482_The city of the great King

Psalm 48 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.

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

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!

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.

In 1952, the British explorer and mountaineer Eric Shipton led an expedition through the remote mountain ranges of the Himalayas. During this journey, he stumbled upon a breathtaking valley that few eyes had ever seen. Towering peaks encircled the land like guardians of a hidden treasure. The sunlight poured over the snowy summits, and a river meandered gently through the center of the valley, sparkling like liquid silver. As he stood there, Shipton reportedly murmured to himself, “This feels like a place fit for a king.”

Throughout history, humanity has longed for a perfect city—a place of peace, majesty, and permanence, where justice reigns and beauty abounds. Great empires have risen and fallen, magnificent cities have been built and destroyed, and yet the yearning continues. We feel there must be something more than this broken, fleeting world. And Scripture agrees. Psalm 48, often referred to as a prophetic psalm, lifts our eyes beyond the ruins and decay of this earth to show us something lasting—the city of the great King.

The psalmist begins with an outburst of praise: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, his holy mountain.” (Psalm 48:1). This city is no ordinary city—it is Zion, the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem. The earthly Jerusalem was chosen by God to be the home of his temple. In it was the ark, the ark of the covenant of the God of the whole earth. It foreshadowed something greater: the eternal dwelling place of God Himself, the joy of all people.

Psalm 87 echoes this reality when it declares: “On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.” These poetic words are prophetic glimpses into God’s eternal kingdom—a city not built by human hands but established by God, shining with His glory, majesty, and righteousness.

The psalmist refers to this city as “the joy of all the earth” and as the place where “God has made Himself known as a fortress” (Psalm 48:3). This city is notable, not for its grandeur of architecture, but the character of its King. Like God Himself, his city is mighty, holy, and unshakable. It is a place of refuge, not just for a nation, but for all who put their trust in God.

However, verses 4 to 6 describe the reaction of those who oppose God: “As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.” While God’s people see this city as their source of joy and safety, his enemies are overwhelmed with terror at the sight. Like a fugitive cornered by justice, they break down in the presence of divine authority.

Verse 7 provides a vivid image: “By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.” The great ships of Tarshish, representing the strength, wealth, and wisdom of the ancient kings, were shattered by God’s breath. His word breaks in pieces and sets on fire. The greatest accomplishments of man are powerless before the will of God.

Verse 8 tells us: “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.” Cities rise and fall—Babylon, Nineveh, Rome, even Jerusalem itself—but the city of God is grounded in his righteousness. It is the city that never disappoints the visitor, for God fulfils all the claims that faith brings to him. The past history of God’s deliverance gives confidence for the future works of his love.

In verses 9 to 14, the psalmist reflects on the glory of the city – its temple, speaking of God’s covenant love. “We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.” There is the way into the presence of God. There it is that grace overcomes sin, and forgiveness flows like a river. How perfect is the grace grounded in righteousness: “Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.” (v.10). This is no distant or inscrutable deity. This is the God who draws near, who dwells among His people, and who guides them forever.

And the city preaches its own sermon about its builder and maker: “Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever.” (vv.12–13). At its best, Jerusalem was not just stone and structure, but character and covenant. Every corner of the heavenly Zion speaks of who God is—His strength, His sovereignty, His faithfulness. We pass these lessons on to the next generation.

For we know, “He will guide us forever,” even beyond death. Not just for a season, not just for a generation, but forever, he is our God.

This theme continues into the New Testament, where the writer of Hebrews offers a striking comparison between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. Sinai represents the old covenant—the law, which taught us to fear God and keep our guilty distance from him, lest we die in our sin. But as for the heavenly city? “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering… and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.” (Hebrews 12:22–24). We’re no longer just looking forward to this city—we have come to it by faith. Through the blood of Jesus, the gates of Zion have been opened to us.

And so Hebrews 12:28 exhorts: “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” While the world around us trembles, we stand secure—not because of who we are, but because we are dwelling in God’s eternal city.

Paul echoes this in Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Despite our earthly addresses for a brief time, our home and our hearts are in Zion, where we hold our true citizenship. We wait for its unveiling at his coming, described in Revelation 21: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people… and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Here on earth, we live for a mere season. Let our lives reflect the character of our King. Let us walk in love as he is Love. As the city did, let every detail of our lives reflect God’s righteousness in justice and mercy. As Zion stood as a testimony to God’s greatness, let our quiet confidence proclaim His excellencies to a world sunk in despair.

In 1952, Eric Shipton saw a place he thought fit for a king. By grace, we stand in the true city of the only wise King, unshakable and glorious. Let our lives of eternal purpose reflect the Lord of that city. Let us anchor our hearts to that joyful hope – the city of the great King. God bless.