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Realm of Zion part 3
Streams of the Great River

 

Psalm 46:
¶  << For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song.>>  God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3  Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
4  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5  God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
6 ¶  The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
8  Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9  He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.
10  "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
 
Verse four tells us there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. What is this city of God? It is the spiritual realm of Zion. Throughout the Scriptures the city of God is synonymous with Zion. As the verse indicates, it is the spiritual dwelling of God. Notice that it says dwelling places. “Places” is plural revealing there are many spiritual levels within the realm of Zion that we can live on. This corresponds with John 14:1-3:  "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” 
 
Now about that river whose streams make glad the city of God. The river is the living Word of Christ. It is the same River of Life as described in Ezekiel 47 and Rev. 21. Notice that it is the river’s streams that make Zion glad. What are these streams? The streams are the inhabitants of Zion! As we are birthed into the realm of Zion we become channels of the Great River that feeds the City. It’s the word of Christ through us that brings gladness of heart to each of our neighbors in Zion. His word through us becomes the delight of our lives. 
 
Verse five tells us God is in the midst of Zion. He will help her when morning dawns. The literal for this verse reads: “He will help her at the turn of the morning.” How does this apply to us? Spiritually we have come to the dawning of a new day. The realm of Zion is opening in an unprecedented way for those seeking a deeper walk with God. One way we can know we are beginning to experience the turning of the morning is verses 6-9. 
 
6 ¶  The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
8  Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9  He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.
 
The nations roaring, kingdoms tottering, and the earth melting all speak to the upheavals within us as we enter a new day. The self life is devastated as we come under the dominion of Christ ruling in Zion. Verse eight says the Lord has wrought desolations in the earth. That’s exactly what He does to our earthen nature as he lifts us on high to Zion.
 
In verse nine we have a great promise: “He makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth.” The conflicts we have within our earthen nature will not always be. His nature will be firmly established within those contending for it, thus bringing the conflicts of the earthen nature to an end. And then verses 10-11 tell us to cease striving and know that He is God. We learn to cease our struggles against the old nature and let God establish Himself within us. The Lord of Hosts is with us (vs.11)!

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