Zion, the City of the Great King
by Bob Hutto
via Biblical Insights, Vol. 14 No. 8, August 2014
When David consolidated his reign over both Judah and Israel, he and his men took Jerusalem from the Jebusites, including the fortress at Zion. David built his palace there and moved his capital from Hebron. From that time forward, Zion was known as the city of David. This move was strategically important for David, in that Jerusalem and Zion belonged to neither the southern nor the northern tribes and lay near the divide between the two. The choice of Zion for the royal residence would send the message that David intended to rule over a united Israel without favoring one section over the other.
Zion is referred to in the Old Testament about 150 times (with the highest concentration in Psalms and Isaiah). We might add to this various circumlocutions for Zion, such as God’s “holy mountain” (Psalms 2:6) or “the city of the great king” (Psalms 48:2). It was located on the ridge south of the Temple Mount. It occupied a level higher in elevation than the valleys below, but lower than the temple mount (Solomon brought the ark up to the temple from the city of David [II Chronicles 5:1f]). Though the etymology is obscure, the name itself may derive from either Arabic or Syriac words for a place of protection or fortress. Eventually, Zion was used to include the temple mount, the entire city of Jerusalem, and even the inhabitants of Zion-Jerusalem. At times, it is difficult to determine which of these is intended (Psalms 74:2; Isaiah 8:18; 4:1-6).
Since God chose Zion-Jerusalem as his dwelling place (Isaiah 8:18), it came to embody the features of the ideal city in the minds of God’s people. God’s throne may have been in heaven, but the footstool of the throne was in Zion (Psalms 99:1-5; 132:7; Lamentations 2:1). It was “beautiful in elevation,” “the joy of all the earth” (Psalms 48). All the protection, strength, security, and peace that a mountain fortress could provide emanated from there. When the pagan kings laid eyes on it, “they were astounded; they were in panic; and took to flight” (Psalms 48). Indeed, God made Zion-Jerusalem the “center of the nations” (Ezekiel 5:5).
It is a short transition for a word used to name a place to be applied to the people who live there. So it is with Zion. We read frequently about the “daughters of Zion” or the “sons of Zion,” and on occasion Zion by itself refers to the people (Zepheniah 3:16; Zechariah 1:17). The people benefit from the protection, security, blessings, joy, and peace of God who rules Zion with lovingkindness, justice, equity, and righteousness (Psalms 48:9; 99:2; 132:15; 147:12f).
Jeremiah’s lamentations give us insight into how God’s people thought of Zion. It was the “perfection of beauty / the joy of all the earth” (Lamentations 2:15). Jeremiah sorrowed over the loss of its majesty and precious things (Lamentations 1:6-7), its gold and holy stones (Lamentations 4:1). All roads once led to Zion, but after its destruction, they were cut off, and no one came to her to worship the Lord (Lamentations 1:4). What was once the joy of their hearts and their crown now lay desolate (Lamentations 5:15-18). Though Zion was the glory of God, he became her enemy because of her rebellion against him (Lamentations 2).
Isaiah is not alone in looking to the future of Zion, but he speaks of it frequently and with emphasis. “Zion will be redeemed with justice” (Isaiah 1:27). “The Law will go forth from Zion” when God establishes the mountain of his house above all mountains (Isaiah 2:2-4). The people there will be called holy when the Lord washes away their filth. He will then create a protective shelter over her (Isaiah 4:3-5). The Lord will lay a tested stone in Zion as a foundation for the city (28:16). Only those who walk righteously and speak with sincerity will inhabit it (Isaiah 33:13-16). The ransomed of the Lord will dwell in Zion with everlasting joy upon their heads (Isaiah 35:10). People from all nations will stream to her (Isaiah 2:2). Eventually, a redeemer will come to Zion who will take away the transgressions of the people and establish his covenant with them (Isaiah 59:20-21).
The prophets frequently take a concept, one familiar to the people, and invest it with new, spiritual meaning. They speak of David, but look forward to a new and greater David (Jer. 33:14-22). They speak of a coming king, but mean a new, spiritual king (Is. 9:6). And they speak of the restoration and glorification of Zion, but look forward to a new Zion, one that will possess all the qualities described above. Hebrews 12:22 tells us the new Zion has come. All those who are in the church of Jesus Christ dwell in her. We enjoy God’s abiding presence and benefit from his protection and blessing. We must walk with integrity and work righteousness, but if we do, we have no need to fear, for God will establish us forever (Psalms 48:8), and one day our “eyes will see the King in his beauty” (Isaiah 33:13-17).
