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Psalm 48 - The fortress of God

Summary
v1-8 God's kingdom established in all power above all the earth
v9-14 The joy of Zion

God's Kingdom established in all power over all the earth
Actually there are kinda two sections to this. The first 3 verses speak of the glory of God's kingdom being established. It is metaphorically compared to a city on a mountain in the north - probably the same way Jesus uses the phrase "A city on a hill cannot be hidden". And so it is so, even in the OT writings, that God's kingdom cannot be hidden and will be displayed in all glory for all the world to see.

The second section describes the kings of the earth gathered against the kingdom of God. Or at least, it looks like that's the way it's written though it's not explicitly stated in the passage. Reason being that upon seeing it, they panicked and took flight - why run if you're not against God?

This kinda highlights the resistance of the world to God - that even in all His glory the world will try to reject Him and fail, all the way to the last day.

God strikes them with trembling and destroys the ships of Tarshish (a port city known for their ships).

Verse 8 then praises God , the LORD of hosts (also translated LORD of heaven's armies), and declares His kingdom to be established forever.

The joy of Zion
Simply the second half of this Psalm focuses on praises for God - beginning with praise for His steadfast love, His name and His righteousness.

The final part seems like a request to God to bless Israel - asking Him to number her towers, to consider well her ramparts and to go through her citadels that they may tell the next generation that He is God, their God forever and ever. A good reason really, to ask for blessing

Takeaway
1. Our sinful condition prevents us from realising God's glory
2. If there is any blessing in our life, the best purpose to use it for is to tell others about God.

A friend shared this interesting quote with me today from Martin Luther King - Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. And how true it is, that if we don't use our lives for the purpose God intended it for, then there isn't much purpose in it anymore.
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