Praying Psalm 48

Psalm 48: “Praise Zion”

 

What is the title of Psalm 48? A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Read Psalm 48:1-3

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, ² beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
³ Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

What is the object of praise?

Mt Zion – City of God

Isaiah 2:2-4

Jeremiah 3:13-15

Joel 3:16, 21

Zechariah 8:1-8

Quotes from OT in Romans 9:33, 11:26

Revelation 14:1

Read Psalm 48:4-8

⁴ For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together.
⁵ As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight.
⁶ Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.
⁷ By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.
⁸ As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah

What does Mt. Zion look like?

Scary, panic, shattering… GOD COMING DOWN

Exodus 19:7-20 – giving of the 10 commandments - 20:18-21

Read Psalm 48:9-11

⁹ We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
¹⁰ As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
¹¹ Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

What do God’s people focus on?

CHESED (steadfast love) NAME (history!) RIGHTEOUSNESS (justice, love this judgement)

BE Glad!

Read Psalm 48:12-14

¹² Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers,
¹³ consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation
¹⁴ that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.

What should God’s people DO?

Know Zion – know every bit of the city = for the next generation.

Know this is God!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 48?

Praise God for Mt. Zion

Describe Mt. Zion – what happened here

Reflect  on chesed and your history

Exhort to KNOW Zion, protection & city, to KNOW God.

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

Mark 13

Romans 9:30-10:4 STONE set in ZION (this is Christ)

How can we pray this?

Praise God for Mt. Zion – god’s city

Describe Mt. Zion – terrible day of the Lord, when he comes with power

Reflect  on chesed and your history

Exhort to KNOW Zion, protection & city, to KNOW God HOPE for restored Zion to come.

WE PRAY:  

Hallowed be Thy name.

What does this mean? God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may become holy among us also.

How is this done? When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we as the children of God also lead holy lives in accordance with it. To this end help us, dear Father in heaven. But he that teaches and lives otherwise than God's Word teaches profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, Heavenly Father.