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Seventy-six times. . .
When reading the Psalms, we look at them as personal, written for individuals. While all the Psalms can help us in difficulty, many of them were written as prophecies of God’s purposes for Israel and Zion (or Jerusalem).
At least 76 times in the Psalms, a psalmist mentions God’s promises toward Israel (with application to the church today and those who follow Jesus), and Zion (Jerusalem).
Seventy-six times. . .
For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it” (Psalm 132:13-14, ESV).
These verses explain the eternality of the city as God’s resting place forever.
The Book of Revelation takes almost two chapters to expand on the glory of Jerusalem in eternity (chapters 21 through 22).
Meditate on this description of Zion in anticipation of our future. . .
I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2).
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:3-4).”
I’ve been to Jerusalem six times; I can’t wait to be there in eternity! Let’s continue reading. . .
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it (Revelation 21:22-24).
and. . .
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2).
Wow. Now we know why the Bible reveals that all the nations will gather against Israel and Jerusalem in the end times (Zechariah 12:2-3). And why the evil one plots to control this city, even setting up a false throne in the end times (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Are we seeing this happening now? It also explains why the Bible encourages us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. . .
Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper (Psalm 122:6, NLT).
As Jerusalem goes, so goes the blessing of those who love God. We know the future. Let’s pray for the peace of Jerusalem and wait in anticipation!
Amen. Peace out! Seventy-six times.