City of David: the Struggle over Mount Zion, City of the Great King
Zion. Jerusalem. The war over the land. Why does Jerusalem matter in the last days? And why is Zion key to the return of Jesus?
What is Mount Zion?
Mount Zion is a hill just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is actually older than the Old City: it is the original city. Zion originally referred only to the ancient fortress on the hill, and was called the City of David (2 Chronicles 5:2). Zion is only a few acres in size, however upon the building of Solomon’s temple the concept of Zion expanded to include the entire city of Jerusalem. Then the name Zion eventually was expanded to include all of Israel.
Mount Zion’s first mention in Scripture
The first time Zion is mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures is in 2 Samuel 5:7, when David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites. Up until this point in history Zion had never been captured by the Israelites.
David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David. 2 Samuel 5:7
Mount Zion, the Ark of God, and continuous worship
2 Samuel 6 is the story of David bringing the Ark to Mount Zion (called the City of David). David’s first attempt failed when Uzzah, one of the men responsible for the Ark, was struck down by God when he touched the Ark. Yet in 2 Samuel 6:12 King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the Ark of God.” So David went, with rejoicing, to bring up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David.
Once the Ark was set on Mount Zion, David established day and night worship there before the Ark with 4,000 musicians and 288 skilled singers. Out of these, 24 were designated as worship leaders (ref. 1 Chronicles 23-25). Of these, Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman dated back to Samuel’s ministry. In fact, Heman was Samuel’s grandson. 14 of Samuel’s great-grandsons (through Heman) were active leaders of David’s Tabernacle of worship. They were known as ‘the sons of Korah’.
This little piece of real estate called Zion is without a doubt the bullseye of Gods burning heart and His future plans for His kingdom on earth.
But why?
The Ark visible vs. the Ark hidden
Prior to Samuel, in the book of Judges idolatry and confusion were rampant even though the Ark was in its rightful place behind the veil in Moses’ Tabernacle. Following David, when Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the Ark was moved from Mount Zion and put behind the veil in the Most Holy Place for the first time in 100 years since Eli was high priest in Shiloh. Nevertheless, idolatry again reigned in Israel throughout the time of the kings until Jerusalem was destroyed along with Solomon’s temple and the Jews were destroyed and only a remnant taken away to Babylon for 70 years.
So from the time Samuel was a young boy and all through David’s kingdom the Ark of God was sitting, visible, first in Keriath Jearim and then Mount Zion. It is interesting to note that during the life and ministry of Samuel and David, there was very little idolatry in Israel. David never suffered a loss in battle. But when the Ark was behind the veil in Moses’ Tabernacle, and in Solomon’s temple, idolatry reigned in Israel.
This, then, is the key—the Ark of God, visible, in the midst of continual worship.
The worship that was established by David on Mount Zion 3,000 years ago is mentioned over 160 times in the Bible. There are entire Psalms devoted to describing Zion. And Zion is mentioned in Isaiah over 50 times. Scriptures chronicle the history of this one piece of land, Zion, including:
the glory of Zion in the time of David,
the lack of esteem for Zion and its downfall in the idolatrous reign Solomon and the Jewish kings that followed,
the lament by the prophets over its collapse,
the trampling by foreign armies,
its future glory prophesied by the Psalmists, Isaiah, Zechariah for the Jewish people in the 1000 year reign of Christ,
the eternal promise of the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven, and
the meaning for believers both now and during the great tribulation.
God will dwell with His people in the midst of Zion
The worship movement David established on Mount Zion was staggering and has never been repeated on earth in 3,000 years since, and yet God desires it for His dwelling place forever.
For the Lord has chosen Zion,
he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,
“This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. Psalm 132:13-14
Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 51:11
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Psalm 125:1
Our glorious hope during times of tribulation
The days before Jesus returns will be darker than we could imagine, yet He gives us this hope: we will enter Zion, where He dwells, and we will be with Him forever! This is why Jerusalem, Zion, is so important in the last days. It is the city of the great King, where He will dwell forever, reigning in great power and glory. May we yearn, as David did, for the courts of the Lord as we look forward to dwelling with Him forever in Zion!
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God…
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you…
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:1-2, 4, 7
