over the earth, then what is the hope of the Gentiles who have never even seen Jerusalem, who Paul speaks of as being separated from the commonwealth of Israel and have no citizenship in Zion the city of God (Ephesians 2:11-12)?

The answer is that there is a Zion whose citizenship is not earthly (Psalm 87:5). The Most High Himself is establishing this Zion by declaring with Sovereign power and with saving effect – “This one and that one were born in her.” This one in Rathdrum was born in Zion, this one in Post Falls was born in Zion, this one in Hayden was born in Zion, this one in Spirit Lake was born in Zion. God is populating Zion with people and every tribe, tongue – and nation. So, there is a true Zion in heaven, there is a heavenly Jerusalem where the true people of God, whether Jew or Gentile, there are citizens there.

But what does this mean in New Testament terms? The earthly temple with all the sacrifices and festivals pointed to a much greater provision, a greater Prophet, a greater Priest, and and a greater King, Jesus Christ. Isaiah hinted at this when he brought God’s Word concerning the foundation of the city (Isaiah 28:16) What was Isaiah speaking of? Who did he have in mind?  (Matthew 21:42) (Acts 4:11). It is in the N.T. as God sets in place the Chief Cornerstone, where we see the fulfillment of Mount Zion.

God dwelling with His people Jesus, Emmanuel, He came and tabernacled among us(Galatians 4:21-27). We (the believer in Christ) have been conceived and born in the heavenly Jerusalem. If we want to know God and be with God in his city, if we want to be a part of that future kingdom of peace, joy, love, and righteousness, where God rules from Zion, then we must have our citizenship in heaven. We have to have a spiritual birth (Philippians 3:20) (Ephesians 2:6,19-22) (John 3:1-8). Let’s take a look at – (Hebrews 11:10,16) (Hebrews 12:18-24). Wow! Notice (v.22) says, “You have come to Mount Zion. Not you will come, but you HAVE COME!

One of the great things about being a Christian is that when you are born again. As a result, you don’t have to wonder or worry anymore if you are going to be a part of heavens blessings the city of God. Those who are born from above have ALREADY COME to Mount Zion, they are ALREADY enrolled in the heavenly Jerusalem, they are ALREADY citizens of the city of God (Colossians 3:1-4). Are you a citizen there?