THE CITY OF OUR 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. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. Psalm 48:1-3

Our verse is an interesting contrast to God’s descriptions of Zion in other portions from our M’Cheyne readings scheduled today. Through Isaiah, the LORD calls the leaders of Zion “rulers of Sodom” and refers to its citizens as “people of Gomorrah”(Isa 1:10). Moreover, the LORD laments her condition, saying, “How the faithful city has become a whore” (Isa 1:21). Such were we all before the great Lord and King saved us by His grace and mercy on the holy mountain, Mount Calvary. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is greatly praised in His city, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are a city that is set and established on the very hill of Christ’s crucifixion, which cannot be hidden, because we are the light of the world (Matt 5:14); for we reflect the light of our King who dwells among us, as He is Light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 Jn 1:5). We are beautiful in elevation because Christ was lifted up, and by His atoning death, draws both Jew and Gentile to Himself (John 12:32). We, Christ’s church, are the joy of all the earth because we bring glad tidings of Christ’s gospel, the good thing by its offer of salvation (Isa 52:7; Rom 10:15). We, Christ’s church, dwell in the far north for we are seated with Christ (Eph 2:6) and our citizenship is heaven (Phil 3:20). Within the palace of Christ’s church, He has made Himself known to us as a refuge, a mighty fortress, in which the gates of hell will not prevail against, for He has built us upon the truth of His person and His work (Matt 16:18).

Great is the Lord, and greatly He
Is to be praised still,
Within the city of our God,
Upon His holy hill.
Scottish Psalter, 1650

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Today's M'Cheyne Reading Schedule: 5/4 - Num 11; Psa 48; Isa 1; Heb 9

If you don’t have one, get a free PDF copy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Calendar by Clicking Here.

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