Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 48 – 6-18-20
Having been to Jerusalem in the last 15 months, I have a deep appreciation of the beauty and majesty of this great city. When you see the city on the hill with all its glory, you begin to understand why the Israelites so desire to see this city return to its glory and the glory promised by God in the future. While the temple is no longer standing in its full glory, the remains give you an idea of how great the city and the temple must have been. As I begin to preach from Ecclesiastes in the upcoming months, I also am looking at the life of Solomon Sat the glory of the temple that God allowed him to build.
In verses 1-3 we are reminded that you can’t celebrate the city of God without celebrating the greatness of the God of the city. He is “Greatly to be praised” in His “Holy Mountain”, the city of the Great King. He truly is the Fortress in our lives just as Jerusalem was the fortress of fortresses for God’s people. In verses 4-7 we are given the picture of the awe and fear of the kings of the earth when they came to try to destroy the city and its God. Not just the city brought fear to the enemies of God’s people, but the protection of God for His people has been a standard for the ages. Yes, Jerusalem has been destroyed in the past, but God will keep His promise to rule and reign for eternity from the new Jerusalem. So while the city has been through the fire of destruction, the God of the city will always be victorious in the end. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of God’s people and Jerusalem no matter how bad it seems that Satan and this world looks to be winning.
Psalms 48:9-10, 9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.(ESV) As we meditate on the “steadfast love of God”, we begin to praise Him and worship Him with a full heart and a loud voice of joy. No matter how bad it has been for Jerusalem through the years, God’s steadfast love will allow His promise and presence to be seen and heard throughout the whole earth. Our Righteous God will make all things right, just and true to His eternal promise. As I remember Jerusalem, I will always look to the God Who is able to rule and reign in His holy city forever.
Father, thank You for the picture of Your beauty, faithfulness and steadfast love for Your city and Your people. No matter how far Your people have strayed from You, You have always kept a remnant and a heart of grace and love for all who would come to You. We look forward together to the glory of this great city when Your Son comes to rebuild, rule and reign. In Jesus Precious Name, Amen! Pastor Rob