Post by Josh on Dec 12, 2011 21:25:20 GMT -8
We ended our Psalms study with a glimpse at how God's ultimate plan (the church) is revealed prophetically in the Psalmists love of Mt. Zion and Jerusalem.
Psalm 48
1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.
4 When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,
5 they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish
shattered by an east wind.
8 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.[c]
9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.
10 Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.
1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
In Hebrews 12:22-23 we are told that the mountain of God is none other than the church, the joyful assembly of the saved.
2 It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth.
The Church is the joy of the whole earth, not physical Jerusalem. It was only in light of the gospel that this could be truly and more literally fulfilled.
Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.
Even the Psalmist realized that God Himself is the fortress, not physical walls, envisioning the kingdom "not of the world" set up by Jesus.
4 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, 5 they saw [her] and were astounded; they fled in terror. 6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. 7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.
In Isaiah 54:17, it is said of the Messiah's kingdom (the church):
no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the LORD.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. "Selah"
Can’t be talking about physical Jerusalem, which is still not eternally secure, but rather the kingdom without end of Daniel 7.
9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
This is perhaps the most fundamental activity of the Church.
10 Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.
This is literally fulfilled because Mt. Zion/ Jerusalem now stretches throughout the earth- wherever God's people are.
11 Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation.
These towers, citadels, and ramparts are God's people, God's "living stones" (1 Peter 2:5). Here we get a glimpse of how we might see each other through God's eyes. And this is the heritage we have to pass on.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 48
1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.
4 When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,
5 they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish
shattered by an east wind.
8 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.[c]
9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.
10 Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.
1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
In Hebrews 12:22-23 we are told that the mountain of God is none other than the church, the joyful assembly of the saved.
2 It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth.
The Church is the joy of the whole earth, not physical Jerusalem. It was only in light of the gospel that this could be truly and more literally fulfilled.
Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.
Even the Psalmist realized that God Himself is the fortress, not physical walls, envisioning the kingdom "not of the world" set up by Jesus.
4 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, 5 they saw [her] and were astounded; they fled in terror. 6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. 7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.
In Isaiah 54:17, it is said of the Messiah's kingdom (the church):
no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the LORD.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever. "Selah"
Can’t be talking about physical Jerusalem, which is still not eternally secure, but rather the kingdom without end of Daniel 7.
9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
This is perhaps the most fundamental activity of the Church.
10 Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.
This is literally fulfilled because Mt. Zion/ Jerusalem now stretches throughout the earth- wherever God's people are.
11 Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation.
These towers, citadels, and ramparts are God's people, God's "living stones" (1 Peter 2:5). Here we get a glimpse of how we might see each other through God's eyes. And this is the heritage we have to pass on.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.