Which Way Is Zion?
Opening Prayer
I thank You, Lord, that through Christ You came to dwell with humanity–and to live inside me.
Read Psalm 87:1-7
[1]Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song. He has founded his city on the holy mountain. [2] The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. [3] Glorious things are said of you, city of God: [4] “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me- Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush- and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.'” [5] Indeed, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.” [6] The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” [7] As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does God bless Zion?When I was a child, I pulled off the clever feat of “losing” the letter inviting my parents to meet my teachers. I was nervous about what my teachers would say to Mom and Dad. Eventually my parents succeeded in getting together with my teachers and–to my relief–heard a few good reports! It is wonderful when positive things are spoken of you, and this psalm is loaded with great things about Zion. Although this psalm is short, it is geographically and biblically important. Zion was the name of the hill on which Solomon built the temple. It was the dwelling place of God and the place where people came to worship him (1,2). In the psalm, Zion soon metamorphoses into the “city of God”–Jerusalem, a key city theologically and politically (3). Yet Zion does not end there; it represents the whole church of Christ and not simply the geographical coordinates of Solomon’s temple. The expanded Zion is a place of praise, where Christ is the true temple…and great things are said about it (7)!
Apply
Do you worship Christ wherever you are? As you walk through today, be alert to things you can praise God for.
Closing prayer
Identify the great things the Lord has done and is still doing in your life. Then worship him for them!
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