20150108 Thursday, January 8 2015
Psalm 048: King David's Zion Prophecy

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole Earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King"

The English rendering of "Zion" is from the Hebrew word, pronounced tsee-yone, which originally meant an elevated place, or a height, with an applied meaning to be bright. Elevated places are naturally more exposed to sunlight and therefore are often seen "shining" from lower elevations. The literal meaning is also read (when translated correctly) in its ultimate purpose as spoken of by the prophets - including King David in such verses as "50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined" (Psalm 50:2 KJV).

In Jerusalem, "Zion" was the name given to one of the highest hills of the city. Mount Zion is slightly higher than Mount Moriah (the "Temple Mount"), while the nearby Mount of Olives is slightly higher still. It was, literally, a natural place for a ruler to be sited - just was, and is, the nearby four-winds "threshing floor" that became the Temple Mount.

Jerusalem had always been a foreign city to the people of Israel - until King David captured it after the Civil War (see When Did Jerusalem Become An Israelite City?) when the LORD told David to move his capital from Hebron to Jerusalem. At was at that time that "David took the castle of Zion."

"11:1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 11:2 And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.

11:3 Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.

11:4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 11:5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.

11:6 And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.

11:7 And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. 11:8 And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 11:9 So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him." (1 Chronicles 11:1-9 KJV)

The Temple built by Solomon (see A History Of Jerusalem: The Temple Of The LORD) was destroyed because the people of Judah had become corrupt. That did not however affect the prophecy about Zion, or about the Temple - nor did it affect it when the people of Judah again rejected the Messiah when He was born as a man. The LORD Himself was the "precious corner stone, a sure foundation" of Zion. The prophecy about Zion was always about the Messiah.

"28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 28:18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. 28:19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. 28:20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. 28:21 For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. 28:22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth." (Isaiah 28:16-22 KJV)

Although not usually recognized as such, King David was actually one of the major prophets of the Holy Bible. David was given to witnesses the Crucifixion through the Messiah's own eyes (the only such view in the entire Bible; see David's View From The Cross), as well as the Return of the Messiah when He will rule the entire Earth from Zion (see The Messiah's Rod Of Iron and The Patriotism Prophecy; also David's Resurrection Prophecy and The King's Trumpet). King David knew prophecy - and that his throne was itself a prophecy of the King to come.

"48:1 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. 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 48:3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

48:4 For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. 48:5 They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. 48:6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. 48:7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

48:8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

48:9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. 48:10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. 48:11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

48:12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. 48:13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." (Psalm 48:1-14 KJV)

Fact Finder: How were Jerusalem and Zion always connected in Messianic prophecy - even long before Jerusalem became an Israelite city?
See the study series (the links to all are in each study of the series), including Israel In History and Prophecy: Jerusalem and Israel In History and Prophecy: Zion