Need help with terminology

[jesusmademe]

What does the courtyards of zion refer to? I saw this mentioned in a simple hymn but couldnt understand it at all.
And what does the God of Jacob refer to? Shoudnt it be the God of Israel after the name change?
Do you know of any websites with these kinds of term being explained?

 

[Vico]

…courtyards of zion … God of Jacob …

The God of Jacob is significant title representing hope. To understand you need to know what Jacob (trickster) did: he lied to his father Isaac to get the blessing that was meant for Esau, and Esau then vowed to kill Jacob, so Jacob had to flee to Mesopotamia, yet eventually he makes peace with Esau and God.

The house of God.

Psalm 1:3

He is like a tree
planted near streams of water,
that yields its fruit in season;
Its leaves never wither;
whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 52:10

But I, like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God,
I trust in God’s mercy forever and ever.

Psalm 92:13-14

The just shall flourish like the palm tree,
shall grow like a cedar of Lebanon
Planted in the house of the Lord,
they shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord;
the Lord will be their trust.
They are like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It does not fear heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still produces fruit.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Do you know of any websites with these kinds of term being explained?

The online dictionary at www.dictionary.com might be useful. For instance, it gives a number of definitions for Zion, including the following:

1. a hill in Jerusalem, on which the Temple was built (used to symbolize the city itself, especially as a religious or spiritual center).
2. the Jewish people.
3. Palestine as the Jewish homeland and symbol of Judaism.
4. heaven as the final gathering place of true believers. (source)

If Zion was mentioned in a Christian hymn, definition 4., above, was probably meant, i.e., heaven as the final gathering place of true believers. See Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation 3:12; 21:1-27.

 

[jesusmademe]

The Hymns is Tryggare kan ingen vara.
I will give a rough translation.
The Lord takes care of His faithful ones in the courts of Zion.
Couldn’t it refer to the Church on earth?
In Sweden we have a lot nature images in our hymns. O store Gud is a very good example.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Couldn’t it refer to the Church on earth?

Yes, that is possible. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 559, says, in part, “Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church…” (source)

 

[rightness]

Mount Zion is the geographical place where Solomon built the temple, also where the events of the Binding of Isaac occurred where Abraham names it “The Lord Will Provide”, though Zion doesn’t mean that, so it probably means the courtyard of the temple which is the dwelling place of God.

Currently, Mount Zion has a Muslim Mosque on it because that’s where they think their Prophet Muhammed ascended into heaven.