Friday slowdown

 I seem to keep coming back to the great old hymns of years past when I post these for our studies. The words just speak to us in ways that are so meaningful.

This particular song reduced me to tears as I listened, and I glanced at a comment below. Someone had posted that they had left their faith behind at one point in their life, and they'd been restored now to that sweet relationship and they knew peace. My tears flowed because I am praying for just that kind of change in a loved one's life: the renewal of their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. Perhaps someone else is in this situation too; let this reverent prayer song comfort you. He hears our prayers and is working. Our loved one will hear the Spirit's call.

"I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today."

Conclusion - a psalm for hard times

 

Do not be overawed when others grow rich,

    when the splendor of their houses increases;
 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.
 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
    and people praise you when you prosper—
 they will join those who have gone before them,
    who will never again see the light of life. 

People who have wealth but lack understanding
    are like the beasts that perish. (v. 16-20)

Here at the end of the "psalm for hard times" the writer repeats his advice from earlier in the song. He tells us not to worry when those around us become rich or famous, because when they die, they are going to leave the world with the same amount as everyone else: nothing! 

He talks in verse eighteen about how the rich congratulate themselves on their success, much like the rich fool in Luke 12. He's really driving home the point that no matter how much money you pile up, no matter how much success you attain here on earth, you can't take it with you!

The point of the last verse is that we need to gain understanding so that we do not perish. 

Understanding of what?

Of our need to be right with God.

How do we gain understanding?

I gain understanding from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path. (Psalm 119:104)

Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (II Timothy 2:7)

And how can we be right with God? Doing good deeds? Keeping certain rituals? Our Bible tells us it's faith in God that is important:

nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; (Romans 10:9)

We know that we will all die. But we don't know when. Certainly we should live with the idea of spending eternity with our loving Savior!

Jesus told us:

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Invest in God's kingdom. Be rich toward God! 

We'll look at that concept next week . . . . 

Compare and contrast

 

Hi! Here we are again, back at Psalm 49. Ready to dig in?

This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
    he will surely take me to himself. (Psalm 49:13-15)

The psalmist is using a concept here called "compare and contrast." To make a long language arts class short, there will be a description of two things that are very different - we'll be able to see a significant difference between them.

The foolish ignore eternity and trust in their riches, but the godly look to God to redeem and receive them.

Up until now, the songwriter has told us his "riddle," and then has given us some advice, saying that wealth and power are short term, and that neither of those things can help someone avoid death. Now, he's adding a new thought. He says that not only are those people foolish for ignoring the facts, but so are the people who watch them, admire them, and don't learn the lesson! In other words, there are people who watch the rich accumulate their wealth and envy their power over other people -- and then they see them die and leave it all behind.

But they still don't get it!

They still long for earthly riches. They still count and re-count their possessions. They don't take any notice of spiritual things. They just blindly trundle along - in fact, in verse fourteen the psalmist calls them "sheep" who mindlessly browse along in the grass. These are not sheep who know the Lord as their shepherd; the psalmist says that death is their shepherd. And that even if they live in "princely" mansions now, they will not always live there.

Now, we said that there was going to be a contrast - did you see it start in verse fourteen? "The upright will prevail over them in the morning." That phrase "in the morning" is a ray of hope for those who are currently oppressed by the ruthless rich. It is pointing to a brand new day, when God will right all wrongs. Then, in verse fifteen, the psalmist says "But God will redeem my soul . . . " The matter of fact way that he says this makes us think that the hope of life with God was very real to him. 

The Hebrew word used when he says God will "receive me" is the same one that is used when the Bible describes God taking Enoch to heaven. We know that the hope of heaven became much clearer when our Savior came and explained things more clearly, but isn't it wonderful to find it here in the Old Testament as well!

So, this is why the psalmist offers a "compare and contrast" argument in answer to his own riddle. He says that those who trust in their riches will be consigned to Sheol, but the upright will be welcomed into heaven by God. He will redeem their souls from the power of the grave. 

Jesus paid the price that our sins deserved. We may go free by faith in Him. If we trust in His blood, God will receive us and welcome us into heaven!

Verses that inspire - Halloween

As I write this post, it's almost Halloween! For many weeks, the stores have been filled with costumes for children and adults; the grocery stores have offered huge bags of candies; the neighborhoods that I drive past are sporting ghosts and goblins of all types in the yards.

Many Christians struggle with the holiday, and refer to it's roots in the past. They rightfully point to the occult practices and beliefs that accompanied Halloween's start, and they are determined to remain apart from the celebrations they feel are very wrong.

Others try to use the celebrations to point others to Christ, or offer "harvest" festivals as alternatives to the "trick or treating." 

Who's right? Who's wrong?

Let's look into this . . . . first of all, we believers should not respond to Halloween as if we were superstitious pagans. Evil spirits are always with us - they are no more sinister and active on Halloween than they are on any other day. Any day is a good day for Satan to prowl:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (I Peter 5:8)

But we have a Power to help us:

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (I John 4:4)

Both of those verses inspired my thoughts as I considered the Halloween activities.

Since the evil spirits are active every day of the year, it makes sense to exercise caution with the parties, festivals, and activities that our kids and our grandkids attend. I personally feel that Christian young people should stay away from secular Halloween parties because they are breeding grounds for trouble. Whether it's older kids that will be experimenting with alcohol and then driving, or younger ones that will see graphic images of the horror variety that are displayed "all in fun," we can protect our family's minds and hearts by setting some rules and guidelines.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

There's another way to consider Halloween. That is to respond with the compassion of the gospel message. The world that rejects Jesus Christ is a world that lives in perpetual fear of death. Witches and ghosts may not be all that scary, but God's wrath unleashed on arrogant, prideful sinners? Now that is terrifying! 

Christians can use Halloween and all it brings to our mind's eye as an opportunity to engage in conversation about the gospel of salvation. Believers who adopt a no-participation-at-all policy will find that they raise other people's eyebrows and that provides an opportunity to share the gospel with those who ask. (It's important, too, to explain our stand to the kids so that they are prepared for either questions or ridicule from other kids and even adults.) 

Other believers opt for Harvest Festivals or even Reformation Festivals, and these can be effective ways to reach children and families for Christ. Some even leave the church building behind and "treat" needy families with food baskets and candies, along with the gospel message. 

An alternative in recent years that is not so good is the idea of "Hell House" evangelism, where a church walks people through rooms that are almost like carnival horror-house setups. Each display is supposed to shock young people and scare them into being Christians. Here's the problem I see there: with all of the graphic images that young people see today in movies and shows, one must be extremely graphic and morbid to "shock" them. These exhibits of sin and its consequences are unnecessary since their minds are already inundated with them! 

Instead, what they need to see is someone whose life is transformed by the power of God. What they need to hear is the gospel presented in a straightforward way they can identify with and understand.

This year, a special issue is presented, since October 31 falls on a Sunday. I've seen some of the alternative offerings (festivals, trunk or treat, etc) that have been scheduled for Saturday, instead. 

At the end of the day, believers' participation in Halloween is a matter of conscience. It's between us and our Savior. It's a question of our honoring God in our daily lives. Our Bible says we are to keep ourselves separate from the world, but still show compassion and mercy to those who are perishing.  Maybe Halloween is a very good time for us to make a special effort to share the message of a holy but forgiving God! 

Riches are short term

 

We're learning from Psalm 49 again today; the songwriter advises us that we need not fear when those who trust in their riches are prospering. Why? Because their wealth cannot buy them an escape from death:

Why should I fear in days of adversity,
When the injustice of those who betray me surrounds me,
6 Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7 No one can by any means redeem another
Or give God a ransom for him—
8 For the redemption of his soul is priceless,
And he should cease imagining forever—
9 That he might live on eternally,
That he might not undergo decay. (v. 5-9)

The psalmist mentions fear in verse five, and then again in verse sixteen. Why does he talk about fearing the wealthy? I think that it's because often the wealthy are tempted to oppress and take advantage of people who don't have the money and resources to defend themselves.  Our songwriter describes himself in some translations as surrounded by "supplanters" or "deceivers."  The RSV says they are "persecutors." Still other versions say "cheaters" or "betrayers."

Not a pretty picture.

Now, he's not talking about all of the rich. He is not saying that to be rich is sinful. Instead, he talks about "those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches" (verse 6).  These are the arrogant rich who do not trust in God.

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ (Luke 12:19)

Instead of thanking God for the blessings, they think they've done it all themselves. These are the people who pepper their speech with "I" and "me" and "my." They spend very little time thinking about others, and when they do, they don't see much that they like.

The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. (Luke 18:11)

Our psalmist is also talking about the rich who oppress others and cheat them. The Bible talks a lot about being fair. There are instructions for measuring things accurately and giving a fair amount for the money. There are instructions for treating people humanely and compassionately. It's terrible that we humans need to be instructed on how to treat other humans, no? Even in our modern world, where there is emphasis on equality of persons, bribery and influence peddling among the powerful can threaten the poor.

In verses seven through nine, we see that the prosperity of the wicked is not only brief, but it's useless when it comes to avoiding death.

The psalmist tells us that no one can use money to give God a ransom for someone's soul. We can't use money to give to God, to prolong someone's life. Some people are so arrogant that they think everyone has a price. That there's an amount of money they can offer, that will bribe a person to do something they don't really want to do. But no one can bribe God. Each of us has a certain length of time here on earth - we might prolong things with money to purchase medical treatments and such, but we can't "cheat" death. 

So, the psalmist's first answer to the riddle of the rich and powerful and their oppression of the poor is that their success is only a brief one, and that they can't stave off death.

Then, he goes on to point out how silly it is to trust in riches, in light of the absolute, rock-bottom certainty of death:

For he sees that even the wise die;
    the fool and the stupid alike must perish
    and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever,
    their dwelling places to all generations,
    though they called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp will not remain;
    he is like the beasts that perish. (v 10-12)

Yes, it's true. The odds that we will beat death are not good. And the old joke is true: you don't see Uhaul trailers hooked up to the back of hearses. You really can't take it with you. 

The psalmist observes that it doesn't matter if one is wise or foolish, at some point one dies and the wealth and possessions are left to others. The uber-rich (as some call them today) may have exceedingly large and magnificent homes and possessions; they may think that all of those things will endure forever. But the truth of the matter is, they will soon be forgotten.

And that is the second part of the songwriter's answer: the failure of wealth is total failure. Those who trust in their wealth instead of in God cannot purchase an escape from death as they purchase other things. They can't "cheat" death. We need not fear the powerful. Their power is only temporary.

Friday

 Praise the Lord, He gave me a song......I will sing it the rest of my life!

Everyone needs to hear

Let's look at the first four verses of Psalm 49:

Hear this, all peoples;
Listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will express my riddle on the harp. (v. 1-4)

Wow, have you heard the expression "preaching to the choir"? Usually means that someone is speaking to a small group that already knows what he's talking about . . . the psalmist says, HEY! EVERYBODY LISTEN!!!

He is not just a poet. Not just a songwriter. He is preaching not just to the people of God, but to all people - all the inhabitants of the world!

The social "nobodies" may be tempted to just shrug and say, "his message is for the elites." They might think the message only applies to those who are high on the social ladder. But the psalmist says, no, this is for the "low" and "the high."

Poor people might be tempted to think that a song about the perils of trusting in material possessions only applies to the wealthy. But the psalmist says, no, this is for the rich and the poor. If we are poor, we can be just as materialistic as the rich, because materialism is a focus -- a desire of the heart -- not just a matter of owning lots of "stuff."

So, the psalmist begins by saying that his message is for all people in every culture.

He continues in verse three by telling us all that he's going to speak wisdom and give us understanding. I looked up this particular use of "wisdom," and it was also used of the skill of the craftsmen who constructed the beautiful tabernacle in Exodus. (Exodus 36:1-2)  It takes both wisdom and skill, given to us by our Father God, to live in such a way as to produce a beautiful life in God's sight.

So, has this songwriter experienced some things and is giving us "man's" wisdom? I don't think so . . . he is passing on to us wisdom that he has gained by inclining his ear to God.

For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)

So, this will not be the wisdom of man, but wisdom from God. 

The next part seemed very interesting to me. I don't believe we have had in our studies of psalms, an instance where the psalmist said he would open up a "riddle." That got me to thinking and also to studying. The same word "riddle" is used of Samson's riddle of the lion and the honey:

Then Samson said to them, “Let me now propose a riddle for you; if you actually tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast, and solve it, then I will give you thirty linen wraps and thirty outfits of clothes. (Judges 14:12)

It's also used to describe the difficult questions that the Queen of Sheba asked Solomon, trying to "stump" him:

Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon in relation to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with riddles. (I Kings 10:1)

In this psalm, the riddle seems to be the age-old question: why are evil people rich and comfortable, while the godly are often poor and oppressed? The songwriter's answer is that no amount of money can purchase an escape from death and judgment. All of us must stand before God, Who in His holiness will either condemn us because we lived for this world, or redeem and receive us because we lived wisely in light of eternity.

I guess some people would think that this is not all that profound. Lots of worldly philosophers have pointed out that human life is short. They've said that it's foolish to put our confidence in "things." But I think the real wisdom of the psalm is to comfort us when we are suffering, by reminding us to trust God to right all wrongs. I think the psalmist wanted to remind us to be patient when it seems (to us) that God might not be paying attention -- we just need to realize that He will rectify ALL wrongs in His good time.

It's the message that we know, and that we need to think about often. We can know in our heads that life does not consist of possessions, it's easy for us to forget and then be tempted by greed or by peer pressure. We are all susceptible to this; young and old believers alike.

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (I Timothy 6:17-19, NASB)

"That which is truly life."  I think that's what the psalmist was trying to say . . . . 

A psalm for hard times

We often see people interviewed after a tornado, a hurricane, or a wildfire wipes out all of their earthly possessions. Their voices tremble; they are obviously shaken by the experience. But they all seem to say the same thing: "The most important thing is that I (and my family, my kids) am alive. The rest of the stuff is just stuff."

Sometimes we live through incredible lessons in what is really important. What really matters? What can we live without?

Whether it's a natural event or a recession, the world that we live in can change our lives and make unforgettable impressions on us. It can clarify our values. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I do believe that there certainly are "hard times" coming. We see the gaps in available food stuffs on the grocery store shelves. We see the small numbers of cars on the dealer lots, the paucity of inventory in many retail stores. We hear the talking heads on cable and satellite programs detailing the problems that are mounting skyward from our government's poor management -- of everything from our borders to our fiscal policy and everything in between. 

These hard times might be used by God to pry us loose from our love of "things." To pull our fingers away from the "stuff" that so easily tempts us. Maybe we will grow in our understanding of what it means to truly seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness. Maybe we will learn to be more faithful in laying up treasures in heaven. Maybe in light of the shortness of our lives, we will shift our focus from storing up treasures on earth and focus on being rich toward God.

Psalm 49 is a psalm for hard times. It's what the scholars call a "wisdom psalm," like a couple of others, namely Psalms 37 and 73. It talks about the foolishness of living for this world's possessions, and for status and fame, in light of the certainty of death. But it's not a total downer, don't worry! Psalm 49 gives us instructions that - if we heed them - will result on praise to God. It tells us that we need to live rightly in light of eternity . . . and one day we can present to God a heart of wisdom. 

So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

A couple of the commentaries that I read paired this psalm with a parable that Jesus taught: the parable of the rich fool. Remember that one? Let's look at what our Savior said:

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:15-21)

Jesus began with a warning against greed, and then told the story of the successful farmer. After realizing his barns were full, he built bigger ones, and then congratulated himself, instead of thanking God! Jesus concluded with another warning for those who would not be "rich toward God."

As we study this psalm, we will see the psalmist call to everyone to listen, for he has something important to say. Then he will give his advice, and he will contrast the people who trust in their wealth with those who trust in God. Then he will come full circle and tell us we should not fear if the wealthy increase. We'll study these verses and we will end with "how to be rich toward God," as well.

Stay tuned!

Prayer requests

 

We've set aside today here on the study blog as a day of prayer. I hope that you will pause here and gather inspiration, and if you have a burden on your heart that we can pray for, leave us a comment so that we can lift you and that situation to the Lord. 

Some of us are battling tremendous health problems, or we are ministering to someone who is experiencing health issues. Some of us are struggling to make ends meet financially, or we are trying to help someone who is in need while caring for our own needs, too. Some are enduring persecution; some are dealing with ridicule, humiliation, loss of freedoms, and more.

We may feel that the weight of the entire world is pressing in on us. But if we are believers, there is One Who is holding the weight off our shoulders. He is extinguishing the arrows of the evil one as quickly as they fly toward us. He extends His hand of peace and comfort to us. 

Dear one, take His hand. Look into His face and know His compassion, mercy, and peace. He will stay with us. He will shield us. He will make certain that we prevail, in His time.

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. (I Chronicles 16:11)

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. (Jeremiah 29:12)

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. (Proverbs 15:8)

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (I John 5:14-15)

Abba, Father! 

Amen!

A psalm for today - #49

Are you ready to start another psalm? I sure hope you are ready, for this next one that I've been studying is very appropriate for our times. It seems it could have been written today!

I think the part of the psalm that really struck me was verse five:

Why should I fear in days of adversity, (Psalm 49:5a)

As we study, we'll see that the songwriter will answer his own question later on in this psalm, so for now, let's begin reading and pondering the whole psalm. 

Hear this, all peoples;
Listen, all inhabitants of the world,
 Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
 My mouth will speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will express my riddle on the harp.

 Why should I fear in days of adversity,
When the injustice of those who betray me surrounds me,
 Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
 No one can by any means redeem another
Or give God a ransom for him—
 For the redemption of his soul is priceless,
And he should cease imagining forever—
 That he might live on eternally,
That he might not undergo decay.

 For he sees that even wise people die;
The foolish and the stupid alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.
 Their inner thought is that their houses are forever
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have named their lands after their own names.

But man in his splendor will not endure;
He is like the animals that perish.

 This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of those after them who approve their words. Selah
 Like sheep they sink down to Sheol;
Death will be their shepherd;
And the upright will rule over them in the morning,
And their form shall be for Sheol to consume
So that they have no lofty home.
 But God will redeem my soul from the power of [j]Sheol,
For He will receive me. Selah

 Do not be afraid when a person becomes rich,
When the splendor of his house is increased;
 For when he dies, he will take nothing with him;
His wealth will not descend after him.
 Though while he lives he congratulates himself—
And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—

He will go to the generation of his fathers;
They will never see the light.
 Mankind in its splendor, yet without understanding,
Is like the animals that perish.

We've discussed this concept before. It's an age-old question: why am I in dire straits when the wicked person next door is rolling in wealth and seems to have no worries? After all, I'm trying with the Spirit's help to live a godly life.

In today's world, it's even easier to fall into this line of thinking. Socialism is on the rise. Authoritarian mandates are coming at us, left and right. When we aren't dodging those, we are struggling to keep up with taxes and inflation, and some seem determined to squash our freedoms and relegate us to second-class citizenhood.

I think we need to get somewhere quiet. 

To take a deep breath.

And think on what is truly important. 

This week, Psalm 49 is going to help us do that. Hope you will follow along.

Friday slowdown

 I found a reverent rendition of an old favorite for this week. Hope you receive a blessing . . . . 

Praise Him to the ends of the earth

 

We have thought over Your goodness, God,
In the midst of Your temple.
10 As is Your name, God,
So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Mount Zion shall be glad,
The daughters of Judah shall rejoice
Because of Your judgments.
12 Walk around Zion and encircle her;
Count her towers;
13 Consider her ramparts;
Go through her palaces,
So that you may tell of her to the next generation.
14 For such is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will lead us until death. (Psalm 48:9-14, NASB)

Wow! Is this a high point of praise, or what? (Grin) 

The psalmist says first that they are in the temple and they are thinking about His lovingkindness.  We've said that this was probably written after a real-live-victory where the Lord God showed His power in saving them from destruction. Why? Because of His great love.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

The story of how God delivered Jerusalem spread, and then so did His praise. He worked His righteous judgment on the wicked kings, and the people spread their joyous praise about it . . . the story went out far and wide, just as our story should. If we have experienced His salvation, then we should be eager to spread praise to the ends of the earth! We must tell others who need a Savior of the God Who offers righteousness and redemption.

Verse eleven might give us pause, in our world today. The Bible portrays God's saints as rejoicing when He pronounces judgment on wicked Babylon in Revelation (Rev. 18:20). Maybe our "culture of tolerance" has rubbed off on us too much, if this makes us uncomfortable. If we are saved, we should rejoice in His righteousness, and that means we are ok with His judgments.

I really like verses twelve and thirteen . . . . the people had been cooped up inside the walls and probably inside the houses, because of the many armies of Sennacherib outside the city. But now the psalmist invites everyone to take a stroll! 

Count the towers! They are all there.

Look at the ramparts! No damage from battle.

Walk through the palaces! They are still beautiful.

Then he says, "tell the next generation." In other words, tell those who were not alive, or not old enough to "get it," what the Lord did to save His people. Seeing the city unscathed is not telling everyone that it was the wonderful city that saved them. It's telling them that everything is undamaged - because of the mighty God Who was faithful to save His people! And that is worth telling the next generation!

Verse fourteen brings us back to the thoughts of verse one: God is great, and He is greatly to be praised. We can trust and follow God because He is faithful to deliver us. Not even the powerful and evil forces of this world can thwart His loving plans for those who dwell in His city. They have His protection, even if they are persecuted, even if they die:

But you will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all people because of My name. And yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. (Luke 21:16-19)

For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. (II Corinthians 5:1)

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. (John 14:1-3)

Knowing that the God of Psalm 48 is our God gives us a sense of peace when we are under siege by the world. It also gives us a sense of purpose to spread His glory and to praise Him to the ends of the earth.