City living, continued

We have many familiar hymns and songs that mention Zion, Mount Zion, heaven, and the city of God.

"We're marching to Zion: beautiful, beautiful Zion ...."

"On Zion's glorious summit....."

Mount Zion stands for the vision of God's kingship. His kingdom is greater than the city of Jerusalem but for the ancient peoples, the visible expression of God's kingdom as the temple and the palace in Jerusalem.

The children of Israel knew that YAHWEH had chosen to establish His kingdom and that He delights in those who submit to His rule.

For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, (Psalm 132:13)

Zion was seen as a place for God's people; a people who were inspired to adoration, joy, and hope. But the vision of Zion as God's city is not just for the Jews. Heaven is for all of us as believers. How do we know this? The New Testament applies the Old Testament vision to the church.

Paul says:

But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. (Galatians 4:26)

And then in Ephesians, Paul goes to great lengths to explain that the Gentiles have now become on the same level with the Jews. We are partakers with them of the covenants of promise. Be sure to check out the whole passage in Ephesians chapter 2 for context, and here is the conclusion:

So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

When we study the terrifying fear of those who received the Law at Mount Sinai, we are struck by a significant difference in the New Testament. The children of God at the foot of Mount Sinai were trembling with fear; the believers who have received the New Covenant are filled with a reverent awe:

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22-24)

Many people approach the book of Revelation with apprehension, because they feel it's difficult to understand, but on this concept it's pretty clear:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 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 tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, (Revelation 21:1-3)

So, while we read Psalm 48, we can understand that this song is about the Jewish vision of Zion as God's city and dwelling place. But we can also apply it to the church, the body of believers, which has been "grafted" as Paul says in Romans, into those in Israel who believe. (Be sure to read Romans 11:17-24 to fully clarify this.)

God promised to establish Zion forever, and Jesus promised to establish His church forever, too:

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (Matthew 16:18)

and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:28)

We are God's temple. We are His dwelling place. As we reverently study Psalm 48, let's remember that it has application to our lives, as well.