Zion, beautiful city of God - Zion theology in the book of Jeremiah

Abstract

From the time of king David, Zion (Jerusalem) became not only a focal point in the history of Israel, but a key component in the theological thinking of Judah. The importance of Zion and in particular the theological mindset surrounding this city became a crucial issue in prophetic discourses, never so crucial as in the time of the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah's ministry took place in the final years of the existence of the southern kingdom Judah. The circumstances which lead to the fall of Jerusalem and the resulting exile in Babel had a strong impact on Jeremiah's life and ministry. In this period in history the importance of Zion surfaced as a dominating issue affecting the actions, reasoning and theology of the leadership in Judah. This view on Zion was linked to a very definite interpretation of Davidic kingship and the centralisation of worship at the temple in Jerusalem. This resulted in a distinct theological interpretation of Zion and its importance with regards to Judah's relationship with Yahweh.