Psalm 132:14

Psalm 132:14

He will reign over Zion forever

In Psalm 68:15-16 we are told that the northern heights of Mount Bashan in Israel are envious of Zion! In other words, the strongholds of the Satan look jealously at the power that dwells in the south and the timeless God who reigns there. The northern mountain range of Hermon or Bashan was always regarded as home to pagan gods like Baal and Molech, whereas Jerusalem or Zion was the resting place of the one eternal God, Yahweh Himself. God chose the land of Israel for His people and then He raised them up as a nation and led them to that land. He chose Zion as His earthly resting place and declared that it would be so forever. Israel also made choices, they chose to disobey, to live in unbelief, to rebel against their God until there were no people for Him to dwell with and no Temple to be His footstool. We have to ask the questions, has God changed His mind, was He right to declare that Zion would be His “resting place for ever and ever?” If that is the case then much of what the Lord said about this land of Israel, its people and its holy city, has turned out to be untrue!

Some critics of the Jews and of Christianity argue this point and we have to be honest; there have been long periods of history when it seems that God has abandoned His resting place. But this God does not dwell in buildings made of wood or stone, He dwells as a living force amongst His people, those who honour His Name and live by His commands. It has been man’s choice to depart from Zion and to leave the house of God desolate and in ruins. One of the most appealing aspects of prophecy is the promise that the Temple and the sanctity of Zion will be restored and Jesus Himself will reign over the earth for 1,000 years. (Revelation 20.) Meanwhile, those who know and love the Lord God will be treated to the wonders of His heavenly Zion and, one day, the marvels of the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven. (Revelation 21). Hallelujah!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 106:13

Psalm 106:13 Do not forget We need to remember that Israel’s relationship with the Lord God was based on His laws and their obedience. It was possible for them to live lives that were highly blessed, that incorporated the provision of God in every tiny detail of their national and individual existence. God was prepared to give them everything they needed, He would provide food and water for them and their flocks. He would guide them on their journey. He would protect them from their enemies. He would inspire and direct their leaders. He would keep them from the heat of the sun and the terrors of the desert night. He would take them to the land that He had promised, in double quick time. There was no reason why they could not be in situ in just a few months. Everything they could possibly need was His to provide and He was willing to sacrifice anything to see them gratefully settled in Canaan.  There was just one snag, it all depended upon their obedience and faithfulness. God insis...
Read more

Psalm 119:135

Psalm 119:135 His shining face In verse 58 0f the Psalm we commented on the apparent impossibility of being able to see the face of God. And yet this intimacy was something that the psalmists, and other writers, craved. The High Priestly blessing, prayed over the people every day, asks that the Lord make His face shine upon them. In verse 58 we discovered that this plea involved more than just being able to see the face of God, which was impossible; I quote,  “ The Hebrew word for face in the Old Testament can be translated “presence.” Now things start to make more sense! Those Israelites who so regularly abandoned the Lord God were being reminded to seek again the presence of God and the psalmist lets it be known that this is his constant quest. When you think about it, a person’s face reveals a great deal about their character and personality even, maybe, their circumstances or lifestyle. The more we seek the face of God and the more we spend time in His presence, the more like H...
Read more
Psalm 1 Spiritual stability The journey begins! It’s exciting isn’t it? Where will the Holy Spirit take us? What adventures await us? What discoveries will we make? One thing is certain, we will not be the same people at the end of this journey as we are at the beginning.  We are about to discover a world of delights but also a world that has a sinister side. This is not a walk in the park, this journey will take us through narrow ravines, up rocky mountain slopes and across desert landscapes. Thank God there will also be occasion to lie by still waters in green pastures and to dance with exhilaration and pure joy on mountain summits. Let’s get going shall we? V1       What an introduction to the adventure!  Most Christians would not dream of associating with the wicked, the sinners and the scornful of v1, would they? Who are these people anyway, are they mass murderers or tabloid celebrities or pagan worshippers? ...
Read more