A Visit with the Joneses

Carol Jones Saint: Hello, hello there. Come right in. Welcome to Home Sweet Home, and we're so glad that you can share this time of family devotions with all of the family. Back in the year 1948, the ministry of A Visit with the Joneses was begun by our parents, Reverend and Mrs. Bert Jones, and also big brother Reverend Bert Jones. All of those members of the family are with the Lord, but we're glad that the ministry can go on and continue.

There are some very interesting things that we want to share with you in this radio visit. Have you ever wondered exactly what the word Zion means? You know, we sing in congregational singing, "We're Marching to Zion," and you hear the beautiful song, "Zion's Hill." Well, a little bit later in the visit, Bert will be sharing with you just some special meanings about the word Zion, so you will not want to miss that.

We would also like to remind you here at the beginning of the visit of a scripture verse that says in Psalm 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." My, how those words need to be remembered today. Well, in light of this scripture, the visit, which was prepared by Reverend Bert Jones, begins with Bert playing the great hymn of the church, "O God Our Help in Ages Past," on a huge pipe organ in Newcastle.

Bert Jones: And I would like to dedicate that to the many friends who attended my special concert there at the First Presbyterian Church of Newcastle, Pennsylvania, and especially to Mr. Lamont Crape, Dr. Lamont Crape, who was the minister of music who invited me to come.

And now I play another beautiful song, our memorial song for this radio visit, "That Will Be Glory For Me." When all of my labors and trials are past, when at last I see my Lord and Savior, that will be glory for me.

Carol Jones Saint: What magnificent music from the great four-manual pipe organ in Newcastle, Pennsylvania, and how thrilling to hear those sounds of "That Will Be Glory For Me." Well, we're just pausing to let you know that you're enjoying a special time of family devotions at Home Sweet Home. So good to have you here.

And it's always a special joy when going to Box 575, we find mail from our friends. And it's interesting to find out where you are when you're listening and the different states that are represented. And so don't forget to write us: Post Office Box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, and the zip code 16512. If you ever want information about CDs or cassettes, just write and ask, and we'll be glad to send that information along to you.

Bert Jones: And now here's another great song that I'm sure you know as I play it for you on the organ: "We're Marching to Zion." Oh, yes, my. "We're Marching to Zion." Sort of brings back memories of maybe a closing night of revival meeting and enthusiasm and happiness as people were singing, "We're Marching to Zion." Or maybe Rally Day Sunday.

Have you noticed how many churches of many denominations are called Zion?

Carol Jones Saint: That is true. I never really...

Bert Jones: There's Zion Lutheran, and Zion Baptist, and Zion Brethren, and Zion AME, and Zion Methodist, and on and on we could go. The term is used often enough that most people realize it has some vague religious connotation.

Carol Jones Saint: That's true.

Bert Jones: But what? That's the question. What does Zion mean? Well, how about you asking yourself the question as we hear the people from the Zion Hill Church of the Brethren in Columbiana, Ohio, singing to open our Jones family service there with a great, great group and a beautiful, beautiful church just out in the country a little bit from town? An old, old cemetery, but a new, new sanctuary. Zion Hill Church of the Brethren.

We read in Psalm 9:11, "Sing praises to the Lord, who dwelleth in Zion." In Psalm 48:2, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion." In Psalm 50:2, "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined." Or again, Psalm 132:13, "The Lord hath chosen Zion. He hath desired it for his habitation." No wonder there's good singing on Zion's Hill.

And our thanks to all the friends who attended our service at the Zion Hill Church of the Brethren in Columbiana, Ohio, for leading our singing right now. You heard some of the references to the word Zion. What does it mean? We hear it so often, but what is it all about, this interesting word Zion? Isaiah 51:11, we read, "The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head."

They shall come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their head. And then Amos 6:1, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." Well, for family devotions, I want to summarize several of the different meanings for the word Zion.

Carol Jones Saint: That would be very helpful. Maybe if you have a piece of paper or a pen nearby, you would want to jot some of these ideas down.

Bert Jones: It is used in several different ways in the scripture. First, the word Zion is used referring to Jerusalem and particularly to the temple area of the city. So you see, since it referred to the temple area of Jerusalem, thus it became a type of the dwelling place of God. And later on, it became a type of the church itself. So we're marching to Zion.

And then it says, using the picture of Zion as the church itself, there's the great hymn that says, "O Zion Haste, Thy Mission Fulfilling." I think this hymn must have been inspired by the words which its author read in Amos 6:1: "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." And so her plea: Oh Zion, oh church, the church that professes to be the dwelling place of God, haste thy mission now fulfilling. It uses Zion as a term for the church and urges the church to get busy with increased zeal to tell the good news of Jesus Christ in all the world.

The song was written by Mary Ann Faulkner Thomas, who was born in London but lived most of her life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and wrote the song in Philadelphia in the year 1868 when one of her children was ill with typhoid fever. She was keeping her vigil at the bedside, and this song came to her. Three years later, she wrote the refrain which completed the hymn in 1871, but it was never published in a songbook until 1892 when it was published in the Protestant Episcopal Hymnal. A song which refers to the church as Zion and urges the church, Zion, to hurry up and be about the Master's business.

Carol Jones Saint: O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling, to tell all the world that God is light; that he who made all nations is not willing one soul should perish, lost in shades of night. Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace, tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

Bert Jones: The word Zion is also used in scripture to refer to the Promised Land of Judaism. Thus, you see, it became a type of heaven and home. We sing, "Bound for the Promised Land," and the Promised Land in Jewish history is to us a type of the Promised Land, heaven and home. So, something of this is kept in mind in the song, "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken, Zion City of Our God."

For third, Zion is also a term for the city of God or heaven. Hebrews 12:22, "the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God." Thus it was that John Newton, who wrote "Amazing Grace" and many other songs, wrote "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken," based on Isaiah 33: "Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals, a peaceful abode." No one living in Zion will say, "I'm ill," and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.

This was first published in 1779, think of it. The music is by the great composer Franz Joseph Haydn. He called it his hymn to the emperor and wanted it to be a setting for a patriotic hymn, sort of a national anthem. It was first used on the emperor's birthday in February 12th of 1797, and the tune was a special favorite with the great composer Haydn.

Carol Jones Saint: Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God; He whose word cannot be broken, formed thee for his own abode; on the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, thou may'st smile at all thy foes.

Bert Jones: Music from a little church called Zion Hill, Zion Hill Church of the Brethren. Well, it isn't so little now with the new sanctuary. Years ago, it was a little country church, but now it's grown into a fine suburban church, and it was a thrill to have that big congregation there singing Mom Jones' song, "In Times Like These." And the people sang it for us, and maybe you would like to join with them in singing it at Zion Hill Church of the Brethren.

The word Zion refers to the Promised Land of Judaism, and then it became a type of heaven and home. It's a term for the city of God, and so based on Revelation 14:1, we find this beautiful old gospel song Carol comes to sing now called "Zion's Hill." Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. The sound was like that of a harpist playing their harps, and they sang a new song before the throne.

Carol Jones Saint: Someday I'll hear the angels singing beyond the shadows of the tomb; and all the harps of heaven ringing while saints are singing home, sweet home. Someday beyond the reach of mortal ken, someday, God only knows just where and when, the wheels of mortal life shall all stand still, and I shall go to dwell on Zion's hill.

Bert Jones: Our Heavenly Father, take these thoughts, these Bible studies on the word Zion, apply them to our hearts. May we look forward to that day when through Jesus Christ we with the saints of all ages shall gather together on Zion's Hill. For Jesus' sake, amen.

Carol Jones Saint: What a very special joy to have you visiting at Home Sweet Home for this time of family devotions. And you know, I think all of us have learned so much regarding the word Zion and how thrilling especially to think of it as referring to our heavenly home.

It's our prayer that the thoughts we've shared, the scripture verses, the music, that all of these will be used of the Holy Spirit to help you in your spiritual walk. You could be a special blessing to us if you would take time to write and let us know that these times of family devotions are of special inspiration.

When you're writing, the address is Post Office Box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, and the zip code 16512. If you would like to email, the email address is visitjoneses@aol.com. Remember, there are many expenses in a ministry such as this, and as you share, you are doing your part in spreading the gospel. Checks should be written to the legal name, A Visit with the Joneses, Incorporated. Thanks so much for being here, and until the next time, this is Carol saying goodbye.