The City of God

The subject of the 48th Psalm is Jerusalem, situated on Mount Zion, the city of the great King.

It is quite impossible, however to view the Psalm purely with Old Testament lens seeing ancient Jewish imagery. There is something much more important at work here. In the New Testament the Church of Christ becomes the New Jerusalem.

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Hebrews 12:22:23

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:2

What is particularly fascinating about the 48th Psalm, however, is its depiction of Jerusalem as a place of refuge under attack, of victory over the enemy. In the Apocalypse two cities are paramount. One is Babylon representing both the false Church and the godless spirit of this world, while the second is Jerusalem representing the true Church. Despite its power and attacks upon the people of God Babylon falls while Jerusalem is triumphant. This is true message of the Psalm and of world history.

The God of the City

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Psalms 48:1

The Psalm commences with with a burst of praise to the One who ordained that Jerusalem should be not only the capital, the centre of administration and justice but more importantly the spiritual home of His people. We today praise our great God who has established the Church, His kingdom on earth through the shedding of His dear Son’s precious blood.

The Location of the City

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion,on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Psalms 48:2

Jerusalem is situated on high ground, every road leading to the city is upward. The location is favourable, inspiring the thoughts of all the pilgrims who came for worship. While earthly identity is prized and while national pride is important, there is no privilege like that which pertains to our favoured position as citizens of the heavenly Kingdom.

The Safety of the City

God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

Psalms 48:3

Like all ancient fortresses, Jerusalem was a refuge in times of invasion. Our belonging to Christ’s body is all the refuge we need. Whatever we suffer in this world we know that constantly we are hidden in Christ.

The Triumphs of the City

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there,
and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

Psalm 48:4-6

The Psalmist now describes a time in the history of Israel when Jerusalem was dominant. Certainly, in the days of Solomon and on other occasions, no nation could stand before her. Yet this was not always the case. Babylon came, the Romans came – Jerusalem fell and was destroyed more than once. Obviously Jerusalem is not the ultimate vision of the Psalm because she was not always triumphant. The Church of Christ is quite different though. The Kingdoms of this world with their empires and might will fade away, but the Church with nothing but prayer and the Scripture will remain, growing and developing until Jesus comes.

The Permanence of the City

As we have heard, so have we see
in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God:
God will establish it for ever. Selah.

Psalms 48:8

God’s Kingdom endures, Christ is building His Church as He has promised so to do.

The Worship in the City

We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God,
in the midst of thy temple.According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth:thy right hand is full of righteousness. Let mount Zion rejoice,let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

Psalm 48:9-11

At the heart of Jerusalem’s purpose was worship, with the magnificent temple filling the skyline. At the core of temple worship was the priesthood, the altar and the shedding of blood for the remission of sin. Likewise at the the core of the Church’s ministry is Christ our great High Priest and the merits of His atoning sacrifice. We worship through His intercession; we preach Christ and Him crucified.

The Features of the City

Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces;
that ye may tell it to the generation following.

Psalm 48:12-13

The writer encouraged visitors to the holy city to take in the views, walk the walls, observe the ramparts and bulwarks and admire the distinctives which made Jerusalem great.

In like fashion we are to identify the distinctives of the Church, which keep us safe and which separate us from the world at large. Let us walk the walls and view the turrets of Biblical authority, the bulwarks of creation, the walls of the Gospel of grace, the doctrines of Christ and redemption, the gates of prayer and intercession – let us admire our defences, build them up, maintain them, rebuild what is lacking – holding onto what we have in Christ.

The Influence of the City

the joy of the whole earth…so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth.

Psalm 48:2,10

Jerusalem in ancient times was famed throughout the world. Similarly, in these times the New Jerusalem extends into all lands and nations with a reach that is truly cross cultural and international in scope.

The Protector of the City

For this God is our God for ever and ever
he will be our guide even unto death.

Psalms 48:14

Within the Church we have a role to fulfil until we pass on beyond this scene into eternity, joining the grand assembly above. Until that day God is our God, leading and guiding us equipping and supplying our needs.