Singing the Songs of Zion

Psalm 137:1-3

(outline for Wednesday Aug. 12)

Introduction:

1. If you ask a Palestinian, an Israeli citizen, an orthodox Jew, an evangelical fundamentalist, a U.S. Politician, and a gospel hymn writer, what and where is Zion, you get a plethora of answers.

2. The psalmist uses Zion as demographic metaphor.

3. Have you ever noticed how many songs in our hymnal refer to Zion?

4. I grew up around several churches that included the name Zion….Zion Hope, Zion Hill, Mt. Zion #1, and Mt. Zion #2.

5. I have also visited Zion National Park, which to my knowledge has no relation to the biblical context of Zion.

6. The term Zion occurs at least 154 times in the Hebrew Bible.

Outline:

1. What and where is Zion?

a. A geographical mount in ancient Israel.

b. The land of Israel.

c. The city of Jerusalem.

d. The area of Jerusalem where the fortress stood.

e. A metonym (word that reference another whole of which it is a part) for Solomon’s temple.

f. Today Mt. Zion refers to a mount in the American quarter, a totally different location than Mt. Hermon which was also Mt. Sion.

g. Zionism is a movement supporting the reclaiming of the homeland for people of Israel.

2. How should Zion be understood in Christian metaphor?

a. Zion is used as a metaphor in literature, in Christianity, in ancient slavery (and/or civil rights), in Rastafarianism, and Latter Day Saints theology.

b. When something is used as a metaphor, it is to emphasize truth, not deny it.

c. Do not think of the current state called Israel as the same as the ancient people of Israel.

d. Do not think of chosen people as a race.

e. Zion implies journey…

f. Zion connotes journey toward a place of promise.

g. That place of promise is where….

1) the rule and reign of God is complete.

2) the place where the will of God is practiced without compromise.

3) God’s domain is ultimate and eternal.

Conclusion:

To sing a song of Zion is to sing a song of hope, it is to declare that there is coming a better day and a better place, it is to affirm that the last word has not yet been spoken on the matter, and it is to announce that God has the final say.