The terra “Zion,” in the verse before us, is one of so much interest and importance, that it demands a special notice. And the more so because it is often used by ecclesiastical writers, as descriptive of the Church, or as synonymous with the expression, “Church of God.” This we believe is a mistake. It is the chosen seat of royalty during the millennial reign of Christ. The order of events connected with the advancement of David as God’s elected and anointed king, throws much light on the order of events in that yet future and glorious day. “They go from strength to strength; every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.” Whether we view the hill of Zion historically, as in connection with David; or, devotionally, as in the Psalms; or, prophetically, as the throne of the Messiah’s kingly power and glory — it is a place of great interest and significance.
It is first mentioned in connection with the history of David, when he became king over all Israel. “Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.” (2 Sam. 5:77Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. (2 Samuel 5:7).) The Philistines were still in the land, and the people of Israel were in the lowest condition possible. They had chosen a king after their own hearts, and now they were smarting keenly for it. Samuel had faithfully warned them, and foretold what the state of things would be, under their self-chosen king. But they refused his counsel, and said, “Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like the nations.” (1 Sam. 8) Such is the obstinacy of self-will: and none are so deaf to all good counsel, or so blind to danger, as self-willed people. “We will have a king over us.” Surely this was daring and dangerous ground! So it was, and it ended in the most overwhelming disasters. And such must ever be the result, when the unbroken will is allowed to act. Alas! that the Christian should ever be found, in any sphere of life, thus set on having his own will!
The Jews had not that bright, living example before them that we have. The Master whom we follow could always say, “Lo, come, to do thy will, Ο God......Not my will, but thine be done.” Besides, what happened to Israel because of their willfulness, has been written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Be warned then, Ο my soul — beware of seeking thine own will. It is always wrong. Besides, remember how blinding and hardening it is. Eyes, ears, reason, affection — all are closed and sealed up, that the will may have its own way. How often it yields not, even in the presence of impending ruin, and to the most earnest pleadings of friendship. Meditate in the view of these things, Ο my soul, on the path of the obedient One. Follow Him. He hath left us an example that we should walk in His steps. God’s will only is good. Thou wilt never seek thine own will in heaven — why here? But should the Lord suffer thee to have it, as He did Israel of old, it may be for thy sore chastening, that thou mayest learn to say, “Not my will, Ο Lord, but thine be done.” Bather let thy prayer be, “Grant unto me, Ο Lord, in thy mercy, a subject will, a chastened spirit, a tender conscience, a subdued heart, for thine own name’s sake.”
“He always wins who sides with God,
To him no chance is lost;
God’s will is sweetest to him when
It triumphs at his cost.
“All that God blesses is our good,
And unblest good is ill;
And all is right that seems most wrong,
If it be His sweet will.”
Israel could scarcely have been in a state of greater confusion and ruin, than when David established his throne on Mount Zion. Both the kingly and priestly departments of the nation were in great disorder. The sanctuary was defiled — the priesthood corrupted — the ark of God in captivity, and “Ichabod” written on the whole scene — the glory had departed. For this terrible state of things there was no hope — no resource in Israel. But God in mercy interposes. He calls out David, a man after His own heart. He awakes, as it were, out of sleep. The language of Psalm 78, on this particular point, is remarkable. “Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts; he put them to a perpetual reproach. Moreover, he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim; but chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion, which he loved. And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established forever. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes great with young, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”
Saul was a king after the people’s will, David after God’s heart. Not that David always acted according to the heart of God; but he was chosen of Him. David, alas! failed, and failed grievously; and needed the mercy and forgiveness of God. Nevertheless, we often find the heart of David responding to the heart of God in a very blessed way. And who ever felt his sin more keenly than David, or confessed it more fully? Or whoever counted more thoroughly on the goodness of God for pardon and restoration? In short, he understood in a remarkable way, the heart of God, and the grace that dwells there.
After David had taken possession of Jerusalem, the Philistines viewed him with jealousy. He inquires of the Lord, follows divine directions, goes out to battle, and gains signal victories over them. God is with him. He directs the movement of his army. The people, under David as their leader, triumph over their enemies. A great deliverance is wrought in Israel. The downward course of things is stayed, and Zion becomes the hope of the people — the resting place of faith. The grace of God has done it. The people are greatly blessed. They find out that it is better to follow the Lord’s will than their own.
David becomes a type of the Lord Jesus, not only in His rejection and suffering, but in His victories. The Lord will make war with His enemies, immediately before the establishment of the millennial kingdom. The Lord will descend from heaven for the destruction of Antichrist, and those confederated with him; but, like David, after His throne is established in Zion, there will still be enemies outside of the land of Israel to subdue. “The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion, rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” (Ps. 110.) And also, as under David, the people triumphed over their enemies, so will they under Christ. “For the Lord of Hosts hath visited his flock, the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the day of battle. And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off; for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.” Zech. 10:3-73Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. 4Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. 5And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. 6And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them. 7And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord. (Zechariah 10:3‑7).
All this, clearly enough, is future. It must take place after the appearing of the Lord in glory, and before the Solomon character of His reign is established. The early part of Christ’s reign will be the antitype of David’s — the warrior king; Solomon typifies Christ reigning in millennial peace and glory. But we cannot pursue this subject at present, we must return to David.
Another thing now fills and occupies his mind. He was a man of faith before God, as well as a man of power before his enemies. His throne was now established in power on Mount Zion, but the ark of God still dwelt in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The ark of the covenant was the visible link of God’s relationship with the people. Hence the loss of the ark was the “Ichabod” of Israel. And now, having prevailed over his enemies, and united all Israel under his scepter, his heart longs to restore the ark to the tabernacle which he had pitched for it on the hill of Zion. Here the faith and piety of David shine most brightly; and never in stronger contrast with the house of Saul. Michal, like her father, cared nothing in heart for the glory of God. But David rejoiced to humble himself before the Lord, and reproves Michal in the strongest way. He cared for the glory of God, and the welfare of His people. Neither Michal nor her father’s house cared either for the one or the other. They never understood the claims of the God of Israel. They thought only of themselves. But how different it was with David! At the prospect of the ark entering the city his heart leaps with joy. But if we would know more fully the feelings of David on this occasion we must study carefully Psalm 132. There the Spirit of God records them, as an everlasting memorial, of his devotedness to God and to His people! He danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. And be dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to everyone a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed everyone to his house.” 2 Sam. 6.
This was a glorious day for Israel. The long dark night of “Ichabod” had passed away. The connection between God and His people was again re-established. The bonds of the covenant were restored. The presence, power, and glory of the God of Israel are now with the nation. The people are greatly blessed. They have seen a sample of the glory, and tasted the blessings of the Melchizedek reign. David acts as priest. He wears the linen ephod. He is the head of the people. And now, the throne of the king and the ark of God are both established on Mount Zion. Hence it is that Zion acquires such an immense importance ever after. It becomes God’s center in the holy land: there the tribes of Israel are gathered together, every one of them appearing before God in Zion. It is also the standing witness to all nations, of the activities of God’s love on behalf of His people, when all was lost under law. This is the grand principle of Zion; and thereby, it becomes to faith, the divine guarantee of what God will do for His people in the latter day. This is clear from Rev. 14 —“And I looked, and, 10, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” The suffering, God-fearing remnant of the latter day, will be associated with the Messiah in His kingly glory, as the faithful in Israel were with David of old. The center of His dominion and glory is the Mount Zion which He loved. There the Lamb shall reign, and they follow Him whithersoever He goeth. Bright, blessed, glorious reward, for sharing His rejection — for patiently waiting, in holy separation from the world, for His coming!
“He, who with hands uplifted, went from this earth below, Shall come again all gifted, His blessing to bestow.”
Here, Ο my soul, bow, worship, meditate. Thou art in the presence of a greater than David, and of one better known to thy heart. He is thy Lord, worship thou Him. In type, principle, and detail, learn of David. Himself and his history at this part are full of Christ. Mark the order of events, and learn thereby something of that which is yet to come. The end may be near; faith says it surely is. Then, Ο wondrous thought, thou wilt be more than a student of the past; thou wilt have thy part in the scene. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him, in glory.” (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4).) But knowest thou meantime, Ο my soul, thy christian privileges? We have come to Zion now. By faith, in spirit, we are already come to Mount Zion. Sinai is the type of man’s responsibility, Zion of God’s grace. What a difference! “But ye are come unto Mount Sion — and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem — and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly — and to the Church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven — and to God the judge of all — and to the spirits of just men made perfect — and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant — and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Heb. 12:22-2422But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22‑24).
What are these many glories to which we are come — into which grace has introduced us? we may well exclaim. Blessed, indeed, are all they who have believed in Christ now, and who are now brought in Him, into all this wondrous glory! Such is the present portion of all who trust in Jesus. The Lord grant to any who may read this paper, to feel their need of Christ, and to be without rest or peace until they find both in Him. He waits to be gracious, why should any refuse such a portion? Look again, dear reader, at these verses in Heb. 12. To know now, even now, that we are come to all this — that we are interested in all this, and that there is no fear of things going wrong in heaven, as they have done in Israel, is the souls present rest, peace, joy, and happiness. Surely it is no small matter to belong now to the Church of the first-born ones, whose names are registered in heaven! The Church is blessed in Christ and with Christ, and all who are converted now, are called, not only to the nuptial glories of the Lamb, but to the eternal blessedness of the Bride the Lamb’s wife.
Know then, I pray thee, thy need as a lost sinner now — think of the love of Jesus in dying for such — for thee. Dost thou prefer thy sins and this world, to forgiveness and Christ? Oh! if such be the case what must the end be? Plainly, my dear reader, dost thou prefer the pains of hell forever, to that place of peculiar honor, blessedness, and affection, to which the Church of the first-born are called. What! prefer the blackness of darkness forever, to the light and holiness of heaven! No. I am well aware thou wouldst not say so, in so many words. But do not actions speak louder than words? Break, Ο break, at once and forever, with everything that would keep thee from Christ. Love Him — trust Him — follow Him — serve Him. To whom wouldst thou give thy heart, if not to Him who first gave Himself for thee?
Note. — Psalm 2 shows us the king set upon the holy hill of Zion, the Son of God, begotten in time (a truth apart from His relationship as Son, one with the Father before the world was; a doctrine taught in John 1, Heb. 1, Col. 1, and elsewhere), owned as such by the Lord, and the kings of the earth charged to submit to Him. Psalm 8 speaks of Him as the Son of man, to whom all things are subjected, according to the eternal purpose of God. In Psalm 110, He who had been despised and rejected, being seated at the right hand of God, is to rule in the midst of His enemies.
Compare Psalm 24 and 102. In the first, He is acknowledged as the Lord of Hosts, the King of glory, after having conquered His enemies; in the second as the Creator Himself.
J. N. D.