The Preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in the Experiences and Praises of the Saints

Psalms 120-134 are the songs of ascents speaking of the preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in the experiences and praises of the saints in their going up to Zion, living in Zion, and being Zion as the place from which the Lord blesses everyone. Hallelujah!

What is on God’s heart is the church; He wants the church to match Christ in every possible way, and His desire is to build up the church to be the Body of Christ in reality and the bride of Christ.

But the church as a whole has failed God, even as the people of Israel have failed God; so God is calling the overcomers, those who heed His call and are joined to Him for His desire in this age.

These are not the superspiritual ones, the superman and superwoman, but those who join themselves to God and live in oneness with Him for His heart’s desire to be carried out.

The overcomers are not individualistic; they see God’s purpose for the church and heed God’s call for the overcomers, and they stand on behalf of the church to do the work of the church in oneness with the Lord and with the Body.

The overcomers are the vital ones, the components of the vital groups; they are vitalized together, they are built in the Body, and they care for the Body and live in the Body and for the Body.

We may enter into the practice of the vital groups, but we still need to have the vision of Zion and live in the reality of the Body of Christ.

The overcomers are Zion in Jerusalem, the vital groups who live in the reality of the Body of Christ as they live in the local churches.

It is sad to see that the church has by all counts failed and become desolate to become a Christendom, a great mixture that is unable to fulfil God’s purpose.

Because of this, God has operated throughout the time from the Old to the New Testament to gain some overcomers, some Nazarites, who see His heart’s desire and fulfill His purpose on behalf of the people of God.

These are the victorious ones, the ones that don’t go along with the defeat of the people of God but stand in the victory of Christ.

They see the good land, the all-inclusive Christ as the reality of the good land, and they are full of strength and rise up to take the land.

The Lord is calling for the overcomers; He is still calling for those who overcome.

We want to be those who overcome in this age so that, when He returns, He would appear to us as the morning Star and we would enter into His kingdom.

Actually, the Lord Jesus within us is the Overcomer, and He wants our cooperation to produce us as His overcomers in this age.

The Preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in the Experiences and Praises of the Saints

The Songs of Ascents – Psa. 120-134 – speak of the preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in the experiences and praises of the saints.

These psalms are songs of degrees, songs of ascents, and the songs of going up to Zion. They were written at different times and by different people, and they speak about the Israelites returning to Zion.

They were not only returning to Jerusalem but they were ascending to Zion, step by step, stage by stage, level by level until they reached mount Zion.

As they were going up to Zion, they sang the songs of ascents, having the highways to Zion in their heart.

These Psalms speak of the preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in the experiences and praises of the saints.

In particular, Psa. 132-134 are very precious in our experience, expressing some of the experiences that we have in Zion, in our ascending to Zion, and in living in Zion.

Seven Precious Items related to the Overcomers in their Going up to Zion (Psa. 132)

Psalm 132 mentions seven precious items related to the overcomers in their going up to Zion.

These items are at the top of the church life, and they portray the situation of the overcomers in Zion, the highest peak of God’s mountain (Psa. 132:13-18).

As we are on the highway to Zion, the path between the two altars, we start with one altar at the outer court and journey to the second altar.

On the way, we enjoy the face bread for our serving supply, the golden lampstand with the shining of the divine light, and the golden altar in the Holy of Holies where God’s presence is.

This journey is the highway to Zion. We are on an ever-deepening journey into God, the enterable God, from the outer court all the way into the Holy of Holies.

We are ascending to Mount Zion to be the overcomers in the church, to arrive at the top of the church life.

Here, in Zion, there are seven precious points.

In Zion, we rest with God, “This is My resting place forever” (v. 14).

In Zion, we dwell with God, “Here will I dwell, for I have desired it” (v. 14).

In Zion we enjoy food for satisfaction, for the Lord promises, “I will abundantly bless its provision; / I will satisfy its poor with bread” (v. 15).

Hallelujah when we ascend to Zion and dwell in Zion, we do not hunger or thirst, for the Lord satisfies us richly with bread to satisfy us.

In Zion we have glorious clothing, “Its priests I will clothe with salvation, / And its faithful ones will shout with a ringing shout” (v. 16; Exo. 28:2).

Hallelujah, the overcomers are clothed with salvation and they shout for joy, for they are on Mount Zion, and there they enjoy the blessing of God!

May we see the preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in our experience and praise.

The overcomers enjoy the horn of victory, “There I will cause a horn of David to shoot forth” (Psa. 132:17).

In Zion, we enjoy the enlightening lamp, “I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one” (v. 17).

In Zion, we enjoy and receive the shining crown, “I will clothe his enemies with shame, / But on him his crown will shine” (v. 18; Isa. 62:3).

How wonderful it is to ascend to Zion, have the highways to Zion in our heart, and dwell here, in Zion, where God dwells!

God abundantly blesses Zion’s provision and satisfies its poor with bread. He clothes its priests with salvation and its faithful ones shout with a ringing shout!

God will cause the horn of David to shoot forth, and He has prepared a lamp for His Anointed One!

He will clothe with shame the enemies of His Anointed One but on Him, His crown will shine! Hallelujah!

The overcomers in Zion enjoy resting, dwelling, food, clothing, the victorious horn, the enlightening lamp, and the shining crown.

These items are at the top of the church life, and they are enjoyed by the overcomers in Zion.

Here, in Zion, God is not homeless but He is satisfied and at rest, for He rests and dwells in Zion.

Here we also have plenty of food, we have the proper clothing, a horn, a lamp, and a crown. Hallelujah!

This is the situation of the overcomers in Zion, the highest peak of God’s mountain.

Lord, we have the highways to Zion in our heart. We aspire to ascend to Zion and dwell with You on Your holy mountain! Hallelujah, God abundantly blesses the provision of the overcomers and satisfies its poor with bread! Praise the Lord, God clothes the priests with salvation and the faithful ones shout with a ringing shout! Amen, Lord, we praise You, for You prepared a lamp for Your anointed One and You clothe the enemies with shame, while we have a crown that shines! Keep us on the highway to Zion, Lord, until we arrive at your dwelling place, Your habitation, the place where You rest and are satisfied! Keep us in Zion. Make us Your overcomers today.

The Living of the Overcomers in Zion in Oneness under God’s Blessing (Psa. 133)

When Zion is built up, when God is resting there and dwelling in Jerusalem, we have a place where we can gather together and dwell together in unity (Psa. 133).

Psalm 133 is the praise of a saint in his going up to Zion concerning Jehovah’s commanded blessing for brothers to dwell in unity.

We arrive at such a high peak of Zion in Psa. 133 by first going through Psalm 132.

When Zion is built up and we experience God’s rest and dwelling in Jerusalem, we can dwell together in unity.

If this is our situation in the meetings of the church, we will enjoy God’s commanded blessing.

How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in oneness (Psa. 133:1).

It is so sweet and so pleasant like the fine oil upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even to the hem of Aaron’s garments (v. 2).

The Lord’s anointing and blessing are in Zion, in the dwelling of the saints in oneness.

The same anointing that is on Christ, the Head, is also flowing on and anointing us as the many members of the Body of Christ who remain in oneness.

Both the Head and the Body, both Christ and the church, are under the anointing of God’s fine oil.

This wonderful oneness is like the dew of Hermon that came down upon the mountains of Zion; this is the fresh and refreshing grace of God that waters us.

In Zion, as we dwell in oneness with the saints, we enjoy the fresh and refreshing grace of God that waters us.

There, in the place where the saints dwell in oneness, Jehovah commanded the blessing, even life forever (v. 3).

As we dwell together in the church life in oneness, we enjoy God’s eternal life commanded by Him as a blessing to us.

This is the living of the church. In Psa. 132 we have the church life, where we enjoy the Lord’s rich supply and provision in many aspects, and in Psa. 133 we have the church living, which is the highest living in oneness.

The church living is the highest living, a living with brothers dwelling in unity. Hallelujah!

May we advance in our enjoyment and experience of Christ in the church life until we arrive at the high peak, living in oneness in the church life!

When we are richly supplied by the Lord and ascend to Zion to live in oneness and one accord, the Lord will come in to bless us with fine oil and fresh dew.

May we really see the preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in our experience and praises.

When Zion is built up as depicted in Psa. 132, we have a place where we can gather and where we can dwell together in oneness; how good and how pleasant this is!

May we be those who ascend with the Lord and enjoy the preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in the experiences and our praises.

May we ascend, again and again, singing and praising the Lord, and enjoying His rich supply and blessing, so that we may be Zion, the place of God’s dwelling and blessing!

It is there, in such a place where the saints dwell together in oneness and one accord, that the Lord pours out His blessing.

May we become that place, the spot where God commands the blessing, life forever!

May our living in the church life be under the Lord’s blessing with refreshing grace and the holy anointing oil.

May the Lord gain such a situation and living among us today in the church life, and may we be those who live in such a way.

Lord, build up Zion in Jerusalem! Build up the overcomers in the local churches! Gain Your resting place, the place where You dwell with man and man dwells in God! Gain such a place, Lord, where we ascend and live in oneness and one accord under Your blessing! How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity! It is like fine oil that anoints the Head and also anoints the Body to supply all the members of the Body! Hallelujah, such a living in oneness in Zion is like the dew, the fresh and refreshing grace of God that waters us! Amen, Lord, gain such a place where You can command the blessing, life forever!

The Highest People, the Overcomers, Live in Zion and Bless others: Jehovah Bless you from Zion!

The songs of ascents, Psa. 120-134, speak of the preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in the experiences and praises of the saints.

In our experience, we need to advance with the Lord and ascend to Zion level after level and step by step until we arrive at the place of God’s dwelling, Zion, His habitation.

When Zion is built in our experience, when we ascend all the way to Zion and enjoy the preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in our experience, we enjoy God’s blessing and we become a blessing.

Psalm 134 is the praise of the saint in his going up to Zion. The highest people, the overcomers who are in Zion, can bless everyone and teach everyone.

The blessing comes from Zion, from the highest people, where God dwells.

If we look at the history of the church we will see that, in every age, God’s blessing has come to the church because of the overcomers and through the overcomers.

Whenever God gains the overcomers, He will pour out His blessing. because of the overcomers, God blesses the church and the saints.

God blesses His people from Zion, from the highest peak, from the ones who have attained to the position of the overcomers.

May we be such ones, the ones who overcome and are one with the Lord to the extent that we not only enjoy God’s blessing but also become a blessing to others.

May Jehovah, who made heaven and earth, bless all from Zion (Psa. 134:3).

Today in the church age, the God-men who are perfected and matured are Zion, the overcomers, the vital groups within the churches, but in the new heaven and new earth, the entire New Jerusalem will become Zion (Rev. 21:16) with all the believers as overcomers.

May we not wait until the New Jerusalem to be the overcomers; may we be the Lord’s overcomers today, in this age.

May we be the beachhead to welcome the Lord back to this earth to repossess this earth and establish His kingdom here. Amen, may the Lord bless you from Zion!

Hallelujah, God blesses us from Zion! May Jehovah, who made heaven and earth, bless the saints and the churches from Zion! Amen, Lord, gain the God-men who are perfected and matured to be Zion today! Gain the place where You can dwell and bless from! Amen, Lord, we choose to be Your overcomers today. We do not want to wait until we become the New Jerusalem to be the overcomers: make us Your overcomers today! We want to be the beachhead to welcome You back to this earth so that You may repossess the earth and establish Your kingdom here!

References and Hymns on this Topic

• Sources of inspiration: the Word of God, my enjoyment in the ministry, a sharing by brother Minoru Chen in the message, and portions from, Life-study of Psalms, msgs. 41-42, as quoted in the Holy Word for Morning Revival on, Crystallization-study of 1 and 2 Kings (2022 summer training), week 10, entitled, The Lord’s Recovery – to Build up Zion.
• Hymns on this topic:
  – This is My rest forever; / Here will I dwell, / For the Lord hath chosen Zion, / He hath desired it for His habitation. / He will abundantly bless her provision: / He will satisfy her poor with bread. / He will clothe her priests with salvation, / And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. (Hymns #1338)
  – Behold how good and how pleasant it is, / For brethren to dwell together in unity! / It is like the precious ointment upon the head, / That ran down upon the beard, / Even Aaron’s beard: / That went down to the skirts of his garments. (Hymns #1339)
  – Blest constituents of Zion, / Washed in the Redeemer’s blood; / Jesus, whom their souls rely on, / Makes them kings and priests to God. / ’Tis His love His people raises / Over self to reign as kings: / And as priests, His worthy praises, / Each his thankful offering brings. (Hymns #977 stanza 3)