Jerusalem, Dormitio church from the Mount of Olives (Mount Zion)

Psalm 48
For Sunday July 8, 2012
Proper 9 

Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
It is beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth.

Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.

…  As we have heard,
so have we seen
in the city of the LORD Almighty,
in the city of our God:

God makes her secure forever.

How would you like to live in a place like this?   In Scripture, ‘Zion’ is another name for Jerusalem”, but while the word ‘Jerusalem’ connotes a city and all the history that took place there “Zion” connotes all to which God aspires to grant to his people.  This is why the author to the Hebrews said, “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God” (Heb. 12:22).   This is the word the Apostle John also used in Revelation when describing the heavenly city that awaits followers of Christ (Rev. 14:1).

Zion is nothing less than the Kingdom of God fully present, Christ with us, Immanuel.  This is the very best place a person could ever aspire to live.  It’s a place of integrity, justice, love, and humility.  I know it’s where I want to live.  How about you?

(Drawing from Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Appendix, “Zion Theology”).