Psalms 48:1

 Psalms 48:1 says, A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.  After the introduction, verse one says, Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.  As David said, great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in His city.  David may have written this about Jerusalem, but wherever we are gathered today as Christians should be God's place.  Verse two adds, Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.  David said that God's people were a joy to the whole earth, and we should be today.  If it were not for Christians, think of how bad the world would be, and because of this, we should live in such a way that we bring joy to all those around us.  Verse three continues, God is known in her palaces for a refuge.  David said that God was known as a place of refuge to the people of Israel, and especially in Jerusalem.  As followers of Christ, God should always be our place of refuge.  We should put our faith in Christ alone.  Verse four states, For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.  David said that those other countries around Israel feared them, not because of their great power, but because of the great power of their God.  I believe that too often the world today just ignores God and His people, Christians, because too often we don't live in such a way as to show the true power of God to the world.  Verse five adds, They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.  David said that when the other nations saw the power of God at work in Israel that they marvelled, were troubled, and ran away.  When we live in obedience to God, the world should know that there is something about us that can never be defeated.  Verse six continues, Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.  David said that those around Israel were filled with fear and pain.  This was not because of the great military might of Israel, but because of the great might of their God.  Though as Christians we might not have much earthly power, we do have the power of God with us, and the people of the world should see this in our lives.   Verse seven concludes, Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.  David said that with just the wind that God defeated the ships of Tarshish.  No matter how powerful the weapons of the world are today, God can defeat them with just His word.  Verse eight declares, As 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.  David said as the people of Israel had heard of the power of God in the past that they had also seen it in their lives and that God would establish His city forever.  We cannot not just look at the works of God in the past, but must experience His work in the world and especially in our lives today as followers of Christ, knowing that He will establish His city forever one day.  Verse nine adds, We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.  We like David, must acknowledge the lovingkindness of God, no matter what is going on in the world.  Verse ten says, According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.  David said because of God's name and His righteousness that He should be praised to the end of the earth, and one day He will be.  Verse eleven adds, Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.  David called on the people of Israel to be glad because of God's judgments.  If we are living by faith in Jesus Christ today, we should be thankful for His judgments and rejoice in them.  Verse twelve states, Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.  David said that the people of God should go around Zion proclaiming His goodness.  Verse thirteen adds, Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.  David said that the people of Israel should remember God's great work and tell it to the generations following.  This is also our responsibility today, to teach the next generations about God and His goodness.  We must first and foremost share the gospel of Christ with them.  Verse fourteen declares, For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.  We like David must acknowledge that God is our God forever and ever and that He will be our guide for as long as we live.