LHC Midday Word: PSALM Forty Eight

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.

Beautiful in its loftiness,

the joy of the whole earth,

like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,

the city of the Great King.

God is in her citadels;

he has shown himself to be her fortress.

When the kings joined forces,

when they advanced together,

they saw her and were astounded;

they fled in terror.

Trembling seized them there,

pain like that of a woman in labour.

You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish

shattered by an east wind.

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

for ever.

Within your temple, O God,

we meditate on your unfailing love.

Like your name, O God,

your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;

your right hand is filled with righteousness.

Mount Zion rejoices,

the villages of Judah are glad

because of your judgments.

Walk about Zion, go round her,

count her towers,

consider well her ramparts,

view her citadels,

that you may tell of them

to the next generation.

For this God is our God for ever and ever;

he will be our guide even to the end.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 48 : “Zion” (vv.2 & 11-12)

What makes “Zion” so “beautiful” and “the joy of the whole earth” (v.2)? Not the “mountain” itself (v.1), nor its “citadels” (v.3), nor even its “temple” (v.9). “Great is the LORD” (v.1), so it’s his presence that makes it “holy” (v.1).

That’s the reason why Zion, as well as the city of Jerusalem too, represent God’s presence, people and purposes “for ever and ever … to the end” (v.14). It is named 7 times in the New Testament, 5 times in Old Testament quotes. Revelation 14 v.1 see “the Lamb standing on Mount Zion.” Hebrews 12 v.22 says “you have come to Mount Zion …” Well, have you personally?