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Daily Devotion: Psalm 48:1-3

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Psalm 48:1-3    "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.  (2)  Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.  (3)  God is known in her palaces for a refuge."

This Psalm speaks to us concerning the House of the Lord.  How do  you feel about God's House of worship? David was in love with the Lord and also the Lord's House.  I realize there are those who feel they can worship God just as well on the creek bank or the beach or wherever. I do not dispute that God is to be worshipped wherever we are. But nowhere else can the Lord be worshiped to the same height as when we are in His House alongside others who believe and love the Lord as we do. Someone might say that is just my opinion, but I would disagree. And not only that, but God's Word backs me up concerning the importance of coming together to worship our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:23-25)  Our complete focus and goal when we come into the Lord's House should be only the worship and exaltation of our Lord Jesus.  A few hours a week in a public gathering of worship is not too much when we truly understand what He has done for us and His faithfulness to us. God's House has been referred to as a Spiritual "filling station."  I understand that concept, but I disagree with it; rather, God's House is a place to bring our sacrifices of praise and honor unto the Lord. In a sense, it is not a place of filling; rather, a place to give back to the Lord that which is due His name. "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (Psalm 29:2) But the beauty of that statement is that the more we give unto the Lord in worship, the more fullness we experience of His presence.

"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Then we read in today's text, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion."  Mount Zion is the place where Jerusalem and the temple were located. The Church is the subject when you read about Mount Zion in the Old Testament. The Church is a beautiful place to be. I'm not speaking of the materials in which it is built; rather, this speaks of the Solid Rock upon which the church of Jesus Christ is built. There is no more beautiful place to be than when we enter God's House with a heart that is filled with thanksgiving, praise, glory, and honor unto the Lord.

David understood this great truth. I pray we do as well. Let us be diligent and not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in the House of God. Not only is it a blessing to us, but I assure you that you are a blessing and an encouragement to others through your presence in the Lord's House.

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