Psalm 48

God is exalted by His faithfulness to the nation of Israel in Psalm 47.  In Psalm 48 He is exalted by His choice of and faithfulness to Jerusalem.  

God had promises to choose a city where He would put His name (Deut. 12, esp. v5).  For the first several hundred years Israel was in the land the tabernacle was at Shiloh in the tribal area of Ephraim.  But God eventually rejected Shiloh and Ephraim and instead chose David of Judah and Jerusalem (Psalm 78, esp. vs59-60,67-72).  God’s choice brought together Israel’s King (David) and Israel’s High Priest (Aaron but with ultimate fulfillment in the One who was of the line of Melchizedek as well as the Davidic King, Psalm 110).

As the sons of Korah exclaim, Jerusalem is an amazing city (Psalm 48:1-3).  At 2474’ elevation it defies the stereotype of the Middle East as a hot and dusty place.  As we are currently in a pattern of spending 2-3 months a year in Jerusalem we can attest to the fact that it is quite pleasant, even when the rest of the nation is sweltering.  The Old City today is certainly nothing like what it was in the days of David and Solomon; yet it is a joyful place to be.

But what is important in v1-3 of our Psalm is the connection between Jerusalem and her God.  It is His city, His holy mountain.  The Davidic King was the head of a theocracy, a nation ruled through the King by God.  Thus it was the city of the great King, meaning the city of God.  Verse 3 notes this connection: God was in her palaces.  And not only that, God was her refuge.  This is an amazing statement given the fact that Jerusalem itself was a strong, natural refuge.  The song writers seem to say that Jerusalem by its very location is a picture or reminder of God Himself.

The second stanza (v4-7) says that the kings of the earth understood how special this city of God was.  And Israel trusted in God’s faithfulness that this city would forever be established as the city of our God (v8).

Now we come to the call to worship in this Song.  First, the locals are called to rejoice in God and His judgments.  When they think of Jerusalem they are reminded of God’s lovingkindness (often translated mercy;  Heb checed).  This is the prime attribute of God in His own expression of His Name in Exodus 34:6-7.  God’s mercy or grace or lovingkindness is evident in His choice of Jerusalem to be the location of His dwelling place, the mercy seat in the holy of holies in His temple.  The people of Jerusalem should rejoice, not simply that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel but because it is the City of God!

Perhaps the call to “walk about Zion” goes beyond the locals to any who would come to this city.  Again, I know the city today is not as glorious as it was in days gone by or as it will be in the future.  But a walk around the outside of the Old City today still provides an amazing view.  One still sees the natural refuge, the mighty rock foundation for the wall on the northern side, the glorious Damascus and Jaffa gates and the temple mount where stood and where will stand the House of God.  But the closing verse is very clear: the glory of the city and its location points to the glory of her God.  “FOR THIS IS GOD, OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER.”

I am not shy about encouraging people to come to Israel and to spend a few days in Jerusalem just to get the picture of what the Scriptures speak of concerning this amazing city.  You don’t have to in order to trust the Scriptures but it sure opens the eyes of most people.  But keep in mind: Jerusalem is meant to remind on-lookers of the simple truth of verse 1: Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised!  Perhaps in lieu of being in Jerusalem today you might think on the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ in Titus 2:13, Heb. 4:14 and 13:20.