The above verse captured my attention one morning. So I parked there and did a walk about. Why had this verse been highlighted in my thinking? What could it mean for me here now - today? I understood the words from an OT perspective - but what about for “now”?
Thoughts began forming and coming to life.
Zion is the place in Israel that God has chosen for His dwelling place. One day that will be actually come to be. Zion is God’s residence - His habitation - heaven. For believers today Zion is our heart, a temple indwelt by the Holy Spirit of Jesus, a place where God dwells
O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house And the place where Your glory dwells. Ps 26:8
There are four words in that one verse for a dwelling place. David must have been really emphasizing God’s dwelling place - like home. So what is so important about home - the place where we dwell???
Think of home - what makes home - what makes it comfortable? Ideally home, the place where we live and move and have our being should be a place that expresses who we are; a haven; a place to get away from it all; a place to show hospitality etc.
Y A place of praise: But You are holy, You who inhabit the praises of Israel. Ps. 22:3 (WEB)
Praise: an expression of approval, value, merit, commendation or worship; older meaning was a compliment
Y A place of glory: O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house And the place where Your glory dwells. Ps. 26:8
Glory: honor, glorious, abundance, riches, splendor, dignity, reputation, reverence; Glorious and gracious presence; God manifesting/displaying His Nature - Character
Y A place of beauty: One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. Ps. 27:4
Y A place of light: From Zion, most beautiful of places, God has sent out his light. Ps. 50:2
Light: shines forth; to send out beams; to cause to shine; manifested Himself in a glorious manner; glorious radiance
Y A place of rest: For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it”. Psalm 132:13-14
Rest: resting place, quietness
Y A place of provision: "I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread."Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy. Ps.132:15-16
God chose Zion - the word Zion means guidepost, way-marker - one that is conspicuous in nature. He chose it and made it public knowledge.
Because of what Jesus did on Calvary and Pentecost — He now makes anyone who believes in Him, His private abode, His chosen habitation: the place where He finds praise, glory, beauty, provision, rest and shines forth His light.
Out of you, most beautiful of places, God sends out Jesus, The Light of the World. He has chosen to manifest Himself through us. He has chosen to live and move and have His being reside in earthen vessels. We chose to live and move and have our being in His Dwelling Place: HIM!
Individually each one of us is His Dwelling Place and collectively we are His Dwelling Place. Maybe we could be called God’s Zion, a conspicuous place of His residing; those “living stones”.
