Slices
Prepare
Where are you from? Where were you born? Where is your spiritual home? Give thanks for the journey that has brought you from there to having your true home in heaven.
Bible passage
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song.
1 He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are said of you,
city of God:
4 ‘I will record Rahab and Babylon
among those who acknowledge me –
Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush –
and will say, “This one was born in Zion.”’
5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,
‘This one and that one were born in her,
and the Most High himself will establish her.’
6 The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
‘This one was born in Zion.’
7 As they make music they will sing,
‘All my fountains are in you.’
Explore
We should expect that God loves Zion, his holy city (vs 1,2), the place he had chosen for his name to dwell (eg Deuteronomy 12:5), the focus for his worship (eg Deuteronomy 16:11), the holy mountain where Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:2) and where the Lord had appeared to David (2 Chronicles 3:1).
What is a surprise is the list of nations in verse 4. Rahab means Egypt (see Isaiah 30:7), which together with Babylon symbolises the great enemies of God’s people. Philistia and Tyre were near neighbours and enemies, and Cush (Ethiopia) symbolises countries that are far away. They are all very much not part of Israel.
And yet they are welcomed in – they will ‘acknowledge’ God (v 4) and be recorded in God’s register accordingly (v 6). More than that, they will be treated as if they had been born in Zion (vs 4,6). This is a wonderful prophetic vision of the future mission of the church and the Gentiles being grafted in to the family of God.
Respond
The psalm ends with God’s people – from all over the world – making music and singing to God (v 7). Whether you can now, or need to make space to do it later, find a worship song, play it and sing it in praise to God.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Kings 8,9; Psalms 62,63
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for God to raise up Faith Guides in many more rural churches, so that children and young people in those areas don’t miss out on learning about Jesus.
Because a strong start begins with smart preparation
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