The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 129:5-8,
"May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.
May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;
a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
May those who pass by not say to them,
'The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you in the name of the Lord.'"
This imprecation (curse) against those who hate Zion takes up the last half the psalm. In the first half, the first four verses, the psalmist speaks of the ineffectiveness of those haters in oppressing the people of God.
Zion is a hill in southeast Jerusalem that David captured and became known as the city of God and the seat of power in Israel. Zion became understood as more than a simple physical location, but a reference to the presence and activity of God among his people.
As an example, in a number of places in the New Testament, Isaiah 28:16 is quoted where Zion is featured. 1 Peter 2:6, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." The stone in this passage is Jesus Christ whom Peter identifies as "the living Stone", verse 4. Note the phrase "See, I lay a stone in Zion…"
I'm sure I never want to ever be identified as a hater of Zion. Unfortunately there are many who do.
I sense among people today there is a lot more opposition to the things of God than we realize. That war in the spiritual realm that we read of in the Scriptures is much more pervasive and finds its expression within people all around us… people who hate Zion.
Not me! I love Zion!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.
May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow;
a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
May those who pass by not say to them,
'The blessing of the Lord be on you;
we bless you in the name of the Lord.'"
This imprecation (curse) against those who hate Zion takes up the last half the psalm. In the first half, the first four verses, the psalmist speaks of the ineffectiveness of those haters in oppressing the people of God.
Zion is a hill in southeast Jerusalem that David captured and became known as the city of God and the seat of power in Israel. Zion became understood as more than a simple physical location, but a reference to the presence and activity of God among his people.
As an example, in a number of places in the New Testament, Isaiah 28:16 is quoted where Zion is featured. 1 Peter 2:6, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." The stone in this passage is Jesus Christ whom Peter identifies as "the living Stone", verse 4. Note the phrase "See, I lay a stone in Zion…"
I'm sure I never want to ever be identified as a hater of Zion. Unfortunately there are many who do.
I sense among people today there is a lot more opposition to the things of God than we realize. That war in the spiritual realm that we read of in the Scriptures is much more pervasive and finds its expression within people all around us… people who hate Zion.
Not me! I love Zion!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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