Read
(A song and a psalm by the clan of Korah.)
The City of God
1The Lord God is wonderful!
He deserves all praise
in the city where he lives.
His holy mountain,
2 beautiful and majestic,
brings joy to all on earth.
Mount Zion, truly sacred,
is home for the Great King.
3God is there to defend it
and has proved to be
its protector.
4Kings joined forces
to attack the city,
5but when they saw it,
they were terrified
and ran away.
6They trembled all over
like women giving birth
7or like seagoing ships
wrecked by eastern winds.
8We had heard about it,
and now we have seen it
in the city of our God,
the Lord All-Powerful.
This is the city that God
will let stand forever.
9Our God, here in your temple
we think about your love.
10You are famous and praised
everywhere on earth,
as you win victories
with your powerful arm.
11Mount Zion will celebrate,
and all Judah will be glad,
because you bring justice.
12Let's walk around Zion
and count its towers.
13We will see its strong walls
and visit each fortress.
Then you can say
to future generations,
14“Our God is like this forever
and will always guide us.”
Reflect
This descriptive psalm directs the worshipper’s attention to Mount Zion outlined on the skyline of the City of David, and the temple protected within. It is a celebration of God’s presence amongst his people, represented by the awe-inspiring fortress these structures created around the holy city.
In each of the four stanzas the psalmist describes Zion’s appeal from a slightly different perspective, each confirming the Lord’s praiseworthiness.
The first stanza emphasizes the beauty of the holy mountain, and the rush of joy the psalmist feels as he lifts his eyes to its peaks. He experiences God on a sensory and aesthetic level.
The second stanza recounts how Israel’s enemies were unsuccessful in their attacks on the fortified city. He celebrates the physical protection that God provides.
A deep emotional satisfaction is apparent in the third stanza, as the temple courts inspire the psalmist to meditate on the love of the Lord.
The fourth stanza appeals to a cognitive experience of God, as worshippers are instructed to count the fortress towers, indicative of the faithful acts of God, and with this knowledge educate the next generation.
Today we do not have a visual representation of God in the form of a city or a temple. We are to fix our eyes on Christ and seek to know him with every aspect of our hearts, minds and souls. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to you in ways that are surprising and satisfying, whether it be his beauty or his strength or his never ending love. He will surround you and make your heart glad.
Respond
Lord of all lords, you are our fortress and strength. We rejoice knowing you will always surround us. Keep us safe within your all encompassing love. As we look upon your face may we delight in you with all of our hearts, souls and minds. Amen.
Miriam Wickett
Miriam Wickett works as an occupational therapist in the Greater Vancouver area but has thoroughly enjoyed being the author of daily online prayer compilations on her Blue Stone City site, and collaborating with Scripture Union Canada as a result. She shares a vision for the city with her community at Tenth Church, serving as the refugee support ministry co-ordinator, and spends summers as a volunteer camp director on beautiful Thetis Island, B.C.