Scripture Reading: Psa. 120—127
Ⅰ
Among the Old Testament types, there is God's holy city, Jerusalem, and within this city there is a high peak called Zion, on which the temple was built—Psa. 2:6; 125:1:
A
Although God is mysterious and invisible, there were two earthly signs of God's existence—Zion and Jerusalem.
B
As indicated by Psalms 120 through 134, Zion, the center, and Jerusalem, the circumference, remained deeply in the consideration of the people of Israel.
C
The saints were concerned not for godliness or comfort but for the fate of Zion and Jerusalem—137:1, 5-6.
Ⅱ
In 2:6 God proclaimed that He had installed His King upon Mount Zion, not upon Mount Sinai:
A
In the Bible these two mountains—Mount Zion and Mount Sinai—are very significant—Heb. 12:18-22; Gal. 4:25-26:
１
Mount Sinai is the place where the law was given; Mount Zion is the place where Christ is today in His ascension—Psa. 68:15-16; Eph. 4:8.
２
Mount Zion is not a place to show us the law—it is a place to show us Christ—Rev. 14:1.
B
As we read the Psalms, we need to discern what belongs to Mount Sinai and what belongs to Mount Zion—Luke 24:44.
C
We are on Mount Zion where we have the church, the Body of Christ, and God's economy for God's testimony—Heb. 12:18-24.
Ⅲ
Jerusalem typifies the church, and Mount Zion typifies the overcomers in the church:
A
Zion is the high peak, the center, the uplifting, the strengthening, the enriching, and the reality of the church—Psa. 20:2; 48:2, 11-12; 53:6a; 87:2.
B
Zion is the highlight of Jerusalem, the beauty of the holy city—48:2; 50:2.
C
The characteristics, the life, the blessing, and the establishment of Jerusalem come from Zion—51:18; 102:21; 128:5; 135:21; Isa. 41:27; Joel 3:17.
D
The hill of Zion is absolutely open to the Lord and is absolutely possessed by Him—Psa. 24:1, 3, 7-10.
E
In the church age, the God who have been perfected and matured are Zion, the overcomers—Rev. 14:1:
１
The church is the heavenly Jerusalem, and the overcomers are Zion as the high peak and the highlight—Heb. 12:22; Rev. 14:1.
２
The church life is today's Jerusalem, and in the church there must be a group of overcomers; these overcomers are today's Zion.
３
The overcomers are for the building up of the Body of Christ to consummate the New Jerusalem—12:4-5; Eph. 4:16; Rev. 3:12.
F
The Lord's recovery is to build up Zion—14:1; Eph. 4:16; Rev. 21:2:
１
Zion is the reality of the Body of Christ consummating in the New Jerusalem.
２
The highest peak in God's economy is Zion, the reality of the Body of Christ, and we need to endeavor in the church life to reach this high peak.
３
We may have a good church life, but among us there is almost no reality, actuality, and practicality of the Body life; this is the need in the recovery today.
４
In the Lord's recovery we need to go on and on until we reach Mount Zion.
Ⅳ
The Psalms of Ascents—Psalms 120 through 134—are the praises of the saints in their going up to Zion:
A
Psalm 120 is the praise of a saint in his going up to Zion concerning Jehovah's deliverance of him from his distress.
B
Psalm 121 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion concerning Jehovah's keeping him from evil.
C
Psalm 122 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion concerning his love of the house of God in Jerusalem.
D
Psalm 123 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion concerning God's compassion on the returned captives.
E
Psalm 124 is the praise of Israel in their going up to Zion concerning Jehovah's help in the invasions of their enemies.
F
Psalm 125 is the praise of the saints in their going up to Zion concerning Jehovah's surrounding of His people.
G
Psalm 126 is the praise of the returned captives in their going up to Zion concerning the great things which Jehovah had done for them:
１
When Jehovah turned again the captivity of Zion, they were like those who dream—vv. 1-2a.
２
Many remained in captivity, and the psalmist prayed for them—v. 4.
３
Whereas the captives sowed in tears, they returned with a ringing shout, bringing their "sheaves" with them—vv. 5-6.
H
Psalm 127 is the praise of the saints in their going up to Zion concerning Jehovah's care for and blessing to His people:
１
Psalm 127 is a psalm of release, a psalm that releases us from labor.
２
This psalm is directed at those who labor and endeavor to do things without trusting in God.
３
Instead of laboring in ourselves, we should trust in God; He will take care of us, and He will bless us.