A city of praise

Psalm 48 is similar to Psalm 46, in that they both seem to have been written after some awe-inspiring deliverance of the city of Jerusalem. They both appear to follow an amazing event, where Jerusalem was facing powerful enemies that threatened to destroy it.

Many of the scholars think that it was the deliverance from Sennacherib's huge armies. Remember we mentioned the reign of King Hezekiah, and how he faced annihilation from Sennacherib?

Let's back up just a bit.

Hezekiah's dad, Ahaz, had been unfaithful and evil, and had allowed great evil to overtake the land, with idol worship and temple neglect. Hezekiah became king at the tender age of twenty-five, and he made changes!

He had the groves and idols destroyed and he purified the temple. He re-established the temple worship and staffed the worship services with the people whose lineage was correct for those jobs. He worked hard and he told all of the people to repent and come back to God.

This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. (II Chronicles 31:20-21)

When Sennacherib saw the land was prospering under Hezekiah's rule and God's blessings, he wanted it for his own! He brought his armies and surrounded the city of Jerusalem. He mocked and ridiculed King Hezekiah, and tried to discourage the people inside the walls. (As Solomon told us, there is nothing new under the sun. Thousands of years later, a lady named Tokyo Rose took to the airwaves to try to mess with our soldiers' and sailors' minds, and discourage them.) But I digress . . . .

Here is Hezekiah's response to Sennacherib:

He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. (II Chronicles 32:6-8)

In response to Hezekiah's and Isaiah's prayers, the angel of the Lord struck down and killed Sennacherib's troops in the night. The Bible tells us about 185,000 of the enemy were destroyed.  And Sennacherib? He went home and was killed as he worshiped in his pagan temple.

Whatever the situation, and whatever the historical victory, this song is a joyous proclamation of God's greatness. The greatness seen in the splendor of His city, which He miraculously delivered. If you read through it quickly, you'd almost think that it's a song only about the beauty of Zion. But the beginning and the closing verse show us it's a song about the greatness of God -- as seen through His city.

And remember, in the New Testament, the believers are equated with His city. We are His temple, His dwelling place. So, when we read verse one and see that His city is to proclaim His greatness, we need to take that to heart!

Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,
    in the city of our God, his holy mountain. (v 1)

How can we ever "do justice" to God's greatness with our praise? I guess the heavenly choirs will come closer, with millions of saints and the angels joining in, to sing God's praise. Even that won't be enough, for His greatness is beyond the highest heaven! But we shouldn't give up -- we should worship Him with all our being. 

Let's pray that we will give our God the greatest praise and gratitude that we can, each and every day!