Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

Secure in God
Read Psalm 48:1-14

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14

Psalm 48 shares a lot in common with Psalm 46. The mighty hand of God has brought deliverance to the people. The psalm also celebrates the security of Zion because God is in her citadels and He has shown Himself to be her fortress (v 3).

High walls are not our defence (v 3)
High walls and strong gates do not guarantee safety. (Asians are infamous for our love for oft-times unsightly barricades we build to protect our castles!) Recent world events have brought home the painful truth that danger lurks everywhere. Safety, we are rightly told is not the absence of danger but the presence of God. When the enemies advance, it will be the presence of the Lord that will strike terror in the attackers’ hearts and cause their hasty retreat (v 5). But that doesn’t mean we leave our gates wide open and our cars unlocked. How do we trust God with our lives and property without being presumptuous?

We have heard, we have seen (v 8)
The fathers have faithfully recounted God’s deeds of faithfulness and deliverance. Now those who heard have also seen the mighty acts of God. What occasions of rejoicing when hearers become witnesses of the mercies of the Lord! Take time as a family, or together with friends, to share testimonies and repeat stories of God’s grace and love. Pray that those who hear will also see and experience God’s love in their lives.

He is our God and Guide forever (v 14)
There are so many things to praise God for: His unfailing love, His name, His righteousness, His judgments (vs 10-11). The psalm concludes not with the invincibility of Zion’s defence system but in a declaration of faith and trust in her great Shepherd King. How rich and well-equipped are the city and people who have the Lord as their God and Guide even to the end!

O Father, we declare this day that You alone are our security and strong fortress. Let the generations that come after us know You as their sure defence against the storms of temptation and deception. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.