God’s Intentions For Zion

Introduction

So I’ve been excited about this for a long time, been thinking about this for a long time, and I don’t know if it’s going to come off like I had hoped, but this is what I’ve got right now. You know, you feel more, far more energetic about it during the week than you do after you’ve preached on Sunday morning and then turn around and do it again on Sunday night. You’re a little bit tired. So here’s what I recommend. Write down these verses. If you don’t have a writing utensil, get your electronic device out. Write these verses down. A lot of them we’re going to be just looking at quickly. And so you’re not going to be able to digest their context. But I want to try to teach you something tonight that has been going on, swimming around in my head for some time.

And it relates to the subject of Zion, as the Bible talks about this important place. Now, in the Old Testament, we all know what Zion is, right? We need to start there. It is the place where the temple was in Jerusalem. In the city of David. It was the site of Solomon’s construction of the temple. And so when there’s discussion of Zion, we’re talking about God’s dwelling among his people in the city that he has chosen in the place that he has prescribed, in the place where God dwells. And that’s the subject of Psalm 26, which just happened to be on these slides. I’m not going to look at Psalm 26 in much detail, but I will look at verse 8 with you. Psalm 26 and verse 8.

O Lord, I love the habitation of thy house. Habitation’s a big word, just speaks to dwelling. I love the habitation of thy house and the place where thy glory dwells. Zion is where God dwells. Zion is where God’s glory dwells. I actually preached on this, and I’ve sort of forgotten that I had last August of 2015. Well, you know, that’s 16 months ago. If I didn’t remember it, I’m sure you didn’t remember it, and some of you probably weren’t here. This is a traveling bunch anyway. And so here are some more thoughts. Some of them are the same that I presented 14, 16 months ago, but some new stuff as well. I’ve been preaching a sermon in meetings called Waiting on the Lord, and I’ve referenced it recently.

1. God Has Plans for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem

If you need to know anything about that sermon, Christina’s listened to it a hundred times. So she knows it better than I do. And I start in that sermon by talking about two older saints who were waiting on the Messiah. One, Simeon was told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah or the Lord’s Christ. And so that happens in Luke the second chapter. Oh, I forgot about this. Let’s start here. Stop. Going back in a second to what I just started. Zion, then, is the holy city. Okay? Coming back to that. Okay. Here’s Simeon. Simeon. And it says, and these, I just passed over these phrases. When I was reading Luke 2 a long time ago when I first started preaching, I just passed right over these things.

And I’d go, whoa. Now I’m going back and say, what was that? Simeon, who was told he would not die until he would see the Lord’s Christ, said, it is said that he was looking, like others were, for the consolation of Israel. That is everything that the Old Testament had been pointing to in regard to God’s riches and blessings upon Israel ultimately. Okay? Looking for the consolation of Israel. And that’s somehow related to their messianic hopes. Now we know they had all kinds of wrong ideas about the Messiah. Hold those thoughts just a second. Later in the context, there’s Anna the widow who’s serving day and night in the temple. She’s been a widow for a long time. And again, this interesting expression that I’d passed over in the past looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

I mean, there is something about Old Testament texts that were saying that God had plans, future plans, glorious plans, great plans for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. And all of those concepts relate. God has plans for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem, and all of that relates to Zion, the center place of it all. The place of worship, God’s habitation, the place where God dwells. And so there’s all of this. Look at this anticipation. That’s what I want you to see from Anna and Simeon. And so a cursory reading of the Old Testament revealed this. Zechariah chapter 12. This is one passage I want you to look at quickly. In fact, I want to say more about this than I can say. I texted this passage to Sean. We were talking Wednesday night about Revelation chapter 1 and verse 7.

And oh, by the way, the reason why I’m preaching this is it has everything to do with our understanding of Revelation 21 and 22. When we get to the end of our study, and we see the holy city, the heavenly Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, we need to understand what that figure is representing. And by knowing these Old Testament texts, we’re going to get it. So this is sort of like your preview so that you get it when we get there. Hopefully we’re getting it. Hopefully I’m getting it. But Zechariah chapter 12, this relates to everyone will look upon him whom they have pierced, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. I was telling Sean, this comes right out of Zechariah chapter 12 and verse 10.

But I want to go back to verse 7. This, these are the passages that probably at least Anna and those looking for the redemption of Jerusalem, perhaps both of these expressions, these kinds of passages are what they have in mind. The Lord will save the tents of Judah, okay, first, in order that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be magnified above Judah. In that day, the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Verse 9, it will come about in that day that I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I would just, I would just mark that Zechariah 12, 9. That’s what the book of Revelation is saying. That’s it in one verse.

You come up against Jerusalem, the Lord destroys you. Okay? Now hold that thought. I would write the book of Revelation by Zechariah 12, verse 9. And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication. So that they will look on me whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for him, that’s Revelation 1 7, as one who mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Now why their weeping is not explained, other than the fact it says he was pierced. We see that in Acts chapter 2. You have crucified Jesus. God hath made him both Lord and Christ. And it says they were pierced to the heart over their culpability in Jesus’ death.

In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimon. Try saying that.

So on and so forth. So these passages have a lot to do with all of this message about God’s plans for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. Now, I mentioned messianic expectation. What were the people thinking in the first century? The Messiah is going to come, he’s going to establish what kind of kingdom? An earthly physical kingdom. And when you read passages like this, if you don’t understand the spiritual lenses that God has in mind, that’s what you would think. God’s going to do something great, literally, in the city of Jerusalem and for the nation of Jerusalem. There are people that still think that. That God has literal intentions for the physical city of Jerusalem. They’re thinking geography. Now, Jesus is dispelling that in John 4. When he says, God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.

This whole business of geography, that’s going away. So you can see why somebody said, Well, why did God let them think that? Remember what this is. This is the mystery. The New Testament talks about the mystery. If God spells it all out in the Old Testament, would they have crucified the Lord of glory? 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 8. It was the hidden wisdom. Yes, we look back and we see all this crystal clear spiritually. Oh, God has plans for his spiritual people of the new covenant. And it’s not about geography, it’s not about physical when he’s talking about these places that are so prominent in the Old Testament, in the covenant with the nation of Israel. Okay. So have I mentioned, as we talk about tonight, God’s intentions for Zion, that we’re to understand Zion as the holy city.

2. Zion Is the Holy City

I want to emphasize that. That’s what Zion represents. It is the holy city. Let me show you a couple of verses. Isaiah. Again, when you come to the book of Revelation, if you don’t know anything about Isaiah and Zachariah, it’s going to be very puzzling to you. That’s where a lot of these images come from, as we’ve already seen in Zechariah 12. Revelation 1 7 is right out of Zachariah 12. So many passages in Isaiah, and I’m going to have to go through this quickly, but look at Isaiah 52 and verse 1. And this, remember, is right before what famous chapter in Isaiah? 53. The suffering of the Messiah. That text. Okay? But it leads up to that with a statement like this O Jerusalem, the holy city.

This gives us the hint that spiritual things are in view. For the uncircumcised and the unclean will no more come into you. Now, when we get to Revelation 21, and the holy city comes down out of heaven, what’s the point? Nothing unclean will ever come into it. Okay. Now, Jerusalem, all sorts of people flow into Jerusalem. Covenant people, non covenant people, circumcised, uncircumcised, people who want to be there to serve God, and people who are serving God there just because it’s a command to be followed. But higher intentions for Zion is the point of this passage. And what will be said of that city is ultimately your God reigns. Whatever God’s intentions were, ultimately for Zion, it will be said of that city, your God reigns.

So many other passages. Oh, did I emphasize that Zion is holy city? Okay? Now, I’ve got to quote my friend Tommy Peeler as I did this morning. He said some gems this week. And this relates, this quote relates to some of the things we’ve been saying about salvation. We never earn nor deserve salvation. You’ve heard that before. Salvation is always a matter of his mercy and grace. And then I like this, but we are not passive in the process either. God has expectations of response from us. We are not passive. We must humble ourselves before God and listen to his word. Right? While any way to describe this is imperfect, it is not that we meet God halfway. Closer to the truth is that we take a step toward God, and he has already taken a thousand steps toward us.

I really like that way of expressing it. We have to take a step toward God, but he has taken a thousand steps toward us. He is the shepherd who seeks his lost sheep. Ezekiel 34, 11. And then he says, this, and the people of God and the city of God are called sought out. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, Luke 19 and verse 10. And what Tommy was referring to is Isaiah 62 in verse 12. Again, what is God have planned for the future? And they will call them, and remember, the uncircumcised and the unclean will not come into the city. And they will call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord. And you will be called, sought out a city not forsaken.

And again, I would just hold on to that last phrase, a city not forsaken. And that’s Revelation 21. That’s that picture. Again, the holy city, the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven. Despite all of the hardships that Christians have experienced on earth, all of the persecution and death that they’ve been dealt, no worries. The city is fine. The city is unharmed. The city is not forsaken. See, this Isaiah imagery is all over what we’re reading about in the book of Revelation. Also, if you look earlier, hey, this idea of you will be called sought out, that’s the whole context of being given a new name. Oh, remember that? A new name? My delight is in her, is the specific new name that is mentioned.

But look at Isaiah 62 and verse 1. Isaiah 62 and verse 1. Listen carefully. For Zion’s sake, I will not keep silent. And for Jerusalem’s sake, I will not keep quiet until her righteousness goes forth like brightness. And her salvation like a torch that is burning. Okay, so God has intentions for Zion. And then he says in verse 7, later in the context of three, he talks about the new name, that my delight is in her. She shall be called Beulaland. He says, Jerusalem shall be a praise in the earth. And I’ll just tell you, Isaiah 62 and verse 7 is not talking about the literal city of Jerusalem. It is talking about spiritual Jerusalem. It is talking about the holy, the ultimate holy city. The city that is sought out, the city that is not forsaken, the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, who will be in Christ, the Messiah’s product.

Now let me look at some other passages very quickly with you before we get. Oh, did I tell you this was the holy city? Okay, this is the holy city. This is the verse I came across during the meeting, the last night of the meeting. Chris went to Isaiah 33 in his very last sermon, and this verse just like jumped off the page. Look upon Zion. Then what’s all these passages in Isaiah talking about Zion? Your eyes shall see Jerusalem, a city not forsaken. An undisturbed habitation. Now, in Revelation, from a physical point of view, as you look at the sufferings of Christians, it sure looks bleak. It sure looks dim. There’s a lot of ferocious adversaries, but you get to the end of the story.

Jerusalem is fine. Jerusalem is okay. It is an undisturbed habitation, a tent which shall not be folded. Its stakes shall never be pulled up. This tent is solid and secure, nor any of its cords be torn apart. This is the heavenly Jerusalem. Now remember, earlier in Isaiah, we have been told what about the holy city? We have been told the law will go forth from Zion. And all of God’s future plans for Zion. We know Isaiah chapter 2 is looking at Acts chapter 2. The law will go forth from Zion. She shall be called holy, and I went over this with you 14, 16 months ago. Isaiah 35. A highway of holiness will be there. No lion will be there. The redeemed will walk there. The ransomed of the Lord will return and come with what?

Joyful shouting to Zion. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands, he says in Isaiah 49, your walls are continually before me. Now, again, in Revelation 21, we see the holy city coming down out of heaven. What about the strength of her walls? Okay, her walls are continually before me. And then the passage Aaron quoted last Sunday morning, I have installed my king upon Zion. Certainly, messianic hope and promise in Psalm chapter 2. My king reigns in Zion. So Zion, the holy city, Zachariah talks about it. We’ve already looked at Zachariah chapter 12. And here are just some things I’ll throw out very quickly. You might want to write these passages down. God is jealous for Zion. He is going to choose Jerusalem, and there’s going to be prosperity and comfort.

3. Your Inclusion in the Holy City

Jerusalem will be called the city of truth and your king, the king that he has installed in Zion. Your king is coming to you on the foal of a donkey. So when Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem just prior to his death, what is he doing? Fulfilling Zachariah chapter 9 and verse 9. The king is riding on the foal of the donkey. Now I went through all of that really quickly. I wanted you to see what the Old Testament was saying about what God is doing ultimately with the Holy City. Now, some really practical points. This is what matters tonight. Your inclusion in the Holy City.

That’s what I was talking about, right? All those verses. That we’re the recipients of all of these blessings related to the Messiah because we’re included. Remember what Jesus said. This is so important. My kingdom is what? You finish the sentence. Is not of this world. What does that mean? Its origin is spiritual and heavenly. Thus, the city comes down out of heaven. That’s its origin. Its rain is where? In the hearts of people, in their minds. We are under the king’s control. And who can touch that? No one can touch that. No one can reach into your mind. Oh, there were people that like to try, and it would be an ugly scene. If somebody could reach into your mind and pull out Jesus reigning, your God reigns.

Pull out Jesus reigning in our minds. But they can’t do it. Because this kingdom, this holy city, is not of this world. So, Tony, why are you preaching this? Well, I want you to try to appreciate what these Old Testament passages are saying about Zion, because I think this is of tremendous encouragement. I think sometimes we look at our circumstances, and sometimes we receive opposition because of where we stand on moral issues, and people might make fun of you. They have me. Because I will go to the same excess of riot that Peter talks about in 1 Peter chapter 4, and they malign you, Peter says. And I think sometimes we feel beaten down and hurt and injured. And our circumstances seem to be, you know, it’s piling on.

You know, they never call that in football anymore. It seems like they just do it at will. You know, six or seven guys pounce on somebody. I remember they used to throw the flag and say, piling on. You don’t ever hear that anymore. I guess they just let it go. But it feels like that in life sometimes, but everything’s just piling on, piling on. And you can get really downcast and discouraged. And again, that’s what the book of Revelation. It was written to Christians to encourage them. It’s going to be okay. Despite the fact that your circumstances are a little miserable. Now, this is really what’s on this slide is really all I need you to get out of this lesson tonight. You, your residence, your citizenship in this city is an encouraging thing.

It is an awesome thing.

And I don’t know what you’re planning on getting for Christmas. Assuming, kids, you’ve been good enough that your parents might buy you something at this time of year. You may or may not get gifts at Christmas. I don’t know. It’s certainly not about the Lord’s birth, you know that. Okay. I don’t know what you’re planning on getting this holiday season. But I know kids get really excited about what’s under the Christmas tree. What gifts they’re being given this year. And their eyes are as big as saucers. And I was telling Sherry, you know, with our kids, I don’t ever remember a bad Christmas, you know, where the gifts didn’t turn out right, everything you opened was broken, you know, they didn’t get what they wanted. You know, you always got to make sure they get it.

4. Not Merely a Future Prospect, but a Reality Now

Okay. So it was a happy time. Awesome. And I said all of that to say, this is a good illustration. This is better than Christmas. Okay, by far. That’s one part of this. The second part of this, and this is the part that’s really driving me crazy and the reason why I had to preach this. The idea of inclusion in Zion and being a recipient of the blessings of Zion. It’s not something that’s just future, heaven only. Now, this goes with some other things that I’ve preached lately about eternal life abiding in us. Okay, it’s not just simply a future consideration, and neither is Zion. And it’s not that in Revelation 21, and I’m going to show you that in a minute. So, point there, or again, what’s on this slide is what I want you to get.

Your inclusion in the city, it is not merely a future prospect. But it is a reality now. Now, as I say that, I know I’m fighting a losing battle. And I say that because we have been singing there is a habitation all of our lives. And it seems to present Zion as something that is completely future. I’m not saying don’t sing the song under any circumstances. Reagan led it last week. I’m not saying that. I sang the song. Because there is an aspect of this that is future. But don’t let that song throw you and make you think that it is only future. That’s, you know, some songs that were written are okay, but the author may not have fully grasped the concepts. And I’m not just picking on older hymns.

You know, the song that Aaron led before the sermon. I mean, that gets it. And now we’re going to sing another one that gets it, and I’m going to try to lead it. This is where it gets really scary. But again, let me just before we do that, tell you this. The Hebrew writer says, we have come to Mount Zion. He did not say, you will come to Mount Zion. He says, we have come to Mount Zion. And again, if I had time tonight, maybe write this down. This whole picture in Revelation 21 goes back to Isaiah 59. You can start actually in verse 16 and go all the way through chapter 60 and verse 22. I could read the whole text tonight. You really need to look at that this week.

As it supports what I’m telling you here.

And I see John back there. He’s actually listening back there. And every time, he says, You’re asking me to leave the song. I love this song. And it’s an oldie but goody, as I will say, because the author of this song gets the concept of Zion. So I’m going to lead it, which means I don’t know what’s going to happen. But if all else fails, pay attention to the words of the song. And I’ve asked Sherry and Scott to save the song for us. So here we go.

And graven on thy hand for my fear shall for her prayers to her my cares and toils begin till toils and can sweet unbows her hymns of love and praise Jesus our saviour and thy hands from every snare shall great bring shall be the brightest glory can yield. And brighter blessing. Well, that wasn’t too bad. And I forgot I was supposed to be clicking as we went through that. Somehow did that. Okay, so that song really captures the idea of Zion and it being a present part of our experience. But somebody might say, but there’s one passage that presents a little problem here, and that’s Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 14. But I would say about that, remember, it’s the same context where you’ve had, you have come to Mount Zion.

And a little bit later, as he’s given various admonitions, he says, but for here we do not have a lasting city. Yes, in our existence here, it’s not meant to be permanent. Zion is not permanent for us here. But we are seeking the city which is to come. So it’s not going against what I taught you tonight about Zion. It’s just suggesting that our role in Zion here is a temporary one. Now let’s get to Revelation 21 because I want to look at that picture with you, and we’re near the end of this. I can’t believe I’ve gotten through this quickly. Maybe I’m going to go back and read Isaiah 59 and 60. No, I won’t do it if you promise me you’ll look at it this week.

5. The Holy City Coming Down Out of Heaven

Isaiah 59 and 60. But let’s look at Revelation 21 because I’ve been talking about this. What’s the point of this picture? Remember, as we’ll see in our study of the book of Revelation on Wednesday nights, you really want to be a part of that. We’re going to understand what’s going on in the book of Revelation. You see all of this suffering. And you come to Revelation chapter 21 after all the enemies have been defeated. We saw that in the beginning of our study tonight. As John is carried away in the Spirit in verse 10. He is taken to a great and high mountain. And then notice this. And he was showed. Shown. Just seeing if you’re paying attention. And the Spirit showed me, John says, what?

The holy city. Okay? Who is the holy city? Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. This is not physical, geographical Jerusalem. This is Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. This is a spiritual entity or city, having the glory of God. And we read about the street of gold. And her pearly gates and her massive walls. And though Christians have been through horrific experiences on the earth, everything is safe and secure in their relationship with God, because God and the Lamb dwell in the middle of this city. And the city in its dimensions, as we’ll talk about when we study it, are massive. This city that he sees, it is absolutely massive. It is perfect. It is the city four square. It is absolutely beautiful, decked out with the most precious and costly of stones.

And it’s impenetrable by all of those who would oppose God and his people. And not only that, Zion, the holy city, is influential. These are the passages that make me see that it’s not just a future consideration. Because it says, and the nations shall walk by its light. And the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it. These are Old Testament promises, the supremacy of Zion. And in the daytime, for there shall be no night there, its gates shall never be closed. Hey, guess what? That means right now what? The gates are open.

Why do we offer the invitation at the end of every sermon? Because the gates are open. And they stay open, the gates to this city. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. Time would fail me to talk about Haggai 2 here. They shall fill my house with glory. And then look at verse 27. And nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination in life. Hey, wait a minute. That’s back the very beginning in Isaiah 52, what we talked about there. And nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying shall ever come into it. They will not come into it now. They will not come into it in the future. They will not come into it ever. You can’t get into this city merely because you were born in the nation of Israel.

You have to be reborn to enter this city. Nothing unclean ever comes in. So he says, But what if somebody’s baptized and they don’t really mean it? Maybe they’ve done it for the wrong reasons. Guess what? They’re not in the city. Only the cleansed. You can’t get into the city without being cleansed. Nothing unclean shall ever come into it. But if the Lord writes your name in his book, you’re in. And look at chapter 22. Blessed are those, verse 14, blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life. And we read about the tree of life at the beginning of the chapter, and it yields fruit for what? The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.

You’re in this city. Guess what you get? Healed. You’ve washed your robes. You get healing. And you have a right to the you are given life. Life presently, life eternally, if you continue to eat of the tree. And bask in this fellowship. But outside are immoral people, it says in verse 15. And if you think this invitation to this city is again something just future, not so. Verse 17. The spirit and the bride say come, and let the one who hears say come, and let the one who is thirsty come, and let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. The key element is that God indwells. And have I said lately this is the holy city? God indwells the holy city. Now we’ll take you to this when we’ll be done.

Conclusion

Well, this hasn’t taken long, really. In Ephesians chapter 2, I know it’s long for you, right? Ephesians chapter 2, you’ve got to see this. This is what Paul is talking about. We’ll conclude with this here. Ephesians 2, verse 19. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens. These are people who are in Christ. But you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God’s household. Having been built upon 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 or a habitation. A dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2 is Revelation 21.

Because we are no longer on the outside looking in, we are God’s house. We are citizens of the holy city. And I’ll tell you what, nothing can touch us. Not height, nor depth, nor any such thing. Not life, not death. And those are pretty powerful things. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. And nothing is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And earlier in that context, it says that we have the Spirit interceding for us. We have Jesus interceding for us. Those whom he called, he justified, and those that he justified, he will also glorify.

To those who love God and who are called according to his purpose. You know that verse? Romans 8, verse 28? That’s why that’s true. Because if you’re in this city, everything turns out great. Those who love God and call his holy purpose, those who are called according to his purpose. All things work together for good. This should provide tremendous encouragement to us. The only question that remains is are you a citizen of this city?

Do you dwell in Zion? Where there are all the blessings that come from the Messiah’s reign and the hope of eternal glory.

The gates are open. Let’s stand and sing.