Jerusalem, significance of

Chosen by God as the location for his sanctuary, Jerusalem was his symbolic dwelling and became the only acceptable place for sacrificial worship. It retained its symbolic significance in NT times when it came to represent the hope of restoration and renewal for the people of God.

Jerusalem chosen by God

1 Kings 11:32 See also 1 Kings 8:44–51 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:34–39; 1 Kings 11:36, 1 Kings 14:21 parallel 2 Chronicles 12:13; 2 Kings 23:27; Nehemiah 1:8–9

But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.

The ark of the covenant brought to Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 15:1–3 See also 2 Samuel 6:1–19 parallel 1 Chronicles 15:25–16:3

David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.” And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

The temple located in Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 3:1 See also 1 Chronicles 6:31–32; 2 Chronicles 20:27–28, 2 Chronicles 33:7, 2 Chronicles 36:14, 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 parallel Ezra 1:1–3; Psalm 68:28–29; Mark 11:11, Mark 11:15–16; Luke 2:41–51, Luke 4:9; Acts 22:13–18

Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. This was the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Jerusalem the only acceptable place for sacrificial worship

Deuteronomy 12:1–7 See also Deuteronomy 12:20–28; 1 Kings 12:26–13:3, 1 Kings 14:22–24, 1 Kings 22:42–43 parallel 2 Chronicles 20:31–33; 2 Kings 12:1–3, 2 Kings 16:1–4 parallel 2 Chronicles 28:1–4; 2 Kings 23:1–20 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:29–32; 2 Chronicles 30:1–31:1; Isaiah 66:20; Hosea 10:8; John 4:20–21

These are the statutes and ordinances you must be careful to follow all the days you live in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess. Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods— atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way. Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

Jerusalem referred to as God's dwelling-place

Psalm 135:21 See also Isaiah 24:23, Isaiah 31:9; Jeremiah 3:17

Blessed be the LORD from Zion — He who dwells in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

Personification of Jerusalem

Isaiah 52:1–2 See also Psalm 147:12; Isaiah 3:8, Isaiah 40:2, Isaiah 41:27, Isaiah 52:9, Isaiah 62:6–7; Jeremiah 2:1–2, Jeremiah 4:14, Jeremiah 6:8, Jeremiah 13:9, Jeremiah 13:26–27, Jeremiah 15:5; Lamentations 1:17, Lamentations 2:13–15; Ezekiel 5:8, Ezekiel 16:1–63, Ezekiel 23:1–49; Zephaniah 3:14–17; Zechariah 9:9–10; Matthew 23:37–39 parallel Luke 13:34–35

Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you. Shake off your dust! Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem. Remove the chains from your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.

Jerusalem the place of Jesus Christ's triumphal entry

Luke 19:28–38

Jerusalem the place of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection

Luke 23:26–49, Luke 24:1–12, Luke 24:13–33

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem

Acts 1:4–9 See also Acts 2:1–21

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

Jerusalem the administrative centre of the church

And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

The new Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1–5 See also Ezekiel 48:30–35; Galatians 4:25–26; Hebrews 12:18–24; Revelation 3:11–13, Revelation 21:9–27

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”