Psalm 48 - Temples

Psalm 48: 1, 3, 8-14

Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.
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
forever.
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 around 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.

Psalm 48 is a celebration of the city of Jerusalem, the city of God. God dwells in the city from His temple. God protects the city. God's presence blesses the city with radiance and plenty. Previous generations have told of God's providence and protection for His people, but now this generation have seen with their own eyes what God can do.

The psalm speaks of kings, and their armies, laying siege to Jerusalem (Mount Zion). When they approach they see what a well fortified city it is, sitting high upon a mount. But it is not simply the geography, nor the defenses of the city walls and towers, it is the presence of God that terrifies them. The attacking kings and their armies turn and flee.

But the people of God praise the Lord! Faithful pilgrims sing this psalm with joy as they approach the city for worship. They see Jerusalem and are welcomed as they make the assent. They sense the presence of the same God and are glad.

We have no such allegiance to Jerusalem, albeit some may be enthralled with the idea of Jerusalem as the birthplace of three major monotheistic religions. Yet we do have places over which we marvel. Going to Washington DC is an inspiring experience for many Americans. Visiting the monuments and museums there is like a pilgrimage to the the temple of democracy. The Lincoln memorial itself is patterned after Greek temples, like those to Zeus and Artemis. Honest Abe sits there like a god upon his throne. His words are etched in stone like the ten commandments.

But on the average day for the average person, where is there such a place. Where is there a place where we celebrate the protection and providence of God? Certainly our places of worship bring some level of joy. But more to the point, that place for the Christian is within the community of Christ. The church is the temple of the living God. The same God who dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem has poured out His Spirit upon us all. As the the scriptures say, we are living stones of a temple to God.

"You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1st Peter 2:5)

There is within you a sacred space where you can come anytime and enjoy the protection and providing of the Lord who loves you and gave Himself up for you. I have heard about this place. And now I have seen this place with my own eyes, my own true experience. Now I am celebrate this holy place within us with you!