97-Beautiful for Situation-Joy of the Whole Earth

God determined the Times before He appointed them.

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

God poured out His Spirit on His Mountain

Of all the mountains in the world one is the best. God made one for Himself. God determined the times before appointed. He would visit this mountain with His City planted on it. Here He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. His mountain was situated at the center of the surface of the earth. It was beautiful for situation.

I clearly remember standing on the north side of the old walled city of Jerusalem. I was near the Damascus Gate that leads north. Just outside the Gate, and not far from where I was, is Calvary. The City had built up around it and a noisy Bus Station was at the base of the hill. The diesel noise and smell bothered me but not enough to cancel my appreciation for being there. I crossed the street going nearer to the old wall. Standing near the wall I heard a small group of Christians singing Psalms 48:1-2.

• 1. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
• 2. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

On the north side of the mountain ~ with my head bowed ~ I wept with joy. I was standing in the City of our God, on the mountain of His Holiness. It was beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth.

Here on God's mountain was Calvary's Hill of sorrow ~ where sins demands were paid. This was Abraham's mountain in Moriah where he went to offer his son Isaac. This was Arunnah's threshing floor that David bought to make a sacrifice ~ and the City of David was built around. This was the Temple Mount where Solomon built the Temple ~ on this same threshing floor. This is the City of our God. This is a city set on a hill which cannot be hid. This is Jerusalem the City of Peace ~ The City of the Great King.

God determined the times before appointed and predetermined a great event that would happen here. It would happen to the Jew first, then also to the Gentile. A lot of ground work was needed to bring the world to His moment. God Himself personally took part in making it possible for this event to happen. One sinless man had to die as an offering for sin. That was the price God set. He looked for a sinless man but found none. Only ~ One ~ sinless man was needed to pay the price for sin. Because of this God legally became a man. He was born of a woman, born under the Law. God purchased the right to forgive sinners. He became a sinless man himself and died for the sins of the whole world. There is no greater love than that. God so loved the world.

All directions ~ to Jerusalem are up ~ and from Jerusalem are down. The Bible does not use up north and down south as we do. They would go up to Jerusalem or down to another place whether it was north or south. Mt. Calvary caused an earthquake on the mountain. The sun turned dark. God shook this mountain as He did Mt. Sinai. Think about that. God can shake mountains.

It was from the Mount of Olives Jesus ascended out of their sight. He instructed them to stay on Mt. Zion, in the City, until they were endued with power from on High. At the appointed hour God poured out His Spirit in the upper room on the 120 gathered in prayer. God poured out HIS Spirit on HIS people on HIS Mountain. Jerusalem again became the joy of the whole earth. Jesus said: Mark 5:19 Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. I say to you ~ Go and do thou likewise.