Great Is The LORD And Greatly To Be Praised
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King ...
We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
-- Psalm 48:1-2, 9
Theme: Zion -- the city of God!
Outline
1-2 -- The greatness of Yahweh and the glory of Mount Zion.
3-8 -- God has shown himself to be Zion's protector.
9-14 -- Lessons to be learned and told to the children (with a city tour).
Notes
• Praise -- Zion
• The trilogy of praise:
Psalm 46 for the presence of Yahweh in the city.
Psalm 47 for Yahweh, king of all the earth.
Psalm 48 for Yahweh, protector of the city.
• The significance of "Zion" grew:
a. Originally it is the hill on which the temple was later built (2 Samuel 5:7), and then it stood for the temple (Isaiah 8:18).
b. It became a name for the city of Jerusalem (Psalm 48).
c. Zion also came to stand for the people of Israel (Psalm 126:1).
d. Among Christians, it is the symbol of the church, all God's people.
e. It came to refer to the heavenly city (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 14:1).
• "Mount Zion in the far north" is a way of saying "Mount Zion is everything and more than the Assyrians claim for their fabled gods" (v. 2).
• Sennacherib's vassal kings entered Judah, then mysteriously withdrew (vv. 4-6). (See Isaiah 18-19.)
For Reflection And Prayer
Glories of your name are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
He whose word cannot be broken
Formed you for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake your sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
You may smile at all your foes.
Savior, since of Zion's city
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in your name.
Fading are the worldlings' pleasures
All their boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasures
None but Zion's children know.
-- John Newton (1725-1807)
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King ...
We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
-- Psalm 48:1-2, 9
Theme: Zion -- the city of God!
Outline
1-2 -- The greatness of Yahweh and the glory of Mount Zion.
3-8 -- God has shown himself to be Zion's protector.
9-14 -- Lessons to be learned and told to the children (with a city tour).
Notes
• Praise -- Zion
• The trilogy of praise:
Psalm 46 for the presence of Yahweh in the city.
Psalm 47 for Yahweh, king of all the earth.
Psalm 48 for Yahweh, protector of the city.
• The significance of "Zion" grew:
a. Originally it is the hill on which the temple was later built (2 Samuel 5:7), and then it stood for the temple (Isaiah 8:18).
b. It became a name for the city of Jerusalem (Psalm 48).
c. Zion also came to stand for the people of Israel (Psalm 126:1).
d. Among Christians, it is the symbol of the church, all God's people.
e. It came to refer to the heavenly city (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 14:1).
• "Mount Zion in the far north" is a way of saying "Mount Zion is everything and more than the Assyrians claim for their fabled gods" (v. 2).
• Sennacherib's vassal kings entered Judah, then mysteriously withdrew (vv. 4-6). (See Isaiah 18-19.)
For Reflection And Prayer
Glories of your name are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
He whose word cannot be broken
Formed you for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake your sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
You may smile at all your foes.
Savior, since of Zion's city
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in your name.
Fading are the worldlings' pleasures
All their boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasures
None but Zion's children know.
-- John Newton (1725-1807)
