VIP Ministry Network

Psalm 48

Why is Zion strong? Zion is strong only because God is there. The psalmist calls Zion the city of God. As long as God is there, Zion is the city of God. “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.”

Because God is strong, no human attack can destroy the city: “Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense. Then the kings assembled, they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight; trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor, as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so have we seen    in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah”

Then why does God reside in the city of Zion? Does it have special merit? Maybe! However, the psalmist confesses that it is God’s love not the beauty of Zion that protects Zion: “We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory.”

Zion is strong. Zion enjoys victory. God loves Zion and protects it. Zion is full of joy: “Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.”

Then the Zion was destroyed in 587 B. C.! What did happen to Zion? When Zion betrayed God’s love and followed idols, God left. It was that simple. When God left Zion, it became just one more city and stronger kings came and destroyed it. Zion was not God! Zion was just a throne that God sat for a while. When we invite God and let God rule over our lives, we are zions! When we follow other idols, worldly things, we are no longer brides of Christ. Stick to the Lord! Walk with Him. Then our Beauty, Life, Joy will stay with us! Without Him, we are nothing!