JERUSALEM!
Key Verse: “ Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King!” (v.2)
Key Theme: A chapter praising Jerusalem
Key Descriptive of God: Great; Defender of Jerusalem
Today a truly fascinating Psalm with an unbelievable treasure of a message. Read the 14 verses of this chapter and there is one theme— Jerusalem. Sometimes called Mt.Zion (and depending on your translation), Zion, or the City of God, it is a Psalm where the Psalmist highlights the close relationship God has with Jerusalem. As it says in verse 3, “God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge.” Verse 8, calls it, “the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. It is the city of our God, He will make it safe forever.” Wow, has that last line been under contradiction.
JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH?
In our key verse 2, Jerusalem is called “The joy of the whole earth”. What a prophetic passage yet to be fulfilled! Today, perhaps 3000 years after this declaration, Jerusalem seems more like “The consternation of the whole earth.” Nor is this something recent. Jerusalem has a history of at least 5500 years. In known “modern history” it has been attacked 52 times, captured or recaptured 44 times, besieged 23 times, and completely destroyed 2 times. It has had many partial destructions mixed in all that history. It has been ruled by Romans, Persians, Arabs, Crusaders, Turks, Egyptians, and Islamists. 3 major world religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam view it as a holy city and a spiritual headquarters of some sort. That is over half the population of the world. The whole world went into an uproar when President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s official and “forever” capital. While not yet “the joy of the whole earth” the city is definitely “the center of attention” of the whole earth. No city on earth carries the attention this ancient Jebusite stronghold does. Why?
WHY IS JERUSALEM SPECIAL?
This was an amazing discovery I made years ago and in it there is such a lesson for us today. What made Jerusalem so special? How did it become this “city of God”? Prior to David there was no instruction on or spotlighting of Jerusalem. In fact, it did not become Jerusalem by name until David gave it that name about 1000 years BC. When David as King conquered the Jebusites, their stronghold city was Jebus where they got their name from. Jebus (meaning “downtrodden or depressed”) was renamed Jerusalem by David. It was nothing special before David nor do we ever hear of an original utopian “Garden of Eden” moment for it. Depressed and downtrodden people had it as their capital and identity and David took it and declared it a “City of God” and “joy of the whole earth.” In fact, we know Isaiah also said that we are to give God no rest “until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in all the earth” (Is. 62:7). Even seemingly the most undiscerning person on the planet can see there is something totally otherworldly about Jerusalem. But the question remains WHY?
BECAUSE DAVID WAS SPECIAL
So, I just gave the answer. Jerusalem was special because David was special. What an earthquake of a revelation is in that statement. David, who himself was most likely illegitimate (see my book “Becoming a Superhero”) and for sure from Moabite blood (through Ruth), so touched God’s heart that when He saw that David loved Jerusalem, He essentially said to him, “OK, David, you love Jerusalem so much, I love Jerusalem so much.” David in effect grew up a “city of Jebus” downtrodden, depressed and rejected and who knows if that moved him to want to change the name and nature of this freshly conquered city. The bottom line is that if you use the Bible alone as a source you will find no other reason that Jerusalem became special. There is a reason that it is also known as “City of David” and if you visit today you will see reference to that throughout the city.
THE VALUE OF BEING A FRIEND OF GOD
This is the huge message regarding Jerusalem and we are invited to apply it today to ourselves. Our God who is Majestic, Mighty, Holy, Glorious, Omnipotent, King and a hundred more descriptives can be profoundly touched by our human friendship with Him. It is why it is so worth going “tooth and comb” through the Psalms and seeing into this relationship and friendship. Nor is David the only example. Abraham, called “friend of God”, was made unilateral and unconditional promises from God that still affect everything on planet earth until this day. Promises to Abraham made “to you and your descendants” STILL are a compass point for the nations of the world and not to be trifled with. Neither David nor Abraham aced their behavioral report cards— which is a message all on its’ own. God looked at heart and intention over a lifetime and was deeply touched. He didn’t allow a couple of F’s to drag down their report cards and in fact, proved He doesn’t use our report card system. Only He knows how much you did with what He gave you, and how much you insisted on prioritizing your dependence on Him. There is a reason that the most dependent on God man in history is the most honored man in history. The choice to trust God at all times, in every test, adds a fragrance to one’s life that can only be detected by God. He picks it up a million miles away and He will honor such a person and what THEY care for in profound almost unbelievable ways. He will make YOUR city HIS city. YOUR descendants HIS descendants (in some beyond normal way). YOUR wants and wishes HIS wants and wishes. He will find a way to thank you for your extravagant love and care for HIS heart.
CITY OF THE GREAT KING
The Jerusalem story continues to speak. It is almost unimaginable the favor David found with God’s heart. God chose to love beyond measure the city that David loved. The reason we know Jerusalem will one day be “the joy of the whole earth” is because the blood of the God of the universe was spilt and shed there. How could it not redeem the city itself? If we have faith that the blood of Jesus can redeem every sinful person, we also must apply that to the geographical location of that sacrifice of the ages. Salvation came to the world in Jerusalem. As heaven planned redemptions’ story they had to pick a geographical location. There was no favored place above Jerusalem— the former Jebusite stronghold. Wow! David had made it special to heaven. Satan has besieged it, attacked it, and tried to obliterate it but he can’t because “it is the city of our God; He will make it safe forever” (v.8). Satan knows God’s story-telling is over if he obliterates Jerusalem. Good luck Satan! It is also “the city of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (v.8). Jerusalem will always be the most heavily targeted city by Satan but the most heavily defended by God as well. And clearly, since 1948 (I am sure the 48 is coincidental :)) an end-game restoration of Israel and Jerusalem is in play.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR CITY SPECIAL!
You can make your city or your nation special to heaven. Read that again. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR CITY OR NATION SPECIAL TO HEAVEN! It doesn’t require advanced networking, it doesn’t require a lot of Likes or Shares on social media. It requires no money, no following, no endorsement by famous believers, no applause of man, no approval by family or friends— in effect almost nothing cherished here on earth. We study David and his words to learn more about what really moves Him. Jesus died and rose again in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit first showed up in Jerusalem, as “the upper room” has a direct location connection with David’s tomb (Acts 2:39). God wanted us to make the connection. Seek Me and My kingdom first. Move MY heart— and I will empty heaven on your behalf. Oh, that we would get that for this key, critical summer of 2020. His face is shining on us!
Written by: Johnny Enlow
Featured Image by chris ganser on Unsplash
67 DAY COUNTDOWN SERIES
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The 67 Day Countdown Series is brought to you by Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow, founders of Restore7 ministry, as well as international speakers and best-selling authors. Among Johnny’s books are The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, Rainbow God, The Seven Mountain Renaissance, Becoming A Superhero, and RISE. Elizabeth serves as CEO and penned Rainbow God: The Seven Colors of Love and God in Every Season.
