His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah. (Psalm 87:1-3)
It might not be a popular observation but it is true — some people are better suited to be leaders than others are. Moreover, when God chooses someone to lead His people — whether they be Moses, David or a humble pastor — they are appointed for a particular purpose. Unfortunately for them sometimes, being chosen provokes others to jealousy and aggression. That means those chosen by God don’t always wear a crown; more often they wear a target.
Just as He chooses certain men to lead His people, He has also chosen a specific land for them to live in. The Creator saw fit to appoint a place where He would establish His chosen people, and even more importantly, His Name. He chose a city, Jerusalem, as the place where He would be honored and revered forever. As it is written, “Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel” (2 Chronicles 6:6). He could have chosen any other place in the world, but He chose Zion as the place where He would be worshiped in holiness.
And so, just as there are some who are repulsed by the people God has chosen, the world seethes at the thought of Jerusalem being the eternal capital of a people known as Israel. The nations conspire and plot in an attempt to seize what is holy from those to whom it was given as a place of worship. Why? Simply because the Lord esteems Zion more than any place on earth. The world hates it because, as the sons of Korah declare, “The Lord loves the gates of Zion.” The world mourns the fact that Jerusalem is destined to be the joy of the whole earth, the city of the great King (Psalm 48:2). In short, everything the Lord has declared to be His, the Adversary and his minions have set out to destroy and take as their own.
As His people, this is a fact we must resign ourselves to. Furthermore, it should be clear to us by now that to possess all that God has promised to those who love Him means that we must be willing to fight. We must be willing to contend for the Kingdom of God and war against the principalities and powers that wish to undermine the will and purpose of God. This concept applies, not only to Zion, but to us as individuals. If God has called and appointed us to a particular purpose, the Adversary will do all in his power to disrupt and confound the will of God for our life. Therefore, we must be committed to continually press upward and onward knowing that the One who has chosen Zion has also chosen you! Keep the faith and fight the good fight.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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