Did you know?

Jerusalem was once called Salem, and was the capital city of the king and priest Melchizedek who came out from his city to greet Abraham - then called Abram(Genesis 14:18-20).

I learned this whilst researching for a bible study on Psalm 24. The reason it is significant is that God's King, David was entering through those same "ancient doors" (v. 7,9) that were so significant in the journey of Abraham. For Abraham Jerusalem was simply a stop along the way, where he was greeted warmly in the name of the LORD.

For David, his triumphal entrance to the city, dancing with abandon ahead of the Ark of the Covenant signified an end to the wanderings of the Israelites - they were now able to ascend God's "holy hill", Zion, and meet with God if they were willing. The ascension of God's hill then was in many ways the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. In the same way, I look forward to the day when I might ascend God's hill myself, and be with God in heaven - and yet the Bible says I am already there!