Beautiful for elevation...the city of the great King

The Word for today:
2 Samuel 4:1 -- 5:16

mark this: 2 Samuel 5:9-10 --
And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built the city round about from the Millo inward.
And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.


Second Samuel 5 describes how David became God's chosen king, how he conquered and claimed Jerusalem as his own and how he ruled over the nation of Israel from the holy city as God had intended.

Jerusalem is built atop a steep hill. The Hinnom Valley on the west and the Kidron Valley on the east join south of the city. This makes Jerusalem an excellent fortress, because these steep valleys provide natural defenses on three sides. And when David conquered the city, he constructed terraces (known as the Millo) on the north end to protect it from attack from that direction. The city also has an excellent water supply from the Gihon spring. Even when under siege Jerusalem can sustain itself for a very long time.

Because of David's military success, and because Jerusalem was his capital city, it became known as the City of David.

But Jerusalem is significant for another reason as well. God himself chose the city as the site for his people to build the temple. Hence Jerusalem became known as the City of God.

Generations later, a King greater than David would make his way up the steep ascent to Jerusalem (1). There, in the last days of his life, he would carry the sin of the world up to a rock outcropping--Golgotha--just outside the city's walls. There he was lifted up (2) on a cross. Three days later, he was raised again to life. Truly, the city is beautiful for elevation:

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
Beautiful for elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
is mount Zion, on the sides of the north,
the city of the great King. (3)

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(1) see Mark 10:33; (2) John 12:32; (3) Psalm 48:1-2