KEY
VERSES: And he saw that there was no Man, and wondered that there was no Intercessor:
therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it
sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of
salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,
and was clad with zeal as a cloak… And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and
unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. As for me,
this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; “My spirit that is upon thee,
and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth,
nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed,
saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.” (Isa 59:16-17, 20-21)
The etymology of the word, “Zion,”
is ambiguous, but is extremely important. No one knows for sure what the word
means, but the place “Zion” is a small mountain presently outside the
walls of Jerusalem, which was at one time within its walls. Zion was at first a
Jebusite fortress, and the place where David built his palace. Later, it
changed to the Temple Mount, and then moved to its present location. It came to
represent the city of Jerusalem, and finally all of Israel. “Zion” is thought
to mean “dry land” or/or “a bald spot” (Wikipedia; “Mount Zion”).
Perhaps Zion is not an exact spot
on the globe, but a condition. The psalmist seemed to understand the
meaning of Zion more than anyone: “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek
thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and
thirsty land, where no water is.” Perhaps, “Zion” is the dry and thirsty
place within the souls of men in need of “water!” Maybe Jesus was teaching
that to the woman at the well (John 4).
I believe that Solomon,who was
describing his love in the Song of Solomon 4:15 as, “A fountain of gardens, a
well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.” His love seemed to be
a woman, but was he really describing Israel and the place of peace, Jerusalem?
In several scriptures, Israel is likened unto a woman. I believe that Israel
was the love of Solomon, and her “heart” was Jerusalem. The love which flowed
from the “heart” was the “living waters” of whom Solomon wrote!
Much later, Jesus said, “He that
believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers
of living water” (John 7:38). When Jesus
touches anyone, virtue flows from him to the other person; as an example; Mark
5:30. But when Jesus died, virtue flowed out enough to cover the sins of the
world. Jesus, when he died, shed blood and water, and those two things provided
salvation (John 19:34; 1 John 5:6). “Water” represents the Holy Spirit. It is
likely that blood (representing God’s physical Presence), and water
(representing God’s spiritual presence) must be trusted for salvation.
Now back to Zion. Perhaps it wasn’t
a place, but a condition wherein mankind has a longing for God.
Perhaps it was that empty place on the Temple Mount whose baldness yearned for
occupation. Perhaps it is the hollowness in the souls of mankind which must be
filled with something. That “something” is the spiritual presence of God!
Zion, to Isaiah, seems to be the
faithful longing for God’s blood and water. Perhaps “Zion” to Isaiah was
Calvary! That place of baldness (another suggested meaning for “Zion”) needed
Jesus’s blood and water. Isaiah likely envisioned Jesus on Zion. Zion, the dry and
bald spot in Jerusalem, was begging for occupation. The Occupant was to be the
Redeemer. He would come to fill the “bald” spots in the hearts of men!
Read again the key verses. On Zion,
there was no “Man,” The holy mountain of Zion desired Jesus. “Zion,” in that
case, had to be Golgotha – the skull-like place which Isaiah called “Zion.”
Perhaps theologians have missed one spot having a need for Jesus! Zion traveled
with the purpose of God. Right now, Zion may be that emptiness in the hearts of
men which Jesus can fill with his Holy Ghost. Zion was the Temple Mount when
the Holy Ghost came (Acts 2). Now Zion is in the Temple of men (1 Cor 6:19). Perhaps
“Zion” is God’s place; where he desires to be. Perhaps “Zion” is God’s desire
to commune with mankind. Perhaps Zion is God’s need for requited love!
Now compare the key verses to
this:
Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil… Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above
all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephes 6:10-11, 13-17)
We no longer go to Zion;
Zion comes to mankind! Isaiah was speaking of Jesus, and Zion was then the
Temple Mount, albeit he must have known that Zion is in the hearts of men. Zion
was originally a Jebusite fortress. The whole armor of God is the fortress of
Christians. Zion is around us Christians, keeping us safe from the evil one,
until Jesus returns to Zion and snatches up those who he redeemed!
Isaiah concluded that thought with,
““My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth,
shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of
the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.”
The Spirit of the Lord, His Holy Ghost, shall be on God’s people. He says, “My
Words” shall be in his people. “My Word” is Jesus. The Lord made a Covenant
with the Jews, and it applies to everyone… “thy seed’s seed.” And furthermore,
it is a perpetual Covenant. There within chapter eight of the Book of Isaiah,
he writes of the Covenant of Grace. If you examine it closely and compare with
all the other covenants before, it is the same Covenant of Grace. The Jews
merely needed it phrased in a different manner for them to understand, but they
to this day, fail to understand God’s grace!
How do I love thee? Solomon implied
that “Israel” was his love, but it was really the seed of Israel that
was the love of his life. How do you love him? Do you long for his love? Does
that empty spot need filling with love? You, as the new Zion, seeks unrequited
love, and Jesus love never quits.
Zion on Topigraphical Map (credit: Wikipedia; "Mount Zion") |
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