January 31, 2024
Power in Praising God #
Psalm 48:1-14
Introduction
This Psalm is about praising God and thanking God specifically for His protection. This Psalm starts out with a very emphatic statement, “Great is the LORD”. We literally cannot even begin to understand how truly magificent, marvelous, and awesome our God is. And if we could understand it, it is not likely we could express it!
I. The City of Jerusalem (1-3) #
A. God’s city (1) #
1. Jerusalem a historical place #
Matt. 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
2. Great amount of Praise! #
- Temple mount – the building of that first temple, and the Shekinah Glory of God coming down!
3. Future – eternal #
Rev. 21:1 ¶ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
B. God’s Reign – Millennial Reign (Rev 20:4) #
Rev. 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
C. God as Refuge (3) #
1. Past – Historically, many kings which reigned in Jerusalem, knew God as their refuge! #
2. Future! - This will come to pass again! #
II. The Consternation of Foes (4-8) #
Note the similarity of this passage:
2Chr. 20:19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. 20 ¶ And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
2Chr. 20:36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongeber.
1. Unsaved fear the unknown of God. #
2. Unsaved fear the righteousness of God #
3. Unsaved fear the power of God #
III. The Considering of God (9-10) #
A. Lovingkindness (9) #
1. Thinking about God… #
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
2. Temple #
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OT – coming to the Temple, was coming to the very presence of God… so automatically their mind was turned toward God.
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NT – Today, God doesn’t dwell in the church house, but rather in our hearts. However, coming to church should very well be cause us to think about God!
B. Mention of His name (10) #
1. Utterance of His Name #
2. Unto the end of the earth! #
IV. The Call to Publicly Praise the Lord (11-14) #
1Pet. 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.