The writings of the prophet Isaiah reveal Zion to be the place of His presence. The Book of Psalms richly describes Zion as a people of praise and glory.
The Church is rousing from the slumber of compromise and cowardice. We are standing up with new faith and new courage. We now stir ourselves with new perspective. Zion is a place, the secret place of the Most High. This point of view is from the heavens, the foreordained place of our being seated with Christ.
God is searching the nations (2 Chron. 16:9) for a sold-out people with this new attitude of heart. We are waiting on the Lord (Isa. 40:31), learning to see things from His point of view, to move at His pace, and to operate our lives and ministries under His directives.
We quiet our hearts that we may enter His peace. We sense our inadequacies, but are being empowered by His strength. We lay down our wills that we may clearly hear His calling. We are mounting up, lifted and carried by the wind of His Spirit. We steadily move ahead, ever sensitive to His timing. We confidently act, giving ourselves only to the things that He has asked us to do.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ZION
2 Samuel 5:7, KJV Nevertheless David took (captured, seized, occupied) the strong hold (fortress, castle) of Zion: the same is the city of David.
The meaning of “Zion” underwent a distinct progression in its usage. Its first mention above is the name of the ancient Jebusite fortress situated on the southeast hill of Jerusalem. After David captured this ancient stronghold, he called Zion "the city of David” (1 Kg. 8:1; 1 Chron. 11:5; 2 Chron. 5:2).
When Solomon built the Temple on Mount Moriah (a hill distinct from Mount Zion), and moved the Ark of the Covenant there, the word “Zion” expanded in meaning to include also the Temple and the Temple area (Psa. 2:6; 48:2,11-12; 132:13). Later, “Zion” was used as a name for the city of Jerusalem, the land of Judah, and the people of Israel as a whole (Isa. 40:9; Jer. 31:12).
The Hebrew word for Zion is Tsiyown (Strong’s #6726 and #6725), and it means, “conspicuousness; a monument, sign post, column, landmark, or a guiding pillar; sunny mountain.” “Zion” has also been translated as, “sunny; clear, unobstructed, or sunshine; set up, placed, or established.
There are two dominant themes associated with Zion in both Testaments. One is political, and the other is religious.
First, Zion was the city of King David, the capital city and the governing city of the nation—this reveals the king principle.
In Zion, King David (a type of King Jesus) ruled over the people of God. The government of God was revealed in the Kingdom of David. The law went forth from Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:3; Mic. 4:2). Zion was the abode of the king and his family. It was the highest pinnacle of attainable glory, rulership, and power (compare the White House in the city of Washington).
Second, Zion was the city of the Tabernacle of David, the sacred city, the religious capital of the nation—this reveals the priest principle.
In Zion, David also led the nation in a new order of worship and ministry. His Tabernacle was a simple, single tent (with no veil) which constituted the transplanting of the Most Holy Place with its Ark of the Covenant to the top of David’s “holy hill.” It was on this holy ground that the “sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam. 23:1) composed many of his 73 psalms of praise.
The revelation of New Testament worship originated under David’s tent. The use of the mouth (speaking, singing, and shouting), the hands (clapping, lifting, and playing instruments), and the whole body (bowing, kneeling, and dancing) to praise the Lord was a stark contrast to the old Mosaic order.
David changed the ministry of the priests. Instead of having to carry the heavy burden of the Mosaic Tabernacle from place to place, they now were appointed and divided into 24 courses (1 Chron. 24) to praise the God of Israel round the clock, seven days a week (24/7)! The present-day “harp and bowl” meetings (constant worship and intercession) are based upon David’s pattern.
Psalms 2:6, KJV Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion… (compare Psa. 15:1; 43:3).
The “holy hill” of Zion points to the New Testament priesthood after the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 5:1-8:6). This is the King-Priest ministry of the ascended Christ, His “more excellent ministry” (Heb. 8:6), and His “royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9). This priestly ministry is the manifestation of the ascended life, flowing out from the finished work of King Jesus who is seated and enthroned within the Most Holy Place. This is the outflowing of the indwelling Christ from the heart.
Zion is a People
Zion in this third day refers symbolically to the perfect Church: The Church that has its leadership manifesting the person and the full character of Jesus Christ with a fully submitted followership that are walking after the example of their leaders. Submission, humility, love orderliness, purity and the manifest power of godliness is the order of things in Zion Church.
"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined" Psalms 50: 2
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