SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
5/13/2012 7:17:48 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
Jerusalem
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 87:1-3
Message
of the verses: We will begin today’s
SD by looking at several introductions to Psalm 87 by different Bible
commentators in order to help us have a better understanding of what the psalm
is about and we pray that the Holy Spirit of God will teach us what He has for
us this day from this section of Scripture.
“INTRODUCTION
TO PSALM 87
A Psalm
or Song for the sons of Korah». Whether
this psalm was composed by David, in a view of the temple to be built by his
son Solomon; or whether by one that returned from the Babylonish captivity, who
wrote it for the comfort of those that wept at the laying of the foundation of
the second temple; it seems evident that the subject matter of it is the church
of God in Gospel times, and especially in the latter day glory: the title in the
Syriac version is, “concerning the redemption of Jerusalem.” (John Gill)
“This
psalm describes the Lord’s love for Jerusalem and exalts this city as the
religious center of the world in the coming messianic kingdom (cf. Psalm
48). Though the nations of the world
)even including some of Israel’s former enemies) will worship the Lord then,
Israel will be the favored nation (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 19:23-25; 45:22-25; 56:6-8;
Zec. 8:20-23; 14:16-19) (The John
MacArthur Study Bible”
“This is another psalm that extols
the glory of Mount Zion (see 46-48, 76, 125, 129, 137). The writer was not indulging in arrogant
nationalism but only seeking to glorify the God of Israel and the blessings He
bestows. The psalm must be read on two
levels. It is a prophecy of the future
kingdom when all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship (86:9; Isa 2:1-5),
and it is also a picture of the heavenly Zion where the children of God have
their spiritual citizenship (Luke 10:20; Gal. 4:21-31; Phil 3:20-21; Heb.
12:18-24). God promised that Abraham
would have an earthly family, like the sands of the sea, which is Israel, and a
heavenly family like the stars of the heavens, which is the church (Gen. 13:16;
15:4-5). The psalm was probably written
in the time of King Hezekiah, after the Assyrian army had been defeated and
Babylon was on the rise (Isa. 36-39).
Following this great victory, the neighboring nations, usually hostile
to the Jews, honored Hezekiah and brought gifts to him as well as sacrifices to
the Lord (2 Chron. 32:23). The psalmist shares three wonderful truths about the
city of Jerusalem. (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)
The
City Is Built by God (vv. 1-3): “1 A
Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song: His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2
The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the other dwelling places of
Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.”
“1 A song. A psalm of the
descendants of Korah: On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the LORD.
2 He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. 3 O city
of God, what glorious things are said of you!
Interlude” (NLT)
In
the 14th chapter of the book of Genesis we see Abraham meeting the
king-priest Melchizedek who was the king-priest of Salem, latter to become
Jerusalem “city of peace.” We know that
according to Psalm 76:2 and Hebrews 7 that Melchizedek was a type of Jesus
Christ who is our Priest-King who lives in heaven. We will see three phases of Jerusalem as we
read about in different parts of the Scriptures. The Jerusalem that God chose to be His city
and where Christ died for our sins, we see Jerusalem as the capital of the
world in the Messianic Kingdom, and we see a “New Jerusalem” where the church
will abide in the eternal kingdom.
Jerusalem is very important to God, the city that he has chosen, the
city where His temple was built, the city where Jesus Christ died and rose
again from, the city where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was sent out from, the
city where Jesus Christ will reign for 1000 years when He returns from heaven,
and the city that is being built by God that will come down out of heaven which
is described in the later chapter of the book of Revelations. It is no wonder that the Lord loves the city
of Jerusalem.
We see today that the city of
Jerusalem is a city in turmoil, “Zec. 12:2
Behold, I will make
Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they
shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.” It was in 1967 that Jerusalem became part of
Israel for the first time in their hands since 586 BC. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of this in chapters
36-37 and Israel became a nation again in May of 1948, and then in the seven
day war Jerusalem went into the hands of Israel. Many Bible Scholars of today believe that the
stage is set for the return of Jesus Christ for His Church and then the
beginning of the last seven years of history as we know it before the Lord
Jesus Christ will again return to earth to set up His kingdom from the city of
Jerusalem. We read in Ezekiel 40-48 how
the Lord will change to topology of Israel and set up His kingdom that will
last for 1000 years. Yes Jerusalem is
important to God and much is written about it in His Word.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: After I
became of believer in Jesus Christ in January of 1974 the Lord put into my
heart a deep, deep love for the nation of Israel, and that is now wonder for
Jesus Christ is a Jew, a descendant of King David. I love Israel and one day, God willing, I
will be able to go there to walk where Jesus walked and to see for myself the
great city of Jerusalem.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
Trust that the Lord will continue a work in my heart that He started
last week in church.
5/13/2012
8:14:20 AM
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