Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Welcome to Mt. Zion

Mt. Zion is the hill Jerusalem set on (part of modern Jerusalem still does). It was where God's temple was and hence the touchpoint of his presence among his people.

But Mt. Zion was more than that. The temple was also the throne room of YHWH. He was Israel's true king. Worship, for Israel was about going to the temple -- Mt. Zion -- and paying homage to the king YHWH.

Mt. Zion was also the center of the world. According to Psalm 48, Mt. Zion is the joy of the whole earth. Why? Because of the king of the earth -- YHWH -- dwells there.

Every Sunday in the liturgy we go to Mount Zion -- or better -- we pull back the curtain to reveal that we are on Mt. Zion. Hebrews makes clear that the earthly Mt. Zion was a type/shadow of the heavenly Mt. Zion. Now through the mediation of our High Priest Jesus, we may boldly come to Mt. Zion.

Every liturgy is a pilgrimage; every liturgy is a song of ascents to Mt. Zion where we pay homage to the King.

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