Psalm 74:1 “O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? 2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.”
This “mount Zion” is in “the land of Moriah”, in the same area where the Lord sent Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:2), where king David offered a sacrifice on Ornan’s Threshing Floor, where Solomon built the Temple (II Chronicles 3:1), and where our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ was Crucified (John 19:20). While there is a specific mountain, that is called Mt. Zion; as in this case, it eventually came to be one of the names for the whole Jerusalem area and sometimes it is applied to the whole region. But it is of blessed interest to note that the word “Zion” is translated from the Hebrew word ‘Sion’; which means, ‘A Parched Place’. Furthermore, this place was also known as “Salem” (Psalms 76:2) and “Jerusalem” (Joshua 10:1); “Salem” means ‘Peace’ and “Jerusalem” means ‘Teaching Peace”; that is, where our Lord made our “Peace” and taught us of it. And Jesus Christ is indeed our “King of Salem, which is, King of peace” (Hebrews 7:2) Who so clearly manifested His Kingship in this place. Thus, out of a ‘Parched Place’ our “King of peace” brought forth “beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:3); by His Sacrifice, He appeased the wrath of God against our sin (Romans 3:25; I John 4:10) and gave us Eternal “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1) and eternally saved “his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). And, one blessed Eternal Day, because of His Sacrifice for us, it will be our incalculable joy to see Him for ourselves (Job 19:27) and to forever gaze upon His Majesty and Glory.