From the “cancel culture” trying to silence her message to vandals defacing her places of worship with pro-abortion graffiti, the Church continues to face lots of opposition. But that is nothing new in the history of God’s people. Verse 4 mentions kings who assembled themselves to fight against Jerusalem, but only to eventually flee in alarm (verse 5). Yes, as we have seen so many times in Scripture and throughout the rest of the world’s history, no human political force has ever been a match for God’s might and majesty.

But the Church should be no more impressed by human wealth than by human power. Verse 7 describes the ships of Tarshish, one of the leading commercial cities in the Ancient world. But no matter how numerous they were or how precious was their cargo, the winds still determined the destination of those ships – and eventually had the power the sink them. After all it is God, not man, Who determines how the winds blow.

And God is still determined to bless His Church, the Body of Christ, in the same way that He blessed Jerusalem, the place where His Old Testament Temple was located. For even as the Psalmists marveled at the strength of the city’s towers and ramparts (verses 12 and 13), verse 3 reminds us that God is still the stronghold of His people, no matter where we may live. In fact, verse 8 makes it clear that God has established His Church forever.

But the greatest reason for our reassurance is found not in the Church, but in God Himself. And why is that? Because our God is righteous (v. 10) – He always does what will further His glory and our good. Our God always renders just judgments (v. 11) – He will reward the righteous and punish the wicked. Most of all, our God is a God of lovingkindness (v. 9) – a God of faithful, covenant-keeping love for His people. He is a God we can always depend on, in every way.

So today, no matter what happens, no matter what opposition we may face, let us join the psalmists and all God’s people as we sing God’s praise (v. 1), even to the ends of the earth (v. 10).

Psalm 48 (NASB)

A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King.
3 God, in her palaces, Has made Himself known as a stronghold.
4 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
5 They saw it, then they were amazed; They were terrified, they fled in alarm.
6 Panic seized them there, Anguish, as of a woman in childbirth.
7 With the east wind Thou dost break 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; God will establish her forever. Selah.
9 We have thought on Thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of Thy temple.
10 As is Thy name, O God, So is Thy praise to the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of Thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go around her; Count her towers;
13 Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces; That you may tell it to the next generation.
14 For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.