The Security We See, and Don't See

From Psalm 48 – 9 We have thought, O God, of Your loving kindness, in the midst of Your temple. 10 According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Your judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, and go all around her count all her towers; 13 Mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces, that you may tell it to the generation following. 14 For this is God, our God forever and ever, He will be our guide even to death.

Dr. David Silversides makes the point that only the display of God's character gives any meaning to a string of individual lives. He contrasts this true significance with the alternative reason  men don't despair is because we create an artificial world for ourselves.

Although this was not his text, Psalm 48:9-14 brings an interesting take on his point. The Psalmist considers this artificial world of impressiveness and security. He takes stock of the Temple. He measures Mount Zion itself. Count Jerusalem's towers, he invites, and appraise the bulwarks which convey earthly security.

Compared to the security God Himself provides, Dr. Silversides is right, there is an artificiality. Seen through the eyes of faith which God grants, though, the splendor of a city takes on a different aspect. We actually begin to see these instances of prosperity and security not as alternatives to trusting God but as indications that He shows up and shows off in our midst. They give us specifics to brag about as we talk about Him to those who follow us.

Verse 14 lands the revelry in an interesting way. All this splendor the Psalmist has us take in on his tour vanishes. All this aspiration to something near permanence proves ultimately inadequate. Protect our bodies though we will by God's grace as expressed in mortar and soldiery, only He can take us through to that Heavenly City which needs none of this to protect it. Only He in Christ Who has tasted death for us can be our Guide even unto death.

We experience, then, Christian, the ultimate continuity in Him. Where blessings and security are evident today, we can rejoice in them as the work and upholding of His hands. Where mystery and vulnerability loom beyond them, we can trust Him for what we don't see.

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