#DailyDevotion How The Lord Looks At Zion
Isa 62:1-3 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. (2) The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. (3) You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
Zion, Jerusalem, these names conjure up different things in people’s mind but perhaps chiefly a city in the Middle East in the country of Israel full of conflict and warring parties. But it should bring to our minds salvation and peace. The Zion and Israel the Lord calls to mind here is not the city built by men with human hands but the city that comes down from above made by the Holy Spirit.
Such a city the Lord cannot keep quiet about. For this city is the Church of the Living God, the Holy One of Israel. It is the Church of Jesus Christ. Though not always looking so bright now for her glory is concealed, yet her glory is the glory of Christ. In the darkness of the world the Church’s righteousness does go forth as brightness and her salvation as a burning torch for her righteousness and salvation are not her own but the Lord Jesus Christ’s. We proclaim Jesus’ righteousness and salvation to the nations. We proclaim the free gift of salvation and the forgiveness of sins to the nations and the kings of the earth. This good news of repentance and forgiveness of sins for Christ’s sake is being put before the nations and kings of the world for all to see. It is not always esteemed though by them.
But on the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ all nations shall indeed she her glory and the Lord shall give her a new name. As he speaks to us in Revelation, Rev 3:12 “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.”
For now the Church may not always seem like much. In many places humble and despised. In some places because it is filled with sinners who act contrary to her Lord’s will it is hated. In other places she is hated because she does act and speak according to His will. But the Church has a bright future at the revelation of her Lord Jesus Christ. For He says, “You will be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” We should remember this when the devil and the world try to get us down. Our destiny is not in their hands but the hands of the Living God. He says we will be a crown of beauty and a royal diadem. Yes, it may look bleak sometimes, but we should not judge ourselves on how big we are or how much influence we have in the world. We should judge ourselves on what our Lord Jesus Christ says about us and comfort ourselves and be emboldened by that. So Christian, these things spoken of by our Lord concerning Zion and Jerusalem he is speaking about you.
Heavenly Father, no mind can comprehend the glories you shall dress the Church of your Son Jesus Christ with at his revelation. May your words of promise grant us faith and strength to endure until that day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.