July 18, Holy Geography

Today’s reading: Psalms 86-90

“Indeed, of Zion it will be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her’”
- Psalm 87:5.

In the Old Testament, Zion was the place where God resided in Israel’s mind, for it was in Jerusalem and close to where the Temple stood. Even while they were in Babylonian exile, the Jews talked, sang, wrote, and dreamed about Zion. God’s people were “born” there, for that is the place where they communed and met with God. There is still a romantic notion of God living in a place, and some are still captivated by the thought that there is geography special to God. There is not. Today, God doesn’t reside in a place or territory, He lives in and with His people:

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:2-3).

Are you fascinated with holy geography or holy living? Are you infatuated with end time fables, or are you fixated on living out a holy life and helping spread the gospel to all nations and people groups?