Psalm 48:8–14
8As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah. 9We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple. 10According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness. 11Let mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of thy judgments. 12Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. 13Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; That ye may tell it to the generation following. 14For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.
J. Vernon McGee tells about a little girl that came home from Sunday School. Her mother asked her to relay what she had learned that morning. She told her mom the story of Enoch, how the Bible says that he walked with God.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
The little lady told her momma how one day God and Enoch were out on a stroll, walking and talking until time slipped away. It was now dark and late and Enoch said it is time to head home but God said, ‘Enoch, you are closer to My home than you are to your home, so you come on and go home with Me.’”[1]
Psalm 48 has been about Zion, the city of God. It describes the beauty of the city because of the presence of God.
Is this passage talking about Jerusalem in the time in which the Psalmist is writing?
I think so, at least at the beginning. Jerusalem had survived the Assyrian siege in Psalm 46 and no doubt the psalmist realized his appreciation of it more as a result.
Is he talking about the Heavenly Zion?
Perhaps.
It is the presence of the Lord that makes either place remarkable. Yes, Heaven will have beautiful streets of gold, gates of pearl and the river of life but the Lord is still the main attraction. The angels don’t praise the beauty of the place but can’t keep quiet about the one who made it.
It is the closing verse that caused comfort to flood into my heart this morning.
Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.
I look back over my life and I where my Jesus has led me. We have walked many a mile together. My guide has taken me on a weaving course, up hills and down valleys. He has safely led me through many a storm and provided much needed strength in my struggles. I don’t know how much longer this journey will last. I am 46 years old now. I should have a lot of life left, but I am not promised tomorrow. I do have this one confident assurance, that when I come to this road’s end, my guide will still be with me and will help me safely to my final destination. We will walk together as he leads, I’ll talk to him in prayer and he will speak to me through his word and his Spirit until he eventually says, “Jason, we are closer to my place than yours so why don’t you come home with me?”. Don’t be mistaken, our walks won’t stop even when we arrive. I plan on continuing our strolls together because what makes Heaven home is Him.
[1] McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible commentary (electronic ed., Vol. 5, p. 586). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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