BibleProject | Heaven and Earth on the Mountainنموونە

God’s Mountaintop “House”

Today, we enter Israel’s story at a time when a new mountain comes into view—Mount Zion.

Decades after their encounter with God at Mount Sinai, the Israelites arrive in Canaan. God promised to bring them to this Eden-like place, where they can fulfill their purpose of being a blessing to the entire world by following God’s instruction (Gen. 12:2-3).

In the holy city of Jerusalem, King Solomon eventually builds a permanent temple for God on Mount Zion to replace the portable tabernacle (1 Kgs. 8). Mount Zion is another name for Mount Moriah, where God first called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (2 Chron. 3:1; see Day 2 of this plan).

The Israelites can ascend Mount Zion to worship God; the temple is God’s “house,” so to speak. And as on previous mountaintops, Heaven and Earth unite in this temple.

By dwelling with Israel in the temple, God blesses and protects the people. Psalm 48 envisions deadly enemies running scared once they behold the divine magnificence of Jerusalem. To gaze on the splendor of the city and its mountaintop temple is, in a sense, to see God (Ps. 48:12–14).

But the Israelites cannot receive God’s protection if they’re distrusting God and doing what’s right in their own eyes (see Jer. 7). To enjoy God’s blessing and share it with others, they must trust in his wisdom and follow his teaching.

Reflection Questions:
How does Mount Zion reflect God’s splendor?

According to the video, what does the temple in Jerusalem symbolize?