The Goodness of Zion!

Part 2 of 2

As we have seen, Zion is a special place, a realm of glory. And Zion is a people too - composed of all those who choose to dwell there. Those who make Zion their perpetual dwelling place will surely not regret. Though the entrance inside is one permitted only by true humility, Adamic death and subjection to the Master, the fruits abounding within are simply indescribable to the limited and carnal mind, and are worth every proverbial penny spent.. "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise..." (Prov 21:20)! In Zion, He's set His banqueting table with the finest luxuries the human pallate could ever know! It's a place where the grateful hearts of men collide with dancing, worshipping angels! It's the one and only place of rich communion with the Lover of your soul - It's a place where divine delight is reciprocated! It's a place where the very senses are ruined for anything less! Have you been there, dear reader? He's arranged such a feast with you in mind, won't you come inside? Won't you march with me to Zion, and make it your only home and habitation? Won't you let Zion utterly wreck you for anything less? Won't you forsake this earthly realm, and, as Abraham, seek out a founded city whose builder and maker is God (Heb 11:10)? You truly won't be sorry!

We could go on forever of the glories and goodness's of Zion.. We know that Zion abounds with such blessing (Ps 128:5; 135:21; 134:3), but what specifically? Psalm 132 tells of the certain glories of this spiritual place. Those who make Zion their home will inherit a blessing unlike any other! Are you a worshipper? Do you spend your days in the presence of God, in spiritual Zion? Is your heart the continual habitation of the Lord Jesus? If so, Psalm 132 tells of the glories you are to continually possess, and the goodness's which are to pour through you!

"For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish" (Ps 132:13-18).

This is my rest for ever: For here will I [God] dwell.. what more could we ask for, friends? What more could the human heart possibly long for but this inexpressible communion offered lovingly to our race? There is no greater place to be, no greater guest to house, no greater honor to possess! Jesus wants to DWELL with you! Oh the glories of Zion!

I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.. there are no carnal tendencies upon Zion.. there are no human worries in that special place. The heart simply does not have the time to worry about its natural provision - it's too busy lavishing adoration! After all, there is no need to fret, for in Zion - the realm of God's glory - all your needs, big and small, are met with overflow: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt 6:33). And not only natural bread, but spiritual sustenance too.. Zion is the place where the belly is made fat with spiritual luxury, and the heart is ever increased (Ps 119:32)! All we must do is cling to Zion, make it our habitation, make it our chosen home.

I will also clothe her priests with salvation.. There, in that glorious place, our salvation is nigh: Our complete deliverance, our utmost sanctification, our victory and our profit! Who wouldn't want to march up to that realm? Who wouldn't want to habitually dwell there, and partake of such glories? Are you a priest today, part of His "holy priesthood" (1 Pet 2:5; Rev 5:10)? Then these goodness's are to be your very own! Only here, in glorious Zion, are we perfectly preserved from the "wicked... violent man" of sin, who has "purposed to overthrow [our] goings" (Ps 140:4). Friends, Zion's priests are clothed, wrapped up, and arrayed with God's salvation, deliverance, completion, and safety! Here, in Zion, may we all say, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels" (Isa 61:10)!

And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.. Such glories as we are seeing surely give us reason to shout, reason to worship, reason to throw ourselves lovingly at the feet of He who is worthy! "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zech 9:9). Reader, in Zion alone is your joy to be full.. in Zion alone is your heart to be home.. "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for GREAT is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee" (Isa 12:6)!!

There will I make the horn of David to bud.. Where is there? In Zion will He make the horn of David to bud! In Zion will David's power, anointing, strength and defense (of which a "horn" speaks) come forth in fullness (Ps 18:2; Hab 3:4; Lk 1:69; Rev 17:12; 5:6; 13:1; Ps 22:21; 75:10; 89:17). Only in Zion can such things flourish! Only in Zion can the horn of anointing oil be fully poured out: "But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil" (Ps 92:10). Those to be anointed for service must make this trek a daily routine. Zion is waiting for you to trample it's gates!

I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.. Again, here in Zion, a bright shining light is provided: A vision, an eye to see, and an enlightened understanding of all things heavenly is to become your own (Eph 1:17-19)! Who can refuse such heavenly wisdom given by the Living Word? Who can refuse such a deep knowledge of Jesus, one that will wreck the heart at every glimpse? Friends, in Zion such an intimacy is birthed! In Zion alone does such a heavenly light shine! Only in Zion is there "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Lk 2:32).

His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.. And finally, in Zion the crown of it's inhabitants will flourish. The crown always speaks of one's reward, eternal life, kingship and rulership (Rev 6:2; 13:7; 19:20; 2:10; 1 Cor 9:25; Jas 1:12; Prov 12:4). Therefore, only in Zion, true maturity, virtue and sonship will be recognized, birthed, and accomplished in the earth! No place else will such fruit ever come forth (Obad 21). The fires of Zion are purging God's people, chipping away at stubborn carnality, preparing the way of the Lord. In the fires of Zion the heart is molded, and eventually the crown will painfully come forth! While Zion bears a crown, her enemies will bear but shame.. While Zion is clothed with God's authority and kingship, her enemies will eat the fruit of neglect, and the crumbs of a wasted life!

Dear reader, such are only a meager taste of the glories and goodness's of Zion! Such are only a tiny glimpse. Had we a fuller view of such things, the heart would surely burst in bewilderment! May this meager glimpse be enough to propel us to that glory realm, hungry for God's fullness - which only Zion can furnish!