The Tent of Zion

By Larry D. Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

The desert tent: the ancient nomadic residence

Walls and rooms made of woven goats’ hair

Poles, cords and stakes around its circumference

Warm in the night - cool in the desert-sun’s glare

Jewish history until mid-1900 is a record of thousands of years of captivity, subjection, and disbursement into unknown lands. Although scattered throughout the earth, those of Israel's blood have always sought a return to their homeland spurred by the Biblical promise found in Deuteronomy 30:1-5

1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,  2 And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;  3 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.  4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:  5 And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

In ancient times the tent-tabernacle of the wilderness and later, the temple on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, became the place of holiness and the emblem of Israel’s Godly devotions.  For wanderers in distant lands, gathering to Zion (Jerusalem, the home of the temple) was often a life-long, centuries-long pursuit.

 The tent of desert nomads provides an interesting metaphor for Zion’s search for habitation.   Providing shelter from the desert heat in the daytime and warmth from the desert cold at night, the nomadic tent was a place of transient residence and protection. Its interior was divided into rooms by curtains of woven goat hair.  Stable against desert storms, it was held up by strong poles flexible enough to bend against the winds without breaking.  Extending from the poles were strong cords anchored into the ground by stakes driven deeply into the sand and soil.  Gathering to Zion was seen as gathering to a place of safety and security – a place of peaceful residence like the ancient nomadic tents.

One of the many definitions or interpretations of Zion is that it not only represents a holy place, but also a holy, covenant people known as “the pure in heart.”  People become Zion as they become “children of the covenant” via adoption through baptism into Christ’s church.  One becomes pure by honoring baptismal covenants, exercising faith unto works (James 2:17).  Finally, when all is done within our power to work out our salvation, God’s grace completes the process driving out all impurities and we, as a people, become Zion – the pure in heart. 

The meditative verse The Tent of Zion takes up this theme as it reflects on the nomadic tent, curtains, poles, stakes, and cords – each a metaphor of Zion –each a metaphor with even deeper meanings. 

Zion, the pure in heart, is thus gathered and grown

Anchored by stakes firmly secured with priestly cords 

Allowing covenant blessings to be reaped when sown

As citizens of Zion are blessed with eternal rewards

The Tents of Zion

And then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.  Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes;   For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Old Testament, Isaiah 54:2; Book of Mormon   3 Nephi 22:1-3

The desert tent: the ancient nomadic residence

Walls and rooms made of woven goats’ hair

Poles, cords and stakes around its circumference

Warm in the night - cool in the desert-sun’s glare

Like the ancient tent of desert habitations

Zion is where the pure in heart may dwell

Protected from the desert’s stormy tribulations

Sheltering wanderers, keeping them safe and well

The Lord commands “enlarge the place of thy tent”

And thus, Zion grows, expands, and is multiplied

 “Stretch forth the curtains of thy habitation” is meant

To make room for our spiritual needs to be supplied

“Lengthen thy cords” expands Zion’s habitation

Extending its power and impact in all the world

“Strengthen thy stakes” secures Zion’s foundation

As the banner of Zion is raised and unfurled

Zion, the pure in heart, is thus gathered and grown

Anchored by stakes firmly secured with priestly cords 

Allowing covenant blessings to be reaped when sown

As citizens of Zion are blessed with eternal rewards

May our habitation be in Zion, the pure in heart

A people bound by covenants with the Lord

Faithful servants with Godly service to impart

Strengthening the tent of Zion with one accord

Larry Doyle Crenshaw