Sunday 16 July, 2017

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. 1 The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise. Praise him in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 2 Mount Zion is high and beautiful. It brings joy to everyone on earth. Mount Zion is like the highest parts of Mount Zaphon. It is the city of the Great King. 3 God is there to keep it safe. He has shown himself to be like a fort to the city. 4 Many kings joined forces. They entered Israel together. 5 But when they saw Mount Zion, they were amazed. They ran away in terror. 6 Trembling took hold of them. They felt pain like a woman giving birth. 7 Lord, you destroyed them like ships of Tarshish that were torn apart by an east wind. 8 What we heard we have also seen. We have seen it in the city of the Lord who rules over all. We have seen it in the city of our God. We have heard and seen that God makes it secure forever. 9 God, inside your temple we think about your faithful love. 10 God, your fame reaches from one end of the earth to the other. So people praise you from one end of the earth to the other. You use your power to do what is right. 11 Mount Zion is filled with joy. The villages of Judah are glad. That’s because you judge fairly. 12 Walk all around Zion. Count its towers. 13 Think carefully about its outer walls. Just look at how safe it is! Then you can tell its people that God keeps them safe. 14 This God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our guide to the very end.

This psalm reminds us:

• Who God is and
• Who God’s people are

The city of Jerusalem is a picture of God’s people. The psalmist’s main point is that God is our protector. He will look after his own. The Psalmist also makes mention of God’s unfailing love, justice and guidance. God’s people are asked to note God’s protection in their lives so they can describe it to future generations.

God is our protector and he has promised to guide us until we die. At times we can forget this but here it is in black and white. There are occasions we may feel on our own but we are not. God is our defender! We are encouraged to tell the next generation of the security and safety we have in God. Specifically we are asked to describe how God was there for us. It’s a part of God’s character and I am stirred to pass this knowledge and experience onto our children.

Dear God thank you for protecting me even when I don’t realise it. Thank you for your promise to guide me all the days of my life. Amen

Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods