If God is our Father, Jerusalem is like a mother because it was from Zion that we were redeemed and given new life. It is through what the Messiah accomplished in Zion that we can be born again: through His death and resurrection in Jerusalem that our new life begins.
Yeshua talked about the importance of being “born again” to Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee who sat on the Sanhedrin. John’s gospel lays it out, even from the first chapter: whoever — whoever — believes in the Messiah is born of God. Not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but born of God.
Out of Zion
It was Zion that made this rebirth possible, not just for Jews but for all the peoples of the earth, because it was there that the sacrifice for sin was made once and for all. This glorious truth was declared in the Psalms a thousand years before it all took place.
Salvation, the Bible tells us, comes out of Zion.
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. (Psalm 14:7)
This theme goes throughout the Scripture, in Isaiah 51, for example, and also in the New Testament. Zion is a place from which salvation goes out through all the earth: first to the Jew, then the Greek, then back to the Jewish people again! The pattern is laid out in Romans chapter 11:
“And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob” (Romans 11:26)
But as Dr. Seth Postell explains, the Psalms show a particularly special path following the trajectory of salvation for the nations.
How Israel’s enemies become “Zionists”
In Psalm 83 we see a description of the enemies of Zion conspiring together to wipe Israel out as a nation, and the request that God would scupper their plans in order that they might know He is God:
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever;
let them perish in disgrace,
that they may know that you alone,
whose name is the Lord,
are the Most High over all the earth. (Psalm 83:17-18)
Yet just a few psalms later, we see people from among those very enemies which surround Israel mentioned as being “born” in Zion! What happened?
Here’s what it says in Psalm 87:
On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah
Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—
“This one was born there,” they say.
Who are “Rahab” and “Babylon”? Rahab represents Egypt, where Israel were slaves for 400 years before God delivered them, and Babylon the Mesopotamian area where the Jews were exiled after the destruction of Jerusalem and the first temple in 586 BC. Together with Philistia, Tyre and Cush (representing the Philistines, the Lebanese and Sudanese) these were the same enemies who were conspiring against Israel a couple of psalms back.
Yet God says there are people among these very nations who know Him… and that they were born in Zion!
And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her.
The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah
Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in you.”
In God’s mercy and grace, this prophetic psalm paints a picture of God, like a proud Father, registering the birth of those who have been born again from the nations — even from those nations which have historically been at enmity with Israel.
Our spiritual birth is registered in Zion
When we are born again, wherever we may be in the world, our spiritual birth certificate is in Zion.
It is a phenomenon witnessed by many ministries serving throughout the Middle East: those who formerly hated Israel are given a new heart and often a love for Zion as they are born again into the Kingdom of God.
Zion is intrinsically connected to salvation and the proclamation of the Gospel. We see this in Isaiah, right before the description of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Isaiah 52:7)
There are many prophecies of the nations streaming to Jerusalem to worship. Those who love the Lord will come into Zion to celebrate the One who saved them and set them free:
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10)
This is also prophesied in the psalm right before Psalm 87. In Psalm 86 David gives praise to the God who has saved the nations. I think we can all say a hearty amen!
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name. (Psalm 86:8-9)
Photo by Data Lore on Unsplash
