Psa 48
How great is the LORD, and how much we should praise him in the city of our God, which is on his holy mountain! 2 It is magnificent in elevation--the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King! 3 God himself is in Jerusalem's towers. He reveals himself as her defender.
4 The kings of the earth joined forces and advanced against the city. 5 But when they saw it, they were stunned; they were terrified and ran away. 6 They were gripped with terror, like a woman writhing in the pain of childbirth 7 or like the mighty ships of Tarshish being shattered by a powerful east wind.
8 We had heard of the city's glory, but now we have seen it ourselves--the city of the LORD Almighty. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever. Interlude
9 O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. 10 As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory. 11 Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice. Let the towns of Judah be glad, for your judgments are just.
12 Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Walk around and count the many towers. 13 Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels ,that you may describe them to future generations. 14 For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will be our guide until we die. NLT
This message was preached April 27, 2003, at FBC Toulon, by Albert Harmon. See it at ToulonBaptist.com
God's word is more than a book. It is more than a series of writings of men long dead. God means for it to be our guide and strength. How is it that we are to know which way to go? Where are we to get understanding and wisdom? What can give us the strength we need to get through the most difficult of days?
The answer to all of those questions is found in this book. A book that has proven itself to a hundred generations. A book that you know kept either mother or father, or grand-mother or grand father. I would encourage you to make their book your book. To spend time in it and read from it. Meditate upon its pages, pray over its promises and you too will find the answer to the questions of life.
Psalm 48 is a simple psalm. It is not difficult for anyone to understand. But there is a great deal of wisdom wrapped up in its words. For over 3000 years people have taken strength, comfort and understanding from this passage.
Let us consider it this morning.
8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty--
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come."
9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11 "You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created everything,
and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created." NLT
- Worship is what heaven is all about, and this is only the practice down here. But if you don't do good in the practice, your not going to be in the performance.