David is speaking about the uniqueness of Zion. It is the political and spiritual capital of Israel. Originally called Salem, God made this town the focal point of the old world. The empires of the world wanted Jerusalem and Israel, yet it was promised to Abraham years ago. In the mountains outside of town Abraham took his only son Isaac to offer him as a sacrifice. It was a foretaste of what God would do. A substitute was given for Isaac, but not for God’s son.
David wrote about what God had done. Even in this day, the most dangerous place to live in the world is the Middle East. In God’s eye it is still Mount Zion. As children of God, having accepted Jesus as Savior, we are Zion, part of his kingdom and part of his city. One day a new heaven and earth containing the New Jerusalem will come. The inhabitants will be God’s people, both Jew and Gentile, who down through the ages died in the faith of Jesus Christ.
A thousand years before the coming of Christ David wrote about our God. He told the history and how enemies tried to destroy them. He told them to consider how God came through and reminded them it was still God’s city. This God is our God. He is the same. He has not weakened or regressed. We have aged. We’ve lost a measure of health. Even the youngest of us is not what we used to be. In the Lord we are the same—children of God. Jesus is the only begotten son. By faith we are the adopted children. No matter how brief or how long we’ve been saved, the Lord is 100% our God.
Psalms 48: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
We’ve been reminded. Let’s stop and consider how great God is because of who he is. Don’t think about what he’s done. Think about his character. We identify with him because he is in us. We are created in his image. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Too often we’re about a list of complaints. Tear up the list and thank him for what he is doing. Things may not always work out how we think they should; we may not always get what we want. God does take care of us; he simply asks for our praise. The beauty we enjoy in life is what God has instilled in us. God takes care of Zion.
3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge. I have refuge—a place of safety. I feel secure because I am secure. No matter how dangerous the times are, we can take refuge in the Lord. We may never know how many times we’ve been saved from disaster. I’ve seen God turn things around and save me from imminent danger. There are many more that I didn’t realize.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah. 9 We have thought of thy loving kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. 10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
As we have heard—David read about what the Lord had done for his forefathers. He saw what God was doing then. Have we not all seen God do the same for us? I’ve seen the Lord provide out of nowhere from unlikely sources. We’re doing okay because of the hands of the Master. Nothing will move God’s kingdom. When you’re shoved around in this old world, you can’t be knocked down if you keep your trust in the Lord. His loving kindness is there for us. He not only says he loves us, he loves us. He shows us. God is great!
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. 13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
If you get discouraged, take a walk around your life. Check out the towers of protection. Consider the palaces. We all have what we need in Jesus. God took care of dad and mom when they could hardly feed and clothe us. We were happy. We have something to leave for the next generation.
Acknowledge and honor God. Why? For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. David didn’t coin this phrase. It’s just a fact of life. Our God is forever. Is he our guide until social security? No—he’s our guide all the way, even to death. He is great and our God forever and ever. Praise his name.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 