The context in the above scripture concerning the daughter of Zion, refers to the people of God that dwelt in Jerusalem. This reference in the New Testament relates to the church who is the bride of Christ. In the Old Testament, God had taken away the reproach of his people and had restored their joy. “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Although there were times when God was displeased with his people when they were disobedient, he did not keep his anger forever. God would restore his people for his name sake and give them joy for mourning.
In the New Testament, Jesus instructs his disciples to get a colt on which no man had ridden. He sat on the colt and rode into Jerusalem signalling the triumphal entry. “And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest”” (Matthew 21:9)! Jesus did this to fulfil the prophecy written by Zechariah in the Old Testament and referenced again in the New Testament. “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden’” (Matthew 21:5).
Finally in Revelations 21, we see a new heaven and a new earth as the first of these had passed away. “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). This new Jerusalem is the bridegroom of Christ, the daughter of Zion as the church. Then God will make his final dwelling place with his people as with the old covenant made with Israel, ‘so you will be my people, and I will be your God’ (Jeremiah 30:22).
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). We sing in hope for the return of Christ to restore the church as his bride. We know that this is not our final home and we hope for better days to come. We sing for the Lord is here and he has made his home with us and we are his people.
A.P.-Y.
Devotional Inspirations 