Read Psalm 48:1-8. 1Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. 4For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. 5As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. 6Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. 7By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. 8As 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.
The psalmist continues his theme of triumphant victory, and, as in psalm 46, the victory extends way beyond the anything earthly or temporal. Again, the king here is God himself. The city is the heavenly city of God come to earth. The event is the gathering and scattering of the whole earth, every king assembled and then running away in panic.
In Christ we can sing this song with a view to the return of Christ and the establishment of the New Jerusalem as the co-reigning Bride of Christ on earth. What thus far we have only heard, one day we will also see with our own eyes. We will see the city of the Lord of Hosts. The city of God with Christ on its throne.
Until that great day we who are in Christ ARE the city of God. The community of Christ. Those who have come to spiritual Zion. We are his holy mountain. Beautiful in splendor. The joy of all the earth.
Is that how you see yourself, your church, today?
That’s how Jesus sees us.
To live is Christ is to be his city of beauty and joy in the world today.
Prayer. Jesus, help me to see myself and my church as you see us. Help us together to be your joy in the world today. Amen.
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To Live is Christ 