FOR SOME DAYS this month we will consider what David and the Prophets knew of Zion. Though we live under a better Covenant than they did, they, at the least, did point us to it with prophetic Words to give us light along our way.
WHEN WE KNOW OUR LORD IN ZION. WE KNOW A PERSONAL TRIUMPH THAT PURSUES US IN EVERY AVENUE OF LIFE. Knowing Zion becomes a way of life for us.
DAY 1—Zion is where God’s King is set.
Psalm 2:6,8 Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of ZION.... Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.
Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under His feet and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church.
LORD JESUS, I acknowledge You as King. Oh, let me know this is so in every thing I face today. Even in the difficult things that have come upon me, I will acknowledge that You are King over it all.
The testimony of the Lord Jesus is that He is Lord over all—Ps
2:7-9; Mt 28:18
DAY 2—Zion is the dwelling place of the Lord, where He is praised and His doings are known.
Psalm 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, Who dwells in ZION: declare among the people His doings.
Psalm 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen ZION: He hath desired it for His habitation.
I Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
LORD, there is something mystical and wonderful about Your dwelling place. I am beginning to see how Your grace has received me and made me a part of it. I don ‘I have to go afar to find You. Just knowing You are my Lord, close at hand, makes me praise You—even in this present trial.
DAY 3—Approaching Zion, we begin
finding deliverance from the trouble hatred has brought on.
Psalm 9:13,14 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me. Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: that I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of ZION: I will rejoice in Thy salvation.
Psalm13:5 But I have trusted in Thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation.
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O LORD, trouble has come in a fierce way. I have had difficulty knowing love or fellowship with others. But, not from You. I’m discovering Zion. I am learning to rejoice in Your salvation. Show me Your deliverance— even today—oh, my great Lord of mercy and love!
God rejoices to show all of us His everlasting love—Zeph 3:17; Rom 5:8:1 Jn 4:12
Psalm 14:7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of ZION! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written. There shall come out of ZION the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
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FATHER, please move by Your Spirit upon Your people, whether they be Israel by natural descent, or Gentiles born of Your Spirit. Draw us all into the deliverance amid freedom that can only be discovered in Zion.
God has given us a New Covenant that includes all Israel—Heb 8:10-13
DAY 5—In Zion we are coming to know the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
Psalm 20:1,2 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee; send thee help from the Sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of ZION.
II Cor 1:3,4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
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O GOD, the strength that is coming out of Zion is filling my whole being. My mind is being renewed. My spirit is finding its strength in Your Spirit. The pain of my body is diminishing. The worry that tried to rule me is going from me. I rejoice in what You are doing in me. Oh, let it move through me to these I hold now before You!
We are discovering the eternal priesthood of the Melchisedec order—Heb 5:1-11
Psalm 48:1-3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the City of our God, in the Mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount ZION on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
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LORD, I am beginning to see there is no beauty like the beauty of Zion. Even in the drab surroundings of my life, I am finding Zion’s joy. It is coming within me and touching everything around me. I never knew such joy could be mine. Oh, help me become settled in Zion so I will never move from its surroundings!
When we open ourselves to God’s Spirit, He will guide us in truth—Jn 16:12-15
DAY 7—When we know Zion well,
we can make it known to the generations following us.
Psalm 48:12,13 Walk about ZION, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
Psalm 71:18 Now also when l am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not: until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come.
LORD, Zion is great. I have hardly begun to know it. Oh, teach me more of its glory! Let me become settled in knowing where it is, what it is, and how I can abide there always. Then, please help me guide others who follow me so they can know its glory.
ZION IS A PLACE OF OUR BEING IN God, NOT TRACED OUT WITH A GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARY. Wherever we are, in Christ we can know Zion’s blessing and provision.
DAY 8—Zion is the perfection
of beauty out from which the Light of God shines.
Psalm 50:2 Out of ZION, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
Isa 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in Mount ZION, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously.
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LORD, my spirit has longed for the beauty of Zion. Won ‘t You please let me know how its wealth can come over on my life. Let me see its beauty where I live. Let me see it beauty in the people around me. Let me discover its beauty in my circumstances. Let its beauty overcome my pain and the sorrow I sometimes feel.
When our sorrow and mourning has all gone from us, others will recognize Zion’s rule upon us—Isa 60:14-20
DAY 9—Even when we have failed,
the love of God still reaches for us from Zion.
Psalm 51:17-19a The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Do good in Thy good pleasure unto ZION: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness.
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LORD, our plea is that Zion might be restored and known in the earth. Oh, build up its walls. Let Your people know how great Your Kingdom is. Let us know its power, even now in this present time.
People who have been broken by sin and failure can still discover Zion’s beauty and strength—Ps 51:1-19
DAY 10—In Zion praise to the
Lord is perfected, arising from a perfect rest in the Lord.
Psalm 65:la Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion... (“Silent expectation toward You, O God, is praise in Zion...”)
Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
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FATHER, teach me to wait in Your presence. I want to just wait before You till I know Zion. Let my life become like a sweet perfume before You, and to others.
The travail, and expectation, of all creation is that the glory of the Lord will be revealed—Rom 8:18-22
DAY 11—The heart of a broken
person can become like a highway for others to find Zion.
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the ways of them, Who passing through the valley of Baca (“Weeping”) make it a well: the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in ZION appeareth before God.
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LORD, teach me to turn this place of weeping into a well of life. And then, O Lord, won’t You fill its pool with living water. In this dark and difficult hour let me discover the beauty and joy of Zion. Make my life like a spring of living water from which others may drink.
For those who submit to God’s ways, darkness becomes light—Il Cor 4:6; Eph 5:8; I Pet 2:9
DAY 12—The greatness of God’s
Kingdom is known in Zion.
Psalm 99:1-3 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims: let the earth be moved. The LORD is great in ZION: and He is high above all the people. Let them praise Thy great and terrible Name: for it is holy.
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LORD, teach me to live as a person who knows Zion. I see that it is there we know the greatness of Your Kingdom. It is there Your praise is most high. Oh, bring me to a place of awe before Your Throne. Teach me to honor You in Zion as my King in all I do and all I say.
It is God’s desire to cleanse and restore Zion so all the earth can know its glory—Isa 4:1-6
DAY 13—Zion is the hope of all the afflicted.
Psalm 102:13,16,17 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon ZION: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.... When the LORD shall build up ZION. He shall appear in His glory.... He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
Psalm 9:18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
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DEAR LORD, please build up Zion for us, Your people. Let us know its beauty and glory. From Zion let there come forth new justice and judgment in the earth. Let the destitute and needy discover its provision.
The promise of the Lord unto His people is sure and full of mercy—Jer 29:10-14
ZION IS SPREADING MYSTICALLY THROUGHOUT ALL THE EARTH.
It will exercise more influence than any other government the world has ever known.
DAY 14—Zion is the realm from
which the scepter of God’s strength will reach into the earth.
Psalm 110:1,2 The LORD said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of ZION: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.
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DEAR LORD, many dark spirits have tried to rule my family. Please let us see the deliverance and restoration Zion offers. My greatest desire is for us all to know Zion and the rule of its Government. Let us see its mercy. Let its dominion come over upon us.
For Zion’s blessing we are looking unto the Lord Jesus Who is seated at the right hand of God—Heb 12:1,2
DAY 15—Those who trust in the
Lord will become as strong as Zion.
Psalm 125:1,2 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even for ever.
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FATHER, even in this dark hour, my trust is in You and in the strength of Your Kingdom. While my life is plowed with grief and pain, let the Word of Your Kingdom find its way deep into the furrows that have been cut in my soul. Oh, let the strength of Zion find its way in me!
The Lord will lighten our darkness and bring strength in our weakness—Ps 18:27-36
DAY 16—When we discover Zion,
joy overcomes us and our testimony goes forth.
Psalm 126:1,2 When the LORD turned again the captivity of ZION, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter. and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
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GRACIOUS LORD, let my testimony become clear and sure. You have turned my captivity! It is difficult for me to know myself now. I am a new person. I am a child of Your Kingdom! Won’t You please let this new freedom from ZION come over on every avenue of my life.
Even with a clear testimony, we can expect tribulation in the world—Rev 6:9-11
DAY 17—In Zion the Throne of
God is established eternally, sure against all enemy attacks.
Psalm 146:10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O ZION, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded: and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever.
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FATHER, please show me the triumph of Zion. I want to know Your eternal Kingdom. I want to be apart of it, even today while I’m in the midst of this trouble. Oh, let me show this generation of young believers who are facing their difficulties the glories of Your Kingdom!
It is time for Zion to awake and find its freedom from captivity—Isa 51:1,2
DAY 18—The inhabitants of Zion
learn of the excellency of God’s ways.
Isa 12:5,6 Sing unto the LORD: for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
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FATHER, please bring me and my family to know You in Zion. I’ve looked more at the greatness of my circumstances than of the greatness of Your Kingdom. Forgive me. Help me see how excellent Your ways are, even in the face of this trial that has come upon us. Teach us to exalt in Your greatness, and rejoice in Your love.
Those who get the victory over The beast will rejoice in the greatness of the Lord—Rev 15:2-4
DAY 19—The glory that arises
in Zion will put all other glory to shame.
Isa 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of Hosts shall reign in Mount ZION, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously.
Isa 51:3 For the LORD shall comfort ZION: He will comfort all her waste places: and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
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FATHER, my life has been like a waste place long enough. Now I am ready for the comfort and restoration that I believe Zion will bring. I am ready for my life to blossom for Your Kingdom. I open myself to the joy and gladness of Zion. Thanksgiving can now arise in me.
The glory of the Lord is ready to come over the waste places of our lives—Is 40:1-5
ZION IS WHERE THE BLESSING OF THE LORD IS SURE FOREVER.
We can know its blessing and provision in our lives personally.
DAY 20—Zion is spreading mystically
through the earth, readied to exercise more influence than any other
government ever known.
Isaiah 2:2-4 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the Mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob: and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of ZION shall go forth the Law, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
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FATHER, please bring forth the rule of Zion in all the earth. Let its dominion come over upon the nations. Let it be known in all our economy, in our schools, in our institutions. Let the prisoners know its rule. Let me and my family know its government.
It is in Zion that we shall find the strength of salvation—Is 33:5,6
DAY 21—The groaning of the prisoners
will come as a prayer for Zion unto the ears of the Lord.
Psalm 102:18-22 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary: from heaven did the LORD behold the earth: to hear the groaning of the prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death: to declare the name of the LORD in ZION. and his praise in Jerusalem; when the people are gathered together and the kingdoms to serve the LORD.
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O LORD, please hear the groaning of the prisoners, even those who don’t know much about praying. Even unto those appointed to death, let them discover Your grace. Move in the midst of these who are shut up in fear and despair. Bring Zion’s deliverance upon them.
In Zion we shall discover the way of holiness— Is 35:8-10
DAY 22—The Lord has chosen Zion
for His habitation.
Psalm 132:13-16 For the LORD hath chosen ZION: He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
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DEAR LORD, please let us know the blessing You have set for Zion. Oh, let us hear what is Your determination for those who will dwell there! Let us know the salvation with which You are clothing Zion’s priests. Let us know Zion’s joy.
In Zion the Lord has commanded the blessing for evermore—Ps 133
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