Samson/Delilah

We have entered the season of Lent, and for many Christians, this is marked by a vow to give up something that they enjoy during the 40 days before Resurrection Sunday. According to the doctrine taught, this vow is also to be accompanied by prayer, penance, mortifying of the flesh, self-reflection and spiritual preparation. As the Cardinal of New York explained, the outward activities are only an indication of an inward change. It is what goes on in the heart that has the true importance, he said.
Whether you observe Lent in this traditional manner, or not, it is a good time to examine our own hearts as the remembrance of the atoning crucifixion, and the celebration of the resurrection of Christ approaches. For me the story of Samson and Delilah has an important message for us.
Samson was a Nazirite. Nazir in Hebrew means consecrated. An angel appeared to Samson's mother, who is unnamed in scripture, which is interesting. She and her husband, Manoah ("rest"), had no children because she was barren. Manoah was from Zorah (hornet, wasps; root meaning:to be leprous, to scourge, to strike down, stricken and smitten by God-see Isa. 53:4). The angel told the woman that she would have a son, and she was to refrain from wine or any product of the grape, for her child was to be a Nazirite from the womb. Yes, God knows us and destines us before we are even formed in our mother's womb. In spite of what some may believe, the life of man is divinely created and ordained (Ps. 139:13-16), and it is created with the light and life of Christ. That light and life in each of us is meant to overcome the darkness. (Jn. 1:4-5). Back to our story.
When the woman's son was born, he was never to take a razor to his hair, according to the instructions of the angel. This would be his Nazirite vow. He was to remain in that vow his until his death (Judges 13:1-7, 13-14). Although he was identified as an angel, the person who appeared before Samson's mother might well have been Christ, because when asked his name, he replied, "Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?" Isaiah tells us that one of the names of the Son, the Christ, would be "Wonderful" (Isa. 9:6). Also, Manoah declared regarding the "angel", "We shall surely die, for we have seen God." (Jud. 13:22).
It would be through Samson's consecration that he would be able to judge Israel.
The judges of Israel were an office provided by God. They were raised up when an enemy would overrun the land and afflict God's people. The enemy was often able to overrun the land because God's people forgot Him, and lived in sin. This certainly reflects our time also. We have forgotten God, and the spiritual enemy has overrun our land.
The judges were gifted by God in ways that would allow them to lead the unarmed people to miraculous victory over those oppressors, and bring deliverance to God's people. In Samson's case, his Nazirite vow of consecration endowed him with great strength. He destroyed many Philistines and their sources of wealth-their vineyards, grain, and olive trees- which made the Philistines determined to destroy Samson (Jud. 15:5). Samson's life and calling were impacted by his obsession for Delilah. Delilah was from the Valley ("to divide for a possession") of Sorek ("choice vines, choice grapes; root word: to hiss, to whistle as a signal used to call, bright red as piercing to the sight"). Everything about her was a challenge to Samson's consecration. Delilah pestered him into telling her the secret of his strength, which was his consecration, or Nazirite vow. As a result, the enemy found out his secret, and they thought they had at last found the way to rid themselves of Samson's interference. They cut off Samson's hair and his eyes were gouged out. He lost his strength, and he spent his days blind, grinding at a millstone, and in chains. That is not the end of the story, but more later.
The name Samson in Hebrew is Shimshon, which means "like the sun, glittering, shining upon pinnacles and shields"; it refers to the rising of the sun rather than its setting because it is associated with the eastern direction (which is also associated with antiquity or eternity). The meaning of his name is associated with openings such as windows, that allow the sunlight to enter. It is also associated with the notched battlements of a fortress. As we can see from his name, Samson represented a great ascending light, the light of battle and defense.
Delilah's name in Hebrew means "to make feeble, pining with desire, weak". The root meaning is "dried up, brought low, not equal, emptied, impoverished, made thin, languish, hang down, to be oppressed, also to hang down like a bucket that removes water from a well".  
As we consider the names of the two people involved, the great promise of Samson's life, his purpose as a light of deliverance, was challenged by something that was specifically purposed to draw something away from him, to enfeeble him, to draw him low, to oppress him, as it also impoverished and oppressed God's people and the land.
The judges of Israel were a fascinating lot, but they are not only relegated to the Old Testament. Isaiah wrote that the judges would be restored by God:
"I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.”  Isa. 1:26-27
The impact of judges in their office, as you can see above, has a wide sweeping effect on peoples and cities. Just as the judges of old were equipped by God for their calling, Jesus told us, "Behold, I have given you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Lk. 10:19). However, this is made possible because of our connection with Christ in the fact that our names are written in heaven (v. 20). Again, this shows us our divine creation and purpose. We are from above, in Christ, not beneath (Jn. 8:23, 1:12-13). How does our New Testament judgeship, ridding the land of the enemy, work?
 Paul tells us that our warfare is not carnal against flesh. Our weapons also are not carnal, but spiritual. We have indeed been called into a deliverance warfare against the enemy, but that warfare begins in us. It begins in our own minds and with our own obedience:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled."  2 Cor. 10:3-6
The importance of victory in that spiritual warfare is not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of many. There is a song entitled, "Making War in the Heavenlies", and it's a great song, but the victory in the heavenlies begins on a much smaller scale- within us. Just as the enemy put Delilah across Samson's path to destroy his consecration and derail his judgeship, so also the enemy places similar disruptions in our path, disruptions that appeal to us. Those distractions and disruptions "pester" us, returning again and again. How do we overcome the continual challenge to our New Testament judgeship?
The accuser of the brethren is cast down, and salvation and strength comes as,
"... they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death".  Rev. 12:10-11
In understanding this scripture in the context of the story of Samson, the blood of the Lamb is our consecration. The Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8), and we were consecrated in Him before we were formed in our mother's wombs:
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
                                                                                                           Rom. 8:29-31
The word of our testimony, which is the Word of God in us, is our Nazirite vow. Concerning our not loving our lives unto the death stated above, as we will see, to Samson, his purpose as a deliverer and his service to God as a judge in Israel was more important to him than his own life.
Though captured, blinded and enslaved, Samson's hair grew back. His Nazirite vow was of the type that, like the re-growing of hair, would continue until his death. In the last moments of his life, Samson's strength returned as his hair grew, and he asked God to let him move in his Nazirite consecration and purpose once again. Samson pulled down a whole stadium containing the enemies who had come to mock him, and the God he represented. Samson destroyed more of the enemy in his death than he had during his whole life (Judges 16:28-31).
Our judgeship is not about destroying flesh enemies as it was in the Old Testament, but in the pulling down of spiritual strongholds through our obedience in Christ. We cannot allow those things that the person of Delilah represents to abort our purpose, trying to cut off the ascending light of Christ in us, or to hold God's people in captivity to impoverishment, oppression and enfeeblement.

Our Father has called us to be part of His Light of Deliverance.

Good/Evil

We are living in times when we see a prophecy of Isaiah coming to pass:
"Woe to those who call evil (wickedness, giving pain, unhappiness, misery, malignant, unkind, distress, injury, calamity, wrong. Root word- to break, to be broken, crushing, raging, tumultuous) good, and good (pleasant, excellent, merry, valuable, prosperous, kind, benefit, bounty, delightful, act rightly) evil; who put darkness (misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, dark place/prison/Hades) for light, and light (bright, clear, illumination, daylight, light of life, brightening of countenance, light of teaching. Root word-to become light, glorious, to make shine) for darkness; who put bitter (the end that comes from wickedness, pain, angry, discontented, sorrowful, the bitterness of death, fierce, powerful, raging, destructive, having a harmful effect especially in a gradual or subtle way) for sweet, and sweet (sweet, pleasant) for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"  Isa. 5:20-21
It is difficult to imagine how man could become so lost, so far from God as to be in this condition. We can see it all around us, but we don't have to look far to see it, because it is sometimes no farther than our own hearts and minds. It is a trap into which we can easily and quickly fall. There is an example in scripture.
There was a great and blessed king. On a day when he was in a place where he was not supposed to be, at a time when he shouldn't have been there, this king spotted a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, she was the wife of one of his trusted soldiers, who at that time was away fighting in battle on behalf of his king. The king began an affair with the soldier's wife, and she became pregnant. Wanting to prevent discovery, the king arranged a leave for her husband, and brought him back from the battlefield for a short visit with his wife. However, the soldier was a noble man, and felt he should not enjoy a visit with his wife while he was home on leave, because his fellow soldiers were still suffering away from home. The soldier, therefore, was not intimate with his wife on the visit. The Plan A cover-up was not successful. The king moved to Plan B. This plan had the soldier reassigned to the front line of battle upon his return to duty, where the likelihood increased that he would get killed. This plan is successful. The only person who would know besides the king and the soldier's wife that the child was not the husband's, had been killed in action (2 Sam. 11:1-17, 26-27).
This whole plot is evil at its worst. The king involved, King David, had an intimate knowledge and relationship with God, probably more so than most of us. He sought, loved and treasured God so much that God had called him, "A man after His own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14). David received revelation knowledge from God, yet in this case he did not recognize the evil that he had done until a prophet of God showed it to him in a parallel example (2 Sam. 12:1-15). God sent His prophet because He needed David to face this evil in order to bring David to repentance, so David could live:
"So David said to Nathan ("Gift"), "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away ("abar"- put away, pass over, pass beyond, cross over, vanish, become invalid) your sin; you shall not die."  2 Sam. 12:13
God's great plan of redemption required that David live. David wrote Psalm 51 out of that repentance. However, there would be more to this picture than our minds could ever anticipate, which we will see later.
Our perception of good and evil gets twisted, because we tend to judge good and evil based upon appearances. We see with our eyes, hear with our ears, taste, touch and smell using our senses. We analyze the information that our senses receive with our natural minds. We are then judging these spiritual things using our flesh. Scripture says that no good thing dwells in the flesh:
"For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find."   Rom. 8:17
The above is what apostle Paul spoke of himself. It is no different for you or me. Using the flesh, including the natural mind and its reasoning, is not the way to identify good and evil. It is a trap for failure.This is the same as eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which Adam and Eve were forbidden to do. As Eve observed the Tree and its fruit, this is what happened:
"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."   Gen. 3:6
After hearing the convincing argument of the Serpent, although it was a lie, Eve looked at the Tree and found that it didn't look any less beautiful than the other trees in the garden. The fruit of it looked fine also. The commandment of God not to eat of it didn't make sense considering the evidence she saw with her eyes, and the deductions being formed in her mind. Adam was with her, and he didn't see the evil of the situation either. Good and evil are spirit, and it is defined by what God says, not by what man sees and thinks. When Adam and Eve chose to rely upon their flesh to make the determination between good and evil, rather than by the revelation of God, it meant the death of them. Are we eating of this same Tree every day? If so, is it bringing us death, or death to others? This might very well be the case.
The greatest Good the world has ever received, the birth, atonement death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, could not and cannot be perceived by the natural senses and mind of men. Jesus said that the knowledge of Him could only be revealed to someone by the Father, Who is Spirit:
"And He (Jesus) said to them (His disciples), "But who do say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father, who is in heaven."   Mt. 16:15-17
Paul said the same: the Gospel of Christ is foolishness to the wisdom of man, and can only be revealed by the Spirit (1 Cor. 1:21-24,  2:10, 14-15). If we cannot perceive this greatest Good, which is Jesus, by our flesh, what makes us think that we can perceive any other good, or by extension, any evil by our flesh?
Both Jesus and Paul warned of judging by the flesh (Jn. 7:24, 8:15-16, 1 Cor. 4:5). Yes, as Paul said, we will judge angels (1 Cor. 6:3). However, it won't be by appearance or the use of natural knowledge and understanding. Yet we judge and analyze people and situations, good and evil, every day by incomplete information and natural understanding. It happens so quickly, and so "naturally", we don't realize that we have fallen into the trap.
We may feel confident that we can judge good and evil by the Word of God. This is true, as far as the extent of our knowledge of the Word goes. What we lack, however, is the omniscience of God, the knowledge of the eternal plan of God concerning any individual, even ourselves, unless He specifically reveals these things to us. This brings us back to our story of David.
God sent His prophet to bring David to a recognition of his evil, and to a place of necessary repentance, God also had something else in mind that was not indicated by appearances, and that no human reasoning could have deduced. As David pressed into the LORD in repentance, seeking forgiveness, God revealed something greater to David. God planned to redeem something good out of this evil. What David caught a glimpse of spiritually, was too precious and miraculous to imperil with other men's faulty, natural judgment. David said that this matter was between David and God only (Ps. 51:4). David determined that he must depend upon the righteous judgment of God, not the flawed judgment of men. On another occasion David had said,
"I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man." 1 Chron. 21:13
David came to understand that not only was there cleansing in bringing to God the offering of repentance, there was also a redemption available that would result in renewal and restoration (Ps. 51:10-17). The words of revelation David used regarding this redemption were: create ('bara"- of new conditions and circumstances, of transformations, of birth, of something new, of miracles), renew ("chadash"- be new, renew, repair, make anew), and restore ("shuv"- turn back (from evil/to God), restore, refresh, repair, bring back, reverse).
Can we blame David for not trusting this work into the understanding of men?
It is only in the righteous, spiritual judgment of God, that good could possibly come from this evil situation of adultery and murder. Man could not have guessed that from this same couple, David and the soldier's widow Bathsheba, a second child would later be born (the first child had not survived). That second child, Solomon, David's tenth son over all, would become the next, and great king of Israel, known world-wide for his wisdom. Solomon built the temple of God in Jerusalem, following the plans left for him by his father, David. Solomon also wrote three books of the scriptures. Proverbs is a book of seemingly simple wise sayings, which are not simple at all, but deep truths, including the following, which pertains to our discussion here:
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."  Prov. 14:12
Solomon also wrote the deep book of Ecclesiastes, so named after the Greek translation of the word "Preacher", which Solomon called himself in the first verse of this book. This "Preacher", or kohehleth, is by the Hebrew meaning of the word, addressing an assembly of God's called out people, the Ekklesia.
The third book of scripture written by Solomon is the Song of Songs, sometimes called the Song of Solomon, or Canticles, meaning a hymn or chant based on scripture. This is another book that is not as it seems on the surface, but embedded within it is an astounding prophetic allegory of the Messiah.
Shortly before this terrible sin entered David's life, God had made a covenant with him. He prophesied of David's future generations, and the eternal kingship which would come from David's house (2 Sam. 7:12-19). This referred to the everlasting reign of the Messiah. A man might assume that this line could descend from one of David's already-born sons. However, God knew that the Messiah would descend from David's line through that yet-to-be-born son, Solomon. Solomon carried the seed of the coming Messiah, Jesus. From the genealogy of Christ as recorded in scripture comes this entry: "...David the king begot Solomon by her (who had been the wife of Uriah)." (Mt. 1:6).
This evil was placed in front of David's face for his repentance, to save David's life, and to continue the line of Messiah. God also showed s this example from David's life to show forth to all of us His redeeming power to fulfill His word, despite what was meant for evil, by the grace of the Passover Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. God knows the end from the beginning, as He did in this case. We, on the other hand, do not. Could anyone have foreseen, anticipated, understood this redemption of good from the evil that David had committed?
The Psalms sing:
"O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all His iniquities."  Ps. 130:7-8
Most people do not choose evil, darkness, and bitterness because they want them in their lives. It is often a trap we fall into because man prefers to rely upon and exalt his own will, desires, observations, and reasoning, rather than the Word and Spirit of God. The Breastplate of Judgment worn by the priests of God contained Urim ("Lights") and Thummim ("Perfection, Righteousness") to be consulted in all things (Ex. 28:30). We are also commanded to wear our breastplate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14, Isa. 59:16-17). Isaiah said that this is the breastplate worn by our Salvation, the Right Hand of God, Who eternally lives to make intercession for us, even when no man will intercede.
Let us learn from David's struggle. In the face of evil, we can pray for God's redemption. Let us ask God to "create, refresh, and restore", to turn for good what is meant for evil for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Our Redeemer lives, and He redeems good from evil to fulfill His plan for us.

 

Cause/Effect

In the two previous posts, we have looked at some interesting scriptures regarding the last days and the nations of the earth. We have seen the importance of the role of Jerusalem among the nations, even in the comprehensive meaning of the name of the city of which the Hebrew means, "teaching of peace". We read why the command in the Psalm 122 to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem", means so much more than that short phrase encompasses, not only in regards to the destinies of the nations, but for our individual destinies found in the phrase, "for the sake of my brethren and companions".
In this entry, I would like to look at how our individual walks as believers and followers of Christ directly effects the nations of the earth:

"I will greatly rejoice ("suws suws" , a word repeated here in Hebrew reflecting the intensity of meaning as "to be bright, exult, display joy, to leap of spring with joy) in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful ("giyl"-go in a circle, dance, leap for joy) in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments ("beged"- cloth, covering, vesture, precious garment, with which anything is "wrapped up"*) of salvation ("yesha"- deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, prosperity, victory, liberty. Root: avenging, defend, ample, broad, opulent, to set free),
He has covered me with the robe ("m'iyl"- mantle, cloak, outer robe, garment of the high priest) of righteousness ("tsedaqah"- justice, righteous acts. Root: cleansed, to justify, to vindicate, to clear self),
As a bridegroom ("chathan"- bridegroom, husband, circumcised child as a species of religious espousal as in "bridegroom of blood" as a sign of covenant relationship. Root: to cut off, to circumcise) decks ("kahan"- priest's office, to mediate in religious services, prophet, put on regalia, rich, opulent) himself with ornaments ("pe'er"- fancy headdress, beauty, bonnet, tiara, turban. Root: glorify, beautify, to gleam, white glowing heat),
And as a bride ("kallah"- bride, betrothed, crowned with a chaplet meaning a garland or wreath for the head or a number of beads strung together signifying prayers. Root: to complete, to perfect, to put a crown upon) adorns herself with her jewels ("kelly"- vessel, instrument, weapon, armor, armor-bearer, utensil, implement (of hunting, war, music, labor), yoke of an oxen, artillery, vessel for the temple. Root: to end, to finish, be completed, be fulfilled, vanish, wholly reap).
For as the earth brings forth its bud,
As the garden causes things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth ("tsamakh"- to sprout, to grow abundantly or thickly, to cause to sprout, to shine, shining forth, to cause deliverance (righteousness) before all nations."   Isa. 61:10-11

As usual, the wonderful prophet Isaiah gives us a prophetic look into things that most others were seldom shown. This is an individual and personal revelation of Isaiah using the words "I, my, me". The salvation work produced in the individual living in the earth has an inevitable witness or impact upon the nations of the earth, in the same way that the purpose and achievement of a garden is to bring forth buds. The manifested effect must follow the cause.
Jesus pointed us to this chapter of Isaiah when He preached the first verses of this chapter in the synagogue, and announced that He was the fulfillment of those verses (Lk. 4:18-21). We are a fruit of that fulfillment in a special way.
As we look at the meanings of the Hebrew words used in the verses from Isaiah, above, we can learn many things that perhaps the English meaning wouldn't show us. We can learn what the believer looks like in the Spirit, and the effect the properly clothed believer has in the earth.
First of all, Isaiah reveals that the joy found in the person who receives salvation is so great that it cannot be contained in a calm body, but the body must explode with it in jumping, dancing, or movement of some kind. When is the last time we felt or exhibited this kind of all-consuming joy? Most of our thoughts, emotions, actions and reactions unfortunately are responses to earthly circumstances and conditions, and not around the joy of the salvation glory with which we have been filled. This joy of the LORD is our spiritual and physical strength (Neh. 8:10, Ps. 21:1) and it is of eternity, yet we quickly forget it in our changing circumstances, which are temporal. Just when we need strength the most, we seek it in other ways, but it is found in the joy. Even in daily struggles and challenges, we are so much more spiritually effective if we keep and activate that joy, knowing that God turns for good, even what the enemy meant for evil (Gen. 50:20, Rom. 8:26-28). It is in the worst of circumstances that we especially need that strength of joy for ourselves and others. Maintaining this kind of joy is a big challenge for me, but Isaiah's words teach me its importance and encourage me to keep it in mind.
The salvation and righteousness with which we have been clothed, have a rich and extensive meaning in these verses from Isaiah. Isaiah is speaking here of spiritual clothing, but that spiritual clothing can still be discerned by others. The spiritual outerwear reflects the inner condition, the working of God's salvation and righteousness within us, making it readily apparent. Scripture tells us that the wife of the Lamb is clothed in clean, bright, fine linen garments that reflect "the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev. 19:7-8).
We are familiar with the imagery of the Bridegroom and Bride as it refers to Christ and His believers or "ekklesia" church, but the image of the bridegroom here in these verses very much centers around circumcision, and the covenant it represents, and the sacrifice with which it is sealed. Paul taught that circumcision was not an outward act, but an inward condition of the heart (Rom. 2:28-29). This is where covenant with God is made and kept. Have we allowed our hearts to be circumcised in this manner? Do our lives reflect the sacrifice surrounding our covenant with our Lord and Savior? The receiving of salvation is free to us, though it was not free for Jesus to make that provision for us, but the working of it in us is accompanied by this kind of spiritual circumcision in order for it to have an effect on others.
According to the Hebrew words used in the verses from Isaiah, the bridegroom's garments express his priestly office, and his prophetic calling. Do we intercede and mediate for others, or are our "religious" duties mostly concerned with benefit to ourselves? Do we believe in the prophetic promise contained in every word of God, therefore speaking it and praying it? These are the garments we must wear to be effective in the earth, as well as in the Spirit.
In the above verses, the jewels with which the bride adorns herself are not earthly precious stones, which man would find impressive, but it refers to weaponry, tools and implements that produce a work (effect) of some kind, even a creative work. According to the meaning of the word used, the bride is adorned with temple vessels that contain sanctified elements of worship and sacrifice. Do we love the glory of jewels of honor and wealth, but fail to value the true glory of the jewels of effective, creative works produced by faith, saving many, rather than religious works of the law which are dead (James 2:14-20, Heb. 6:1)? Are we wearing temple vessels representing cleansing and sanctification? In these verses according to the Hebrew, the bride's crown, which is made of a living garland that the she wears around her head, also contains beads representing her prayers. The prayers of the righteous are effective and avail much, even saving the sick (James 5:15-16).
Isaiah wrote that the coverings put upon us by God represent the spiritual work of salvation in us that have an impact on nations and peoples even as gardens bring forth the fruit of what has been sown in them. Are we wearing the garments that have been provided for us by God, garments that impact and effect, or have we woven and worn our own idea of what the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness should look like: whitewashed and impressive to others on the outside, but inside filled with corruption (Mt. 23:26-28)?
At His death, Christ was "wrapped up"* in a garment that not only carried His image, and reflected His death and resurrection, but the garment carried the signs of His suffering on behalf of many others (Isa. 53:11). This is indeed the nature of our garment of salvation, and our robe of righteousness, but will we wear them? If we will wear them, then the nations of the earth will see, and we will be a witness and an instrument in God's desired effect upon the nations through us.

Our Father desires to cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations.

Persia

Persepolis-Ancient Ceremonial Capital
of Persian Empire, located in Iran

This entry is a companion piece to the previous entry entitled, "Yeruwshalaim".
We know from prophecy in scripture, from both the Old and New Testaments, that nations will be brought to a place of battle. Ezekiel describes the LORD "putting a hook in the jaws" of these nations, and compelling them into this huge world-involved war of attack on Israel. The LORD prophesies of these nations that "thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan...to take plunder and to take booty" (Ezek. 38:4,10-12). The purpose of the LORD in this moving of the nations to join together and attack Israel in the latter days is "so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog (name of the spiritual stronghold prince over Russia, which is called Magog, Tubal, Rosh: see Ezek. 38:1-3), before their eyes." (v. 16).
The Book of Revelation prophesies that demons or spirits of devils will tempt these nations to gather together(meaning like fish gathered up in a net) to make war in a place in Israel called Armageddon, a Hebrew word meaning "place of crowds, penetrate, cut into, attack, gather in troops or crowds of people, to press, crowd upon, invade with troops". (Rev. 16:14-16).
The LORD will gather these nations not because He hates them, but rather to do warfare against the spiritual principalities that rule over them, according to Ezekiel. We can say that these spiritual powers think they are manipulating the nations to enter into this foolish attack, but meanwhile, God is manipulating these spiritual powers to fall into His trap. For once they touch His covenant people, and His covenant land, He can execute judgment promises according to His covenant Word (Ezek. 38:18). Because of this everlasting covenant, Israel becomes irresistible bait for the trap that has been set for these overreaching spiritual powers. It is in their own interests that the spiritual powers are determined to prove to man and all creation that the everlasting covenant of peace declared by God (Ezek. 37:26) and sealed in the blood of Christ (Heb. 13:20) is a lie. In fact, there are four miraculous prophetic promises made in Ezekiel 37, and they all revolve around the nation of Israel, including the rulership of Messiah, referred to by Ezekiel as David, king and shepherd, forever (v. 24-25). To the spiritual prince over this area, the possibility of destroying Israel to prevent these prophetic promises from being fulfilled would be a temptation impossible to resist. However, God will prove it to be truth to His glory. He will hallow Himself right in the midst of their plan, and the whole world will see it. The prophetic promise made to Israel through the prophet Ezekiel regarding the everlasting covenant of peace would benefit all of us.
One of the nations specifically mentioned in Ezekiel as coming together with others against Israel is Persia (Ezek. 38:5). It is interesting that Persia is modern day Iran/Iraq, which has been creating very troubling headlines. Remember though, God is dealing with great spiritual powers over the nations. We will see that Persia has a great and interesting history with God, and His people.
The word Persia means "pure", "splendid". Let's look at some of the history of Persia in scripture.
As the time drew near for the children of Israel to be returned to their land from the Babylonian captivity, as prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer. 29:10), The LORD sent the Persian army, brilliant engineers of their time, to overthrow the king of seemingly impregnable Babylon. This Babylonian king was that night, defiling the sacred vessels of the Temple of Jerusalem, which had been taken as spoil seventy years before, by using them for drunken revelry (Dan. 5:22-23). According to the historian Herodotus, the Persian army diverted the mighty Euphrates river that ran through the city, and entered under the massive wall around Babylon through the now nearly empty river bed.
The very first year that Cyrus, the Persian ruled from Babylon, "the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus". As a result, he issued a decree to return the exiles back to Judah, and financed the rebuilding of both Jerusalem and the Temple of God. He also ordered his people to "send free will offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 1:1-4/2 Chron. 36:22-23). God had prophesied hundreds of years before through Isaiah, that He would know Cyrus the Branch, awesomely prophesying him by name, and that Cyrus would serve Him (Isa. 44:28, 45:1-7). Cyrus also had all of the gold and silver vessels of the Temple that had been taken as spoil and brought to Babylon, 5,400 items, returned to the prince and captives of Judah before they left (Ezra 1:7-11). These vessels were worth a fortune for their silver and gold value alone, but Cyrus of Persia obeyed the LORD and freely gave them back. Not many kings of history give away the silver and gold in their possession.
Later in time, Artaxerxes, another king of Persia who ruled from Shushan (in present Iran), allowed a most trusted Jewish man in his service as his cupbearer, named Nehemiah, to leave the king's service and go to Jerusalem to facilitate the rebuilding of that city and the Temple, and even appointed him as governor of Judah having the king's authority there (Neh. 2:1, 4-8 and Neh. 5:14).
Even later in history, Ahasuerus, thought to be Xerxes I, also ruled from Shushan (Iran). His empire covered territory from India to Ethiopia (which is also mentioned as one of the nations in the Ezekiel prophecy (Ezek. 38:5). As with all of the Persian kings, he was an absolute monarch. He could get rid of one wife and queen who failed to obey him to appear before his drunken friends, and order up a new queen. However, as he began dealing with the Jewish people in his city, he began to bow his very exalted head. God entrusted His beautiful young Jewish maiden, Esther, into this king's care as his new queen. A king's court was the most dangerous place for a king. Many plots and power grabs originate among those closest to the king among his court. They watch for the smallest sign of weakness in the monarch, so it was important that the king seem powerful, irreversible, unchallengeable and strong at all times, sometimes brutally strong. In front of his treacherous court, however, this Persian king lowered his scepter, the symbol of his judgment authority as king, and allowed Esther to approach him without being summoned first, which was a breach of royal protocol on her part punishable by death (Esther 4:11, 5:2). This absolute Persian king allowed a Jewish man, Mordecai, who had foiled an assassination attempt against the king, to be clothed in the king's royal robes, a royal crown placed on his head, and to be set upon the king's personal horse (Esther 6:3-10). This absolute monarch of Persia even rescinded one of his own decrees, an act which would be unthinkable for such a monarch, when Esther revealed the plot against the Jews, and her own identity as a Jew (Esther 8:6-17). By being willing to be seen as less than absolute, this Persian king saved thousands of Jewish lives across his whole empire, and the enemies of the Jews were destroyed. Many in the empire even became Jews themselves because of the fear of the miraculous favor given to the Jews by this king. It is true that Esther was the interceding vessel, but the ruling power of death or deliverance for the Jews was decided by the king of Persia. One of the great qualities of Esther as the intercessor for God's covenant people was that she was able to discern and reveal to true evil or enemy. It wasn't the nation of Persia, or its king, her husband, but the behind-the scenes lying manipulator, Haman (meaning "magnificent"), who was not a Persian, but an Agagite (descendants of Esau; meaning "I will overtop") (Esther 7:5-6).
The LORD said of Israel, "Blessed are those who bless you", a promise first made to Abram/Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3. The promise was again made concerning Jacob or Israel in Num. 24:5-9.  Persia has played an important role in ancient history in the deliverance or restoration of the Jews and Jerusalem. It is a nation that has been a remarkable blessing to Israel and the Jews in the past, because God has compelled them by His Spirit to do so. I think it is important to keep this in mind even though the headlines may provoke other thoughts and feelings towards peoples and nations. Like the intercessor Esther, we need to discern who the enemy really is, and how God will move against them. Our prayers need to keep in mind God's ultimate plan in all of this. Dark spiritual strongholds rule over nations, including Iran (Dan. 10:13, 20-21), and that nation now finances terrorist organizations' attacks against Israel. The prophesied battle mentioned in Ezekiel and Revelation is for the pulling down of those strongholds, so that the nations of the earth will see God's victory, and hallow God's name, and know that His Everlasting Covenant of Peace is true for them, for all, and it will be established.

Our Father will hallow Himself in the sight of the nations.

Yeruwshalaim

Metaphorically speaking, there is a hub around which a huge wheel turns. There is a sun around which planets revolve. There is a nucleus around which electrons orbit. As important and central as this hub, sun, or nucleus is to our spiritual walk, we don't give it much thought, prayer or recognition. We tend to neglect it, but it is by this center, or "hub", that nations will rise or fall- our nation, your nation, all nations, regardless of continent or hemisphere. That "hub" is Jerusalem.
On the long timeline of history, we are currently living in the age of nations (goyim). Nations didn't always exist. In fact many nations are relatively new, but today there is no territory on earth that has not been mapped, bordered in, and defined as being within a nation. One of the last nations to be carved out of the earth, mapped with boundaries set, with the official approval of the other nations: Israel. The completion of this age of nations brought with it the beginning of the countdown of a scriptural prophetic clock. Jesus spoke of the significance of the completion of the age of nations and its connection to Jerusalem, which was also translated to us from the Greek as "the time (meaning includes: a limited period of time, a fixed and definite time; the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for) of the Gentiles (meaning includes: a tribe, a nation, a people group)" (Lk. 21:24). Around that time in history when Jesus prophesied, there were few independent or self-governing nations. With a few exceptions, most of the earth was sectioned into huge empires, vast barbarian territories, a few city-states, and uncharted whole continents. His audience must have wondered what Jesus was talking about, but now, we can see it and understand it.
All nations are going to be drawn, and are now being drawn to an ultimate destination, and that destination is Jerusalem. What happens to those nations will depend upon how they deal with Jerusalem. This is the word of the LORD:
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it...In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."   Zech. 12:2-3, 8-9
The nations are raging as never before. Frightening headlines of deep espionage and sabotage, underhanded election tampering, aggression, warfare, attacks and counter-attacks, assassination, missiles, nations blatantly supporting terrorist organizations, fill our eyes and ears daily. The LORD connects all of these things to the coming of His Anointed (Christ), His Son in Psalm 2:
"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot (imagine, growl, utter, mutter, fervor of mind, devise, roaring) a vain thing (emptied, worthless, fruitless)? The kings of the earth set themselves...against the LORD and His Anointed ("Messiah")..."  v. 1-2
In this Psalm the LORD guarantees:
"Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion."  I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You...I will give you the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession." v. 6-8
The nations, and the spiritual strongholds over them (Dan. 10:12-14, Eph. 6:12, Rom. 8:38-39, 2 Cor. 10:4-6), do not want to belong to the Messiah, their anointed and appointed King. They rage and writhe against the decree of God. They plot, kill, and destroy on a scale never seen before. Eventually they will all turn against the place from which the Word and Law of God flows which is Jerusalem, as we will see.
It is important here to look at the meaning of the word Jerusalem, the original Hebrew being Yeruwshalaim. Simply put, the word means, "teaching of peace". The use of the verb "teaching" means it is an ongoing activity. It was before, it is now, and it is continuing into the future. The Hebrew root word is "yara", meaning archers, to shoot (an arrow), instructed, teacher, flow as water (rain), to point out, aim the finger, i.e. to teach. The second root word that makes up the word "Yeruwshalaim" is "shalam". It means peace and more: "peace, to make peace, to recompense, to repay, to restore, restitution, amends, make safe, to complete and perform, to make an end of that is perfect, prosperous, reward, to live friendly, to submit oneself to the dominion of any one".
We can see the importance of this meaning of Yeruwshalaim, or Jerusalem, and the importance of its fulfillment in these verses from the prophets Isaiah and Micah:
"...concerning Judah and Jerusalem...Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the LORD."  Isa. 2:1-5, Micah 4:1-3
The Law, the Word, and the teaching of the LORD will go forth from Jerusalem and Zion, and the nations will be taught and learn peace.
There is an interesting story about this verse above from Isaiah. The United Nations in New York City is a very impressive building inside and out. Across a wide avenue from the U.N., there is a small park named for the first African-American to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Ralph Bunche*. Inside that small park a wall was built that faces the U.N.. An excerpt from the verse above from Isaiah was carved into that wall, but there was no attribution to Isaiah under the carved quote. A decade later, a group of citizens went to Mayor Koch and told him that the name of Isaiah should be added beneath the quote, and he agreed to add it. That wall facing the U.N. has been referred to as "the Isaiah Wall" since that day (see here). The prophecy of Isaiah regarding the nations of the earth faces the one place on earth where all of those nations meet daily. It is the nature of the Word of God that all creation must eventually manifest it, or conform to it, and so must the nations.
Our governments wrestle continually with how to deal with the dangerous events among the nations today. However, scripture has told God's people what to do. David prophesied/wrote/sang of the importance of Jerusalem in this matter, "For the thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces." For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, "Peace be within you." Because of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your (Jerusalem's) good." 
                                                                                                    Ps. 122:5-9
David said that for many reasons, it is required of us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and all that its meaning contains.Do the headlines and threats of war alarm you? Are you concerned about the havoc surrounding the nations of the earth? Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, because the fates of all of the nations are directly tied to it. Within our prayers is the understanding that Jerusalem is indeed a physical place, but it also encompasses a meaning and truth for our age and for all time that prophesies regarding Zion, the Mountain of the LORD, the House of God, the thrones of judgment, the thrones of David, the out-flowing of the Law and the Word of God, the "teaching of peace" to all people and nations. Jerusalem is the sun, and all the nations revolve round it, whether they know it or not. As we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying the will and Word of God, and we are also praying for the nations, even the darkest and most oppressive of them, for God has promised that His kingdom will be composed from every nation, kindred, tongue and tribe (Rev. 5:9-10, 7:9-10).

Our Father has commanded us to "Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem".

*Ralph Johnson Bunche ( August 7, 1904 – December 9, 1971) was an American political scientist, academic, and diplomat who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his late 1940s mediation in Israel. He was the first African American to be so honored

Magnificat

 



"Visitation",Ghirlandaio,1491

There are many religious groups that have opinions about Jesus. Some say that they recognize Him as a prophet only. Like the religious leaders of Jesus' day, some religions suggest that it is blasphemous to suggest that God might have a Son, like an ordinary man. This is why those first century religious leaders threatened to stone Jesus and pulled out His beard, accusing Him of blasphemy.
Some groups say that they indeed recognize Jesus as the Son of God, who was sacrificed to atone for our sins, and because of this, they consider Him Savior, but they do not believe that He is God, or part of what is referred to as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They believe that there is only Jehovah Who is God alone.
Is it necessary to believe in the deity of Jesus Christ to be saved? I am no theologian, but to me personally, YES, it is profoundly necessary for my salvation to believe that Christ is part of the Trinity, part of the God-head, and scripture very much affirms my belief, which we will see. To me, if I deny the deity of Christ, I am also denying a most deep and vital understanding of the character and purpose of God, the part of God that would give anything and everything to save man, to save me, whom He created and whom He loves with an abounding love. In Jesus, I see the sacrificial nature of the Father. God is an invisible spirit Whom we can "see" only through His wondrous works. However, He has made another way by which we can see Him: by and in a love greater than our human understanding can perceive, He gave and sent the most precious Person of Himself to become flesh and visible to us (Col. 1:15-17), to die in our place, in order to save us. Jesus said that when we see Him, we see the Father, and Jesus is disappointed in us when we don't know that (Jn. 14:9). Paul explained the connection of the deity of Christ and His sacrifice in this manner also:
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."   Phil. 2:5-11
It is to the glory of God, not His diminishment, when we recognize the deity of His Son as stated in the verse above. God sent the Person of Himself who manifests the invisible into substance: His Word. His Word, Who was with Him and in Him from the beginning even before the foundation of the world, created all things. Nothing was made that wasn't made by His Word. His Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:1-3, 14, Col. 1:15-17). It is written in the Psalms, "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Ps. 107:20). The word in Hebrew translated "sent" in the above verse is shalach שָׁלַח. The pictographic letters that make up that word are:
shin- teeth, destroy, devour, the name of God: El Shaddai
lamed- a staff, a rod (of a shepherd)
cheth- to separate, cut off from, to protect, an inner room or chamber
Even God's verbs embody and testify of His Son! (Jn. 5:39). We can see the Person of the Son, His purpose and His deity, in the meaning of these composing letters, and the protection found in Him, our God and Shepherd, Who "destroys destruction".  He, as God, chews it up and swallows it (1 Cor. 15:54).
For those who accept Jesus as the Son of God, but deny His identity as God, are contradicted by the language and traditions of the Hebrews, as I understand this. In Hebrew tradition and language, a son is the continuation of his father, and his name also contains the name of his father, using the connecting word "Bar" or "Ben", which means "son of", tying the son's identity directly to the father before him. Example: Simon Bar Jonah (Mt. 16:17, see also Jn. 5:43). In scripture, a son always existed in the loins of his father's father's (etc....) father (Heb. 7:9-10). There is no separation between them in fact.  Experts may disagree with my simplistic understanding, but this is another reason why I cannot separate Jesus from His Father and the Holy Spirit in character, name, power, glory, honor, love. 
The prophet Isaiah wrote that belief in the deity of Christ, and His "Oneship" with God's identity and Person is a truth proclaimed and prophesied by God, Himself, approximately 750 years before the birth of Christ, when this was written:
"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government (misrah- to exert oneself, to contend with, to persevere, rule, dominion)
will be upon His shoulder (shekem- laid on him as a load to bear, the member upon which blows are inflicted, the place of burdens).
And His name will be called
Wonderful (pele-a miracle, root: extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action,
to separate (as an offering),
Counselor (ya'ats-devise, plan, command, deliberate),
Mighty God (El Gibbor-powerful, champion, a mighty king, giant, to prevail, a name of God),
Everlasting Father (Ad-Ab: eternal, continuous, old, world without end- Patriarch, producer/generator of benevolence and protection),
Prince of Peace (Sar-Shalom: ruler, general, commander, governor, have dominion and rule over -peace, welfare, safety, prosperity, completeness, covenant of peace, to be finished, restoration, compensation).
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isa. 9:6-7 (listen from Handel's "Messiah")

Isaiah was not writing above about an ordinary child, born from an ordinary father. He was describing a male child born, Who is God. Tradition says that the wonderful prophet Isaiah was killed by people who did not like the prophecies that he brought. If that is the case, then the above verses regarding a child to be born who is God might have been one of the nails in his coffin, so to speak. However, Isaiah wrote without compromise, as he saw it and heard it from the LORD, and we are blessed and saved because of it.
By incorporating the belief of the deity of Jesus, I am not disrespecting or diminishing God, but magnifying Him even more greatly in my heart. There is no greater magnification that can be given by man than the acknowledgement, praise, love, and thanks for God's planned sacrifice of His Son, who is a part of Himself, for us, even when we didn't know Him, or love Him (1 Jn. 4:10, 19).
Mary was told by an angel that the child she would conceive by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit was holy. The child would be called the Son of the Highest. He would be a king of the throne of David, and His kingdom would be without end, forever (Lk. 1:30-35). The fact that the child that she carried in her womb was extraordinary was confirmed to Mary later during the salutation of her kinswoman, Elizabeth ("Oath of God", "My God has Sworn"). In this moment of revelation, Mary's soul magnified the LORD:
"My soul magnifies (deem or declare great, celebrate, to make conspicuous, to make great, to increase, to esteem highly) the LORD, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."
                                                                                          Lk. 1:46-55 (excerpt)
Several denominations of the Church believe that Mary did not just declare these words, but under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, she sang them. Therefore some churches also sing her words in a song called "The Magnificat" (listen to one example).This is what I feel when I think about the deity of Christ and His sacrifice and resurrection: my soul begins to magnify God.
Many things that Jesus said points to this magnification of the Father through the deity of the Son. Jesus also spoke of the glory He had with His Father from the beginning. That same glory, He has given to us. If He didn't share with or eternally possess the glory of the Father, He couldn't give it to us, and we would still be naked and ashamed. Jesus said that He and the Father are one ("echad": a unity in plurality). Through this divine identity of Christ, we have also been reconciled and included in that oneness with our Father. If Jesus didn't possess that oneness of identity in God, then we are still separated and apart from our Creator (see Jn. 17:20-26, Col. 1:19-21). Paul wrote of Christ:
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (in bodily form): and you are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power."  Col. 2:9-10
The deity of Christ directly affects me, according to the verse above. The fullness of the Godhead in Him, completes me as I accept Him as my Savior. If I rob Jesus of His divine identity, I am really robbing myself. This is one reason why my acceptance of Him as God is both precious and necessary to my salvation in my heart. To me, in order to believe Christ as Savior, while at the same time questioning or denying His deity, would require that I disregard both the Old and New Testaments, because this is the truth that our scriptures emphatically state.
We have designated a day, Christmas, to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This Christmas, take a moment to contemplate what you believe about Jesus. To you, was He a fable, a philosopher, a teacher, a founder of a religion, a troublemaker, a blasphemer, a good man, a prophet, a man who became a sacrifice, a sad victim, maybe a miracle worker?
This Christmas, consider this: God, the Creator, sent His most beloved part of Himself - His Son, to walk with you, to talk with you, to die for you, to save you from the destructions that were waiting for you, even death itself. God, the Creator and Father, even gave up His authority of judgment over you that was rightfully in His hands, and gave that authority to His Son (Jn. 5:21-30), because His Son is the embodiment of all grace and truth (Jn. 1:14, Jn. 14:6).
My salvation did not come through the death of a man, even a good man, but through the death, burial and resurrection of God. This is my song, my magnificat to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit of unending love, and of my salvation.

Our Father has glorified His Son.

Zion



We know that Zion has to do with God's people, and His Kingdom.

If we study the word meaning of Zion, we discover a whole story of what Zion was, is, is becoming, and always will be.
The first mention of Zion in scripture pertains to its capture from the Jebusites (root meaning-tread, trample to pieces, polluted, loathe, reject, desecrate, trodden under foot as used regarding a corpse, who spoke to David, saying:
"You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here." Nevertheless, David took the stronghold (meaning- net, prey, snare, hunted, capture, siege works, hunting implement, chase, lie in wait for),  of Zion, that is, The City of David...Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David (meaning "Beloved, well-beloved, lover, friend"). And David built all around from the Millo (root meaning- to fill, be full, complete, abundance, consecrate, confirm, replenish, overflow, satisfy, to be accomplished, be ended) and inward (meaning- house, dwelling habitation, temple, household, family, descendants as an organized body). So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him."   2 Sam. 5:6-10 (excerpt)
Until David, the beloved, came and captured it, the place known as Zion was an enemy stronghold, a place of desecration and death, according to the meaning of the words used above. From the moment of its capture, David began a re-building of the city from the outward to the inward, becoming a consecrated place of overflowing satisfaction, a place of a holy household, a completed work.
We can see the same wonderful transformation process in the meaning of the word Zion, itself:
"dryness, desert, barren, parched", but also: "to be bright, to shine, enduring, preeminent, perpetual, superintendent or chief, to conquer, a clear voice, the virgin voice, pure, chaste, sincere, faithful, to be perfect, complete, perpetual, to lead in music, and in the service of the temple".
Zion is our story. Zion is the Gospel. We were entrapped, snared prey, spiritually blind and lame, desecrated by sin to be food for devils. We were as dead as corpses trampled under foot, until our Champion, our Deliverer, our Savior, the Beloved, Jesus Christ, stormed the stronghold of the enemy, and began to rebuild and replenish us, with Himself as the chief cornerstone (Mt. 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Pet. 2:7) of that rebuilding, until we became the temple service and the family of God. Songs of deliverance became our voice. We who were barren and parched became fruitful (Ps. 113:9, Lk. 1:36, 2 Pet. 1:8), shining and bright, called to be the light of the world, just as He is the Light of the world.
Even the pictographic Hebrew letters used to form the word Zion צִיּוֹן bring its meaning to us:
Tsadhe- hook, something inescapable, trouble, to hunt but can also mean to pull toward, desire, a harvest, righteous. As sin held us inescapable in death, Christ desired us and drew us to Himself, calling us a harvest of the righteous by His blood.
yod- hand closing upon, but also a finished work, a deed done, as Christ's work of atonement was finished on the cross, and we are finished or completed in Him.
vaw- a nail, a hook, becoming bound, can also mean joining and making secure together, as when Christ, nailed to the cross, joined us to Himself and to His Father as one.
nun- a fish (to be caught as food?), to continue, offspring, descendants also includes heir to the throne, and faithfulness. We were descendants of fallen man, to be hooked continually, but now, we are offspring, even joint heirs, with the Heir to the Throne of God, Jesus. Now, instead of fish as prey, our faith is symbolized by the fish that nourishes, and reminds us of Christ's miracles of multiplication. The fish reminds us that we have become "fishers of men" (Mt. 4:19).
We see in the above illustrated that what the enemy meant for evil, our Father turned for good by His Beloved Son. It is the transformation of Zion, from death to life.
Zion's purpose, according to the meaning of the word in Hebrew, is to be "a monumental guiding pillar, a marker, a sign post, a waymark in the sense of conspicuousness". We, as the inhabitants of Zion, constitute a living monument and signpost, by which all who see us are led to that City of David the Beloved, whose Builder and Maker is God (Heb. 11:8-10). Are we truly being Zion, as we are purposed to be: the waymark, for all others to come to the City of God?
The Book of Hebrews describes Zion, and ourselves this way:
"But you have come to Mt. Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks..."  Heb. 12:22-25
Zion is the place of glory where we dwell. It is who we are. It is the place where, in the Name and Person of the Beloved to Whom we belong, those devils that hunt and take others as prey now have become prey themselves. It is the place where the desecrated is rebuilt into the consecrated. It is the place where replenishment, satisfaction, and overflowing abundance now exists where previously the dead had been trampled under foot. Those who were barren and parched, now bloom and bear fruit. We are the waymarkers for others to this place.
This time of year, especially the Christmas season, is calling us to Zion. As the song says, "Zion Is Calling Me". We must answer the call.