God Makes Us Secure
Opening Prayer
Thank You God for the ways in which You have made me aware of Your love in the past days.
Read Psalm 48
[1] A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. [2] Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. [3] God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress. [4] When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, [5] they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror. [6] Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. [7] You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind. [8] As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. [9] Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. [10] Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness. [11] Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments. [12] Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, [13] consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. [14] For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In what way does the Psalm effect you?While the Temple Mount might look impressive from the Kidron Valley below, it isn’t exactly Death Valley. Yes, it might be an intimidating fortress for invading armies that presents a formidable challenge (vs 4–7), but Mount Zion isn’t even taller than some of the mountains that surround it. So what makes the difference? Nothing other than the choice and the presence of God. Associated with Abraham’s obedience (Genesis 22:2) and God appearing to David (2 Chronicles 3:1), this place is special through the choice and action of God. He has chosen it for his holy throne (v 1). Visitors – particularly those coming to the feasts with younger generations (vs 13,14) – are challenged to look beyond the city’s beauty and strength to their source in God alone, and to be drawn to praise the Lord (vs 1–3). In a way far beyond the psalmist’s intent, verse 2 has been fulfilled. Though now contested and controversial ground, Jerusalem remains a place of pilgrimage for the nations. What makes the decisive difference, the psalmist insists, isn’t its ramparts, towers or citadels, but the presence of the Lord: security cannot be found in anyone or anything else (vs 3,8).
Apply
Ask God to make his strength, power and grace more apparent in your life over the week ahead.
Closing prayer
Lord, the temple of Your people is now Your dwelling place in the earth. May Your glory dwell in me.
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