|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Psalm 87 is the Zion Psalm …
On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob (vv. 1-2, ESV).
This psalm has a three-layered meaning: Zion as a literal city during the time the psalm was written; Zion as an eternal city illustrative of God’s ultimate purposes; and blessings for all those who love Zion both literally in history and allegorically in God’s upcoming eternal Kingdom.
The word “Zion” is mentioned about 150 times in the Old Testament and many times in the New Testament. The following passage considers the three layers of meaning: a literal city in history, a future city in eternity, and personally, to those who follow Jesus …
For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6).
(Literally, as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus took place in Zion; figuratively, as Jesus is now the cornerstone for God’s Kingdom; and personally, we will not be ashamed if we believe in Jesus.)
Throughout all ages, those who follow God should realize in toto the meaning of Zion in the Bible …
Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah (v. 3).
In the Bible, the word Zion is used interchangeably with Jerusalem. When the Book of Revelation describes the New Jerusalem, it’s also describing a New Zion …
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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 21:2-4).
I believe this Zion/Jerusalem/New Jerusalem/New Zion is a literal city “coming down from heaven.” God’s eternal purposes promised to the Jews, established in the City of David (another name for Zion/Jerusalem), transferred to the “grafted in” Christians, and fully revealed in an eternity without the strife of opposing nationalities.
Read Romans 11 extensively to note that Gentiles entering the Kingdom of God did not negate God’s eternal purposes and covenant with the Jews and Zion …
The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins (Romans 11:26b-27).
Now, back to Psalm 87 with a description of those inhabiting Zion …
Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush – “This one was born there,” they say. And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. The Lord records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there” (vv. 4-7).
The nations mentioned in these verses surrounded Zion at that time, and were filled with Gentiles! Yet Psalm 87 prophetically proclaims that all of them will be considered as natural born citizens (this one and that one were born in her).
Great news for all of us.
In Zion and the New Jerusalem, finally, we witness the world serving Jesus together. We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) as the prayer indicates the peace found in the New Jerusalem after our Lord returns.
Amen. Peace in Jerusalem!