26, 27. (a) How does the picture of God’s city find fulfillment today? (b) Who are closely associated with those who have hope of heavenly citizenship? (c) What question do we look forward to answering?

²⁶ Do you see the force of this picture of God’s city? In the picture, or type, the literal, earthly city of Jerusalem, situated on Mount Zion, Was the beloved capital city over the whole land of ancient fleshly Israel. In actual fact, only a few Israelites could claim citizenship in Jerusalem itself. Likewise in the fulfillment, Christ Jesus and the true church with him in heaven, form the capital organization ruling over all of God’s earthly realm, this arrangement producing “new heavens and a new earth.” (2 Pet. 3:13) In these days of the conclusion of the old system of things, truly dedicated Christians with the heavenly hope and citizenship have already been restored to a closely knit unity. (Phil. 3:20) Closely associated with these is a “great crowd” of dedicated men and women with the hope of life on earth as subjects of God’s kingdom. They are “rendering him [God] sacred service day and night in his temple,” in association with the remnant of those who make up God’s spiritual house or temple. (Rev. 7:15; Eph. 2:19-22) In the same spirit as that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, these dedicated men and women of today must forsake the old system of things. Especially must they flee from that wicked symbolic city, Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. Instead, in proof of a living faith, they must earnestly seek God’s city, his city-like arrangement, as is plainly manifest among Jehovah’s witnesses.

²⁷ Still, you may ask, how will finding God’s city help me in my prayers? We look forward to discussing this question in the following article.

Jehovah God, the Hearer of Prayer

1. How did David when young prove his faith and devotion toward Jehovah?

DAVID was a man of faith who earnestly sought God. He was richly rewarded in his search. In his youth he was anointed by Samuel, under God’s direction, to be Israel’s future king, being the one that Jehovah found “agreeable to his heart.” Not long after, in the well-known encounter with the Philistine giant, Goliath, David proved his strong faith and devotion to Jehovah in action. Even earlier, as a shepherd boy, he had shown that same spirit in slaying a lion and a bear when rescuing his father’s sheep from the very mouths of those fierce creatures. David had a good background, and we can learn much from him.—1 Sam. 13:14; 16:11-13; 17:34-36, 45-47.

2. When enthroned in Zion, what action did David take, and why?

² When David eventually came to the throne and captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites, particularly the “stronghold of Zion,” he established his throne in that city. At the first opportunity, David brought the sacred Ark with great rejoicing up to Zion. He appreciated that it represented Jehovah’s presence, that it was the “ark of the true God, where a name is called on, the name of Jehovah of armies, sitting on the cherubs.”—2 Sam. 5:5-7; 6:2.

3. What next step did David desire to take, and with what outcome?

³ David was not satisfied with that however. As he later said on one occasion: “It was close to my heart to build a resting house for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah and as the footstool of our God.” Though not permitted to build this house, or temple, himself, having spilled much blood in war, yet Jehovah allowed David to go a long way toward fulfilling his heart’s desire. In preparation, he gathered a vast quantity of the required building materials, some of it at great cost to himself. As he said: “According to all my power I have prepared for the house of my God . . . [and] there is yet a special property of mine, gold and silver; I do give it to the house of my God over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.”—1 Chron. 28:2, 3; 29:2, 3.

4. How does David’s prayer compare with the Lord’s prayer?

⁴ Finally, David blessed Jehovah before all the congregation in prayer, in language of the utmost dignity and reverence. It is very interesting to note how closely his thoughts run parallel with the main points contained in what is known as the Lord’s prayer. (Matt. 6:9-13) Foremost in mind, David exalts and sanctifies God’s name, ascribing to him “the greatness and the mightiness and the beauty and the excellency and the dignity . . . we are thanking you and praising your beauteous name.” Stressing the importance of God’s kingdom and of God’s will being done in heaven and earth, he prays: “For everything in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Jehovah, the One also lifting yourself up as head over all. . . . you are dominating everything.” As in the Lord’s prayer there follows the petition for personal needs to be supplied and request for forgiveness of sins, so likewise David goes on to acknowledge for himself and all the people their complete dependence on Jehovah’s provisions and their own personal unworthiness. Lastly, David expresses the essence of the spirit of dedication and whole-souled devotion in these words: “O Jehovah our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build for you a house for your holy name, from your hand it is, and to you it all belongs.”—1 Chron. 29:10-16.

5. In what way does Psalm 122 show keen appreciation of God’s house and city?

⁵ God’s house and God’s city, these were manifestly the two things uppermost in David’s mind and dear to his heart. His close identification therewith greatly aided and guided him in his prayers. A fine example of this is seen in Psalm 122, which we recommend that you read. Every line tells of his keen desire, in company with others, to worship and “give thanks to the name of Jehovah” at Jehovah’s house, situated “within your gates, O Jerusalem . . . a city that has been joined together in oneness.” He specially asks his people to pray “for the peace of Jerusalem.” Why? Partly, as he says, “for the sake of my brothers and my companions I will now speak: ‘May there be peace within you.’” But more important: “For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God I will keep seeking good for you.”

6. Regarding the approach to God in prayer, what does Psalm 65 indicate?

⁶ In line with our theme, note also David’s words recorded in Psalm 65. Showing that worship can be expressed by way of contrast, he prays: “For you there is praise—silence—, O God, in Zion; and to you the vow will be paid.” He then says: “O Hearer of prayer, even to you people