This Is Our God

This is our God—the Lord Almighty (8), to whom the Israelites of Joshua’s day looked for victory and security. Theirs and our situation may be different from that of the first hearers of this psalm, but our God is the same one who guides and provides for his people yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). What is this God like? A closer reading quickly reveals that this is a psalm about God, not about a city. Here is an indwelling God (3). Later, staggeringly, God’s people themselves would be the location, indwelt by the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19; John 14:17). He is the one who would establish Zion in security; the one whose fame would spread to the ends of the earth, bringing blessing even to people like us (10). It is God’s revelation of himself in his city, on his mountain, which shows his power, his glory, his supremacy (1–7). The psalm celebrates “divine greatness in action” and “experience” (J. Alec Motyer; 3–8). Our own past experience means that we too can trust him to act for us in the face of present and future difficulty (8). While the enemy is terrified (5), we know the security of God’s provision and love (8,9). What might our response be (9–14)? The last verses of this psalm focus on the festive joy of God’s people as they praise God for his goodness. So, as we “walk about” the building of our lives, allow this to trigger memories of what God has done in and for us. Take time to “meditate” (9). Remember to “tell… the next generation” (13; cf. Josh. 4:6,7). This is our God, whom we are privileged to know.

Meditate on God’s “unfailing love” (9). Praise him for what he has done for you and his provision for the future (14).