Mount Zion, The City of God

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-26-2025

Psalm 87

 

Introduction:

A. This particular Psalm is about Mount Zion, the City of God. This psalm is both historical and prophetic, reflecting God's special love for Zion and His plan to make it the joy of the whole earth.

 

Psalms 48:1-3 A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. (2) Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (3) God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

 

B. I want to take a biblical, historical, contemporary, and prophetic look at “The City of God.”

 

1. Contemporary first, as it is the day in which we live. After being a wilderness for a millennium or more, we find the Jewish people returning to their national and eternal homeland.

 

2. Historically, the Jewish people were scattered after 70 AD because they rejected Jesus Christ, their Messiah, and pronounced a curse upon themselves and their children.

 

Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

 

3. The Allenby Declaration of 1917, the Balfour Declaration, designated Palestine as the national homeland of Israel. In 1948, Israel was recognized as a nation, and the Israeli Flag, the Star of David, was raised.

 

4. Today, I often hear the word “Zionist” when referring to a specific part of the people of Israel. Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu is referred to as such.

 

5. A Zionist is someone who supports Zionism, which is the movement for the return of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland and the establishment (and continuation) of a Jewish nation in the land of Israel—specifically, the area historically known as Zion, or Jerusalem.

 

6. Zion is an Old Testament term for Jerusalem, used by today's Jews because it predates the coming of the Messiah whom they still reject. Today’s Orthodox Jews remain faithful to the Old Testament, which anticipated the Messiah, while rejecting the New Testament and the Messiah who came unto His own.

 

7. Now, we see Mount Zion, Jerusalem, the City of God, being readied for the beginning of Jacob’s Trouble and the restoration of the Nation of Israel to its former glory.

 

C. Much is said about Zion and Jerusalem in the Bible.

 

1. Salem. The First Mention is found in the word “Salem.” Salem – four mentions in the Bible, three times in Genesis 14 and once in Hebrews 7:13.

 

a) Salem shâlêm shaw-lame' “Full or Perfect Peace” ; peaceful; Shalem, an early name of Jerusalem, and today’s Jews use the word “Shalom” as a salutation, meaning Peace.

 

b) In type, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, the Prince of Peace, who will reign after the Order of Melchizedek during the Millennium.

 

Genesis 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (19) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (20) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

 

Hebrews 7:1-3 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (2) To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (3) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

 

2. Zion. Used 153 times in the Bible. All 153 mentions are found in the Old Testament.

 

a) Zion means conspicuous, a waymark, or a monumental or guiding pillar.

 

b) The First Mention of Zion – 2 Samuel 5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

 

c) Here, it is called a “strong hold … the city of David.

 

3. Jerusalem. Used 814 times in the Bible, emphasizing its eternal importance.

 

a) Jerusalem – dual, founded peacefully. Dual refers to the two main mountains that make up Jerusalem: Mount Zion and Mount Moriah.

 

b) The first Mention – Joshua 10:1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;

 

c) The Last Mention – Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

 

1. Verse 1 – “His foundation is in the holy mountains.” The “foundation” refers to God’s establishment of Zion. The Lord Himself founded Jerusalem upon the holy mountains—Mount Zion and Mount Moriah. This is not man’s doing; it is God’s chosen dwelling place.

 

Psalms 132:13-14 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. (14) This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

 

a. Spiritually, Mount Zion and Mount Moriah are important.

 

1) On Mount Moriah, our Lord and Saviour died. Raised, lifted from the earth for all the world to see.

 

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

 

2) On Mount Zion, our Lord and Saviour will reign.

 

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 

b. Mount Zion is a stronghold, a beacon for all the world to see. It speaks of the unshakable in its strength and enduring in its stability of God’s purposes.

 

Verse 2 – “The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” Here we see God’s preference. Though He blessed all the dwellings of Jacob (the tribes of Israel), He loves Zion uniquely because it is the place of His presence and worship.

 

a. Gates - “Gates” symbolize access—the entry point into worship and fellowship with God. This is a covenant relationship with Israel.

 

Luke 13:34-35 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (35) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

 

b. Zion – The place of God’s delight today. Hebrews 12:22-24 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

 

Verse 3 – “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.”

 

a. Declaration - The title “City of God” reveals the intimate relationship between God and Jerusalem. It’s not merely Israel’s capital—it’s God’s dwelling on earth.

 

Psalms 48:1-2 A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. (2) Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

 

b. Prophetically – The future glory when Zion will be the center of Christ’s millennial reign (Isaiah 2:2-3; Zechariah 8:3).

 

Zechariah 2:10-13 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. (11) And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. (12) And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. (13) Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

 

c. Selah – a call for reflection and meditation on the greatness of Zion’s eternal destiny.

 

Verse 4 – “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.” Prophetic of the conversion of nationalities.

 

a. The Nations – Rahab (a poetic name for Egypt), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia were Gentile nations and often the enemies of Israel and God.

 

b. The People – This man was born there—the Covenant through the Gospel to all who will come.

 

Galatians 3:27-29 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

Verse 5 – “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.”

 

a. A New Birth - This and that man was born in her. We were not physically born there but, in the spiritual sense, we were.

 

b. A New Jerusalem to hover over Mount Zion in Revelation 21.

 

1. Historically: God protected and preserved Jerusalem

 

2. Prophetically: God will establish the New Jerusalem eternally (Revelation 21:2–3).

Zion’s strength is not political or military, but divine.

 

Verse 6 – “The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.”

 

a. God Himself keeps the record of His people. What a privilege to be written among the citizens of Zion! When the roll of God’s citizens is written, it will include those born into Zion—not by natural birth, but by spiritual birth into God’s family.

 

b. Their names will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

Verse 7 – “As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.” This closing verse is a song of joy and worship.

 

a. Praise now - The singers and players on instruments represent united praise—heavenly harmony flowing from redeemed hearts.

 

b. “All my springs are in thee” – All sources of life, joy, and blessing are found in Zion—in God Himself.

 

c. Zion thus becomes the fountainhead of eternal joy.

 

Conclusion:

 

a. From David’s Zion to the New Jerusalem, the Bible unfolds one great story — God dwelling with His people through the reign of His Son.

 

Marching to Zion

Words by Isaac Watts (1707)
Refrain by Robert Lowry (1867)

 

Verse 1
Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.

Verse 2
Let those refuse to sing,
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heavenly King,
But children of the heavenly King,
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.

 

Verse 3
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets,
Before we reach the heavenly fields,
Before we reach the heavenly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.

 

Verse 4
Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high.

 

Refrain:
We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

 

Biblical Inspiration:

 

Psalm 125:1–2 – “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion…”

 

Hebrews 12:22 – “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…”

 

Revelation 21:2 – “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven…”

 

 

b. Jerusalem’s history is sacred, its prophecies are sure, and its destiny is glorious — for the Lord shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously (Isaiah 24:23). Psalm 48:1–2 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…