Why On Mount Zion? (Mentioned back in our original passage in Isaiah 25:6-9 in part 1.)
In the Bible, mountains are where God often called His “choice” servants up to in order to reveal Himself to them in a unique manner. Strangely, the devil mimicked this during the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). He led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. The devil then said to Jesus;
“I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours. Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
Jesus’ response to the devil’s tempting offer of worshipping him for worldly gain of any sort must be ours as well. In the end, temporary gain and fulfillment of fleshly cravings will lead to eternal destruction. Using Moses as an example, the writer of Hebrews gave us a good example to follow when faced with the choice of immediate gratification versus eternal reward;
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.”
(Hebrews 11:24-26/NASU)
The Greek for “passing” is defined as “for a season, enduring only for a while, temporary.” Paul spoke of this very mindset that’s necessary for the Christian to resist the devil’s temptation in his first letter to the church in Corinth;
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18/NIV)
Other examples of being called up higher include Abraham who was tested by God when he was commanded to go up a mountain to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Through his incredible obedience, his son was spared and the future substitutionary sacrifice of Christ was revealed through a ram, sparing Isaac (Genesis 22).
Moses was called up to Mount Sinai where he would receive the ten commandments (Exodus 19). Jesus led Peter, James and John up to a high mountain where He was transformed before them (Matthew 17:1-8). It was on a “great and high mountain” where the Spirit carried John to and showed him the New Jerusalem, the dwelling of the bride of Christ, coming down out of heaven (Revelation 21:9-10). And at one point in His ministry, Jesus went up on a mountain and gave what many call the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7).
(See the article Iwo Jima And The Flag Raising On Mount Suribachi, and the Bible study Iwo Jima Sulphur Island to gain insight into the great spiritual significance of this famous World War II battle. The taking of Mount Suribachi by certain American troops reveals what will occur at the end of this age.)
What is a Zionist?
a supporter of Zionism; a person who believes in the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel
an international movement originally for the establishment of a Jewish national or religious community in Palestine and later for the support of modern Israel
[OT:6726] Zion = “parched place”; another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books (see 2 Samuel 5:4-10)
“The first time the word Zion is mentioned in the Bible is in 2 Samuel 5:7, when “David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.” However, this area of mountainous land that David captured and claimed for the Lord as Zion was mentioned in scripture well before David’s conquest.
After the first temple was built on Mount Moriah, it became known as Mount Zion. Though today the location of Mount Zion refers to a hill on the south side of Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter, the ancient Jebusite Mount Zion encompassed all of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount…
There, Abraham agreed to do the unthinkable; he bound his only son and prepared to sacrifice him, having faith that God would instead, “provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:1-24). On this mountain, Jacob had his dream that allowed him to climb to Heaven (Genesis 28:10-22). David purchased the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite and sacrificed oxen to atone for his sin on this mountain (1 Chronicles 21:14-18). And it’s there that Solomon built the magnificent temple of the Lord (2 Chronicles 3:1)…
Zion is the essence, foreshadowing, and symbolism of the Kingdom of Heaven… A day is coming when we will enjoy the fullness of God’s presence when we see Him “face to face” in the eternal Zion.
“Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Isaiah 2:3-4).
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant that transformed Mount Zion into an eternal city [see Hebrews 12:22]. And on Mount Zion, we will live in His Holy presence forever.”
The following insights are within the Bible studies Back To Jerusalem, and Seat Of Honor.
The Heart-Way To Zion
In their psalm, the sons of Korah spoke of the blessing over those whose strength is of God;
“How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways [4546- “a highway, a raised way, a public road”] to Zion! Passing through [5674- “to cross over, to pass over, to pass through, going over or through”] the valley of Baca [1056- “weeping”] they make it a spring [4659- “a fountain; figuratively, a source of satisfaction”]; The early rain also covers it with blessings [1293- “a blessing, prosperity, praise of God, a gift, a present”]. They go from strength [2428- “a force, strength, might, efficiency”] to strength [2428], every one of them appears [7200- “to see, observe, gain understanding, examine, choose, discover”] before God in Zion.”
(Psalm 84:5-7/NASU)
The way to Zion is revealed within a heart whose strength is from God, and not of itself. It’s interesting that the NIV, and the NKJV both use the word “pilgrimage” instead of “highways.” The NIV says, “who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” This seems to imply that, like their Lord who, when it was nearing the time for His ascension, resolutely set out for Jerusalem (see Luke 9:51), also known as the city of God, or Zion. They too will recognize that it’s the “appointed time” for their pilgrimage to the holy city, the New Jerusalem (see Psalm 133 below).
Recognizing that the time for our ascension is drawing near at the end of this age, the Lord’s pilgrims have resolutely set their hearts to head in that direction, spiritually speaking, with a view to the heart-preparation of holiness, a holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). In other words, without which no one will be allowed to enter in, through the gates.
Isaiah also referred to this “heart-way” of holiness when he prophesied of Zion’s glorious future;
“And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey [5674- see def. above in Psalm 84:5-7] on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools [i.e. “foolish virgins”] will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow [3015- “affliction, grief, sorrow, anguish”] and sighing [585- “sighing, groaning (expression of grief or physical distress)”] will flee away.”
(Isaiah 35:8-10/NIV)
Walking in the Lord’s “Way of Holiness” is the only way for us to cross over with Christ, which happens to be one of the definitions for the Hebrew word interpreted in this passage as “journey,” and in Psalm 84:5-7 above as “passing through.” In both cases it is made clear to us that our walk with the Lord in purity and holiness will be the determining factor of whether or not we cross over the valley of Baca (“Weeping”), which I see representing the Kidron Valley experience, and then ascend through the east gate, with Christ, into Zion, the city of God, which is the new Jerusalem.
Because there will be nothing on this highway that can harm us, we can be assured that, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death [“the death-shadow, the deep shadow, deep darkness”; i.e. the Kidron Valley], I fear no evil…” With the very presence of the Lord covering us, we will make the short ascent up to, and then through the East Gate, in a spiritual sense, thereby entering Zion, the holy city, with singing and overwhelming joy. We may enter this prophesied place of deep darkness on earth (Isaiah 60:1-3) with fear or anxiety in our hearts, but our God will guide us through safe and secure, on a place of sure footing (i.e. dry ground like the children of Israel as they crossed over), as we remain near Him with a faithful heart. The Lord would say to us as He did with me when I was struggling one day with anxiety on my journey with cancer, “Trust Me.”
Isaiah says that when the “heart-way” walkers cross over/through the valley of weeping, that it will become a spring, “a source of satisfaction.” I see this as a place of “sure footing” for all who will follow behind them. When Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, it was the priests who stepped in first, with the ark of the covenant, ahead of the people (Joshua 3:6). They stood [5975- “to stand, to remain, to continue, to endure”] firm [3559- “to be established, to be stable, to be ready, to be prepared”] on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until all the nation had crossed over ([5674- see def. above in Psalm 84:5-7] Joshua 3:17). The waste lands created by the devil in the valley of demon infested darkness will then be transformed into the living waters of our God.
Through Isaiah, the Lord declares that, “everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Hallelujah! It is at this appointed time of great joy that the Lord, our indisputable King of kings and Lord of lords, will then set upon His rightful throne, in all His glory and majesty, in Jerusalem, forever! It begins, though, in His way being made ready within the hearts of His people. The throne must be established within first before it will be manifested outwardly.
In the final portion of Psalm 84:5-7, we read the following;
“…The early rain also covers it with blessings [1293]. They go from strength [2428- “a force, strength, might, efficiency”] to strength [2428], every one of them appears [7200- “to see, observe, gain understanding, examine, choose, discover”] before God in Zion.”
The early rain, or “former rain” as some versions interpret it, is the rain which falls in Israel from late October until early December. The latter rain, or the spring rain, are the March and April rains which bring the crops to maturity. Both outpourings from heaven are necessary in order to make the crops healthy, ready for harvest. I see in these rains a picture of faith being brought to completion in the Body of Christ on earth through the final outpouring of rain from heaven (see the article The Latter Rain).
Like the crops of Israel, the final ingathering of the harvest of souls is dependent upon the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Even now, the Lord’s faithful disciples are being gathered together once again, as at Pentecost, waiting for the promise of the Father to be sent forth (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4). The final outpouring is dependent upon the obedience of God’s faithful servants who, working together with Him (2 Corinthians 6:1), hear and then do what the Spirit is saying in these last moments of the last days. Because the appointed time of the end of this age draws near, we can be confident in prayer that it is time for God to send rain from heaven for the final harvest of souls.
(The following insight is from the Bible study Witchcraft.)
In Psalm 24, David focuses specifically on the King of glory entering Zion, and the godly character of those of His children who will enter in with Him. He declared;
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face — even Jacob.”
(Psalm 24:3-6/NASU)
The Hebrew for “falsehood” is shav' (shawv) [7723]. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance defines it as, “from the same as OT:7722 [“devastation, ruin, waste”] in the sense of desolating [think of the abomination of/that causes desolation]; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain).”
From all this, I believe the Lord is revealing to us what we need to do in this moment of time, the appointed time, in order to be prepared for Him when He comes for His Bride;
“‘Return to Me,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘that I may return to you,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.” But they did not listen or give heed to Me,’ declares the Lord.”
(Zechariah 1:3-4/NASU)
We must return to Him, preparing our hearts by faith in order to be gathered together with Him and His Body, or He will not be returning for us (also see Malachi 3:7; see the section Returning To The Lord So That He Can Return For Us in the Bible study Witchcraft). Instead, we will find ourselves entering into the most horrific moment this world has ever seen in the last 3-1/2 years of the great tribulation. [See the Bible study Elul; The Season Of Preparation and 40 Days Of Favor for more on who will be “snatched away” with Christ, and those in the church who will be left behind to go through the tribulation because they did not take seriously the call to get ready (i.e. foolish virgins).]
As with the people of Judah, many of God’s people today have been taken captive in spiritual Babylon, the religious whore, “because of their unfaithfulness [4604- “trespass, an unfaithful or treacherous act”]” (1 Chronicles 9:1). If you and I separate from all that the Lord defines as being “unclean,” He has promised to welcome us as His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1). May we be quick to prepare our hearts for the King of glory.
Ezekiel 34:23-26 – Through the prophet the Lord declares that He will remove the wicked shepherds from among His people, setting over them “one shepherd, My servant David.” The places around Zion will be a blessing.
23 "Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd.
24 "And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.
25 "I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
26 "I will make them and the places around My hill [Zion] a blessing [1293- “a blessing, prosperity, praise of God, a gift, a present”]. And I will cause showers to come down in their season [; they will be showers of blessing. [See Psalm 133 where the Lord declares again that Mount Zion will receive the Lord’s blessing, “even life forevermore.” Also, see Psalm 125:1, a Song of Ascent (see the note right below), which says, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.”]
NASU
See the Bible study Jerusalem; The Throne Of The Lord which speaks of the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134), also called Pilgrim Songs (see Psalm 84:5 in the NIV). “The city of Jerusalem is situated on a hill. Jews traveling to Jerusalem for one of the three main annual Jewish festivals traditionally sang these songs on the “ascent” or the uphill road to the city. According to some traditions, the Jewish priests also sang some of these Songs of Ascent as they walked up the steps to the temple in Jerusalem.” (source: gotquestions.org; “What Are The Songs of Ascent?”; see the article for the theme of each Psalm.)
Joel 2:30-32 – The Lord declares through the prophet that, on the “great and dreadful day of the Lord, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for “on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”
30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved [4422- “to slip away, to escape, to deliver”]; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance [6413- “an escape, deliverance, an escaped remnant”], as the Lord has said, among the survivors [8300- “a survivor, a remnant, what is left”] whom the Lord calls.
NIV
Zechariah 8:1-3 – The Lord’s zeal for Zion, the place where He will return, dwelling then in Jerusalem.
1 Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me.
2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her."
3 This is what the Lord says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."
NIV
Obadiah 1:21
21 The deliverers [3467- “to be saved, to be delivered, to be liberated, to be victorious”] will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau, and the kingdom will be the Lord's.
NASU
Marrow; The Symbolism (Isaiah 25:6)
“The soft tissue within bone cavities. In Old Testament times, marrow was regarded as among the choicest of foods (Psalm 63:5; Isaiah 25:6). Good health was characterized by bones with moist marrow (Job 21:24). To fear the Lord and shun evil is marrow (KJV) or refreshment (NAS, RSV) or nourishment (NIV) to the bones (Proverbs 3:8). The image of the dividing of joints and marrow pictures the power of Scripture to penetrate a person's thoughts and motives (Hebrews 4:12).”
(Holman Bible Dictionary)
“Marrow is the nourisher and strengthener of the bones; it is said to moisten the bones: “The marrow (moach) of his bones is moistened” (Job 21:24). The fear of Yahweh “will be health to thy navel, and marrow (shiqquy, margin “refreshing, Hebrew moistening”) to thy bones” (Proverbs 3:8). Thus, the expression is used figuratively of the things which alone can satisfy the soul: “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow (chelebh, “fat”) and fatness” (Psalms 63:5); “In this mountain will Yahweh of hosts make unto all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow (memuchayim, particle, plural, Pual of machah), of wines on the lees well refined” (Isaiah 25:6). In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the writer speaks of the word of God, which is “living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow” (Hebrews 4:12).
(International Standard Bible Encyclopedia – Marrow)
Is this separation an understanding of each parts purpose, which in this case is between a joint in the body and bone marrow? I believe this is talking about each of these being separated from that which they are joined together with because they are not connected directly to each other. See Ephesians 4:15-16 below concerning the “proper working of each individual part.”
“Marrow, one of those words that has changed meaning. Marrow, biblically, is animal grease, fat, moisture (by reason of fat). A marrowy animal was a stalled ox: corn fed and fat. Psalm 66:15, the word fatlings is defined in the margin: Heb. Marrow. “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness…” (Psalm 63:5). And, “It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 3:8). Moisture, fat, plenty, abundance, as opposed to dryness and scarcity. Note the context in the following verses: “firstfruits…increase…filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out.” Fat, marrow, is the best. It was fat that was reserved for the Lord in the sacrifices “…all the fat is the Lord’s.” (Leviticus 3:16)”
“The imagery used here in Hebrews is popular, but easily misunderstood by a modern reader. The Greek word translated "sword" is machairan, often used generically for a "sword" or "dagger" in the New Testament. However, the same word is also used to describe the blade wielded by Peter in Gethsemane (John 18:10). To modern eyes, Peter's weapon was less of a soldier's sword and more of a large fisherman's knife. In fact, a fisherman's machairan was primarily meant for cutting flesh—unlike true military "swords" which were tougher but less razor-sharp.
Whether military "sword" or meat-cutter's "knife," this perspective makes the metaphor of this verse all the more vivid. The "sword" is said to separate the "joints and marrow," probably a reference to tendons, ligaments, and other meaty parts. These are from the Greek words harmōn and myelōn. These tissues are hidden away, hard to reach, and seemingly indistinguishable. A sharp blade, such as a machairan, can uncover and separate these things.
In the same way, the Word of God can even separate spiritual things which seem completely intertwined, such as the soul and spirit…”
Regarding The Separation Of Joints And Marrow
Hebrews 4:6-16 – See the note below.
6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,
7 He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.
9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall [4098- “to fall, used of descent from a higher place to a lower”], through following the same example [5262- “pattern”] of disobedience [543- “disobedient obstinacy, obstinate opposition to the divine will”].
12 For the word of God is living [2198- “to live, be alive (not lifeless, not dead)”] and active [1754- “active, operative, powerful in action, effectual”] and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division [1311- “a division, partition, a separation or distribution”] of soul and spirit, of both joints [719- “a joining, joints”] and marrow [3452- “marrow”; see note below], and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [2902- “to lay hold of, to continue to hold, to retain”] our [“our” not “your”] confession [3671- “confession, by acknowledgment of the truth; profession”]. [See Hebrews 3:12-14.]
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
NASU
The major theme of this passage is separation. And in regards to our discussion of “both joints and marrow,” from God and His body. All of chapter three, leading right up to this Scripture, is using the example/pattern of the children of Israel’s rebellion enroute to the Promised Land. Their separation from God along the way, after being separated from Egypt (i.e. the house of bondage), is a strong warning for us today to be diligent in faithful obedience to God, after turning to Him (Hebrews 10:26-31), so as to not fall away, or should I say be separated from Him with an apostate heart, but to obtain the promise by being allowed entrance into the final eternal “rest” in Him (see Hebrews 4:1-2, 6:9-20, and 2 Peter 1:10-11).
The writer of Hebrews declares the “living and active” word of God as that which separates things joined together (v.12). Joints are that which joins one part of the body to another. They unite body parts. “The primary function of joints in the human body is to connect bones together, allowing for movement and flexibility by facilitating a wide range of motions, from simple bending to complex actions like running and jumping; essentially, joints are where bones meet to enable the body to move in various ways… Joints are the primary structures that enable movement in the body by providing points where bones can articulate with each other. While allowing movement, joints also provide stability to the body by connecting bones and maintaining proper alignment.”
As I said, separation of one thing from another is the key thought in this passage. For our discussion, we will key in on the joints and marrow portion. The human body is linked together by joints and ligaments (see Colossians 2:18-19 below). So is the spiritual body. In the physical body, “A joint separation, also known as a dislocation, is when the bones in a joint are completely separated. This can cause pain, instability, and temporary immobilization of the joint.” In other words, the body parts cannot function properly, thereby causing major issues within it (see Ephesians 4:15-16 right below). Like the human body, when the spiritual joints are separated (i.e. separated from that which the Holy Spirit uses to join us together), it causes a lot of pain, instability, and immobilization in the body of Christ. (Immobilization: “the act of preventing or limiting movement of a person or object; the process of stopping something or someone from moving”)...
(continued in part 3, the final part...)
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