It’s been a number of years now, but I can remember when most folks had two kinds of clothes—those for everyday and those for Sunday.  Of course, the Sunday clothes were sometime worn during the week:  parties, weddings, special occasions, etc.
No one has to remind me of the influence of culture, or tell me that times change.  Without doubt, we live in a more informal day in dress than fifty years ago.  Yet, there are still times when people feel compelled to dress up.  You know—like World Championship Boxing Matches and the Oscar Awards for the movie industry—important events.
I make no plea for “Sunday clothes” if they are to become a symbol of the separation between the so-called secular and spiritual.  As I understand it, all of life is lived in the presence of God—and not just one hour on Sunday morning. 
Yet, Halford E. Luccock, Professor of Homiletics, Yale University Divinity School, made a telling point when he wrote in 1933:  “There has been a deep fruitfulness to the common custom of wearing one’s best clothes to worship, thus giving an outward symbol, inadequate but real, of an inward reverence, helping to give worship a unique place in experience.”
This I know:  God is to be shown due honor in heaven and on earth.  “Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:1,2).

           John Gipson
 

Psalm 48:  Zion is Established because God is God!
”Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.”

The things, places, ways, and people of God are linked together in powerful ways due to the nature of God Himself.  Our poet capitalizes on this truth in Psalm 48. His main focus is on “Zion.”  In the Old Testament, this was a reference to the place of the earthly temple.  In the New Testament, it refers to the church. And figuratively, it reminds us of heavenly Zion.  In every application, Zion is established because “GOD IS GOD”!  What follows from this is very practical indeed, for we are affected in innumerable good ways by being a part of His Zion.  Our outline of this psalm is based on the title of this article, and all of the points begin with the same letter, which can be used as a good memory device.  Let us reverently learn from this psalm as we read each section with our hearts open to the wondrous things of God.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge 
(vv.1-3). 
I.  THE PLACE: GOD’S PALACES.
This first section of the psalm makes a clear link between the city of God and how highly He exalted that city during the times of our poet.  It is certainly true that the earthly city of Jerusalem had great importance under the old covenant.  It is just as true that God meant for people to be pointed to the spiritual Zion (the church; Hebrews 12:22). A proper understanding of the earthly Zion would do much to overcome the false views that people have today of Jerusalem.  Anyone who thinks that the earthly plan has not yet been fulfilled has a need to begin with such scriptures as Hebrews 12 in order to learn this point. Let us learn that the spiritual Zion is far greater in His plan than the earthly Zion. And let us serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear as citizens of the spiritual Zion!

For behold, the kings assembled, They passed by together. They saw it, and so they marveled; They were troubled, they hastened away.  Fear took hold of them there, And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, As when You break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind 
(vv.4-7). 
II.  THE POTENTATES: FILLED WITH HUMBLING EMOTIONS.
Powerful people are seldom moved by things that are greater than they are.  Maybe this is because their pride has become such a force in their thinking that they just cannot see how little they really are! But the kings who saw God’s Zion here had a wide range of very interesting emotions: they marveled, they were troubled, they hastened away, they had fear, they had pain (like the pain of childbirth, or the breaking up of ships by the east wind). Today, all people should be moved when they see the Zion of God accurately.  In Acts 17, powerful people in Thessalonica were moved to say the following about the new Zion: “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Sadly, they were not moved by the same emotions that are listed in Psalm 48—Luke tells us that they were moved by the power of unbelieving envy!

As we have heard, So we have seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, In the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah 
(v.8).
III.  THE POWER: ESTABLISHED FOREVER.
“Forever” is a word that often refers to a limited amount of time (that is, only until God was finished with something); and at times it includes conditions (God would keep them forever if certain conditions were met). The Zion of the Old law was under both of these limitations. The church, which is the only real Zion on earth today, is not limited by time (Daniel 2:44,45). It is, however, limited by the if of faithfulness. If we are faithful, He will hold us up from now on.  But if not, then beware…

We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple. According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments (vv.9-11).
IV.  THE PONDERINGS: PRAISE HIM.
It is right to ponder the things of God in any circumstance, but the place that is significant in this section of Psalm 48 is Zion again.  By God’s Own appointment, Jerusalem and its surroundings were very important then. It was very fitting—and even commanded—that the people go there often and observe the commandments of God in a reverent way.  Let us gather together often in the name of the Lord Jesus to “ask the Lord’s blessings” (Colossians 3:16,17).  Let us give attention to thinking on His love in harmony with His word. Let us take His praises forth to the ends of the earth when we leave the place of our devotions.  Let us learn about His right hand of righteousness and speak of it often.  Let us rejoice always in Him with great gladness because all of His judgments are right.  Yes, my beloved brethren, let us think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

Walk about Zion, And go all around her. Count her towers; Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; That you may tell it to the generation following (vv.12,13).
V.  THE PERPETUATION: TELL THEM ABOUT HIM.
Again the Bible writer reminds the current mature generation to live and think and speak in such a way that the next generation has the best possible foundation for living their own lives and for preparing those who follow after them to do the same.  Certainly one of the saddest failures of the human race has been at exactly these two points—
Not telling the new generation the truth about God
Not telling them to tell those who come after them
This simple plan has always been part of the way that God wanted His name to cover the face of the earth in every generation.  We are going to think, talk, and live—why do we not choose to do those things according to His plan?
Please take a walk around the Zion of God. Please consider His pattern and plan for providing for us. Please humble yourself and realize that His Zion is the only Zion worth the time that we have in this short life. Please tell the little ones what you have found.

For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death (v.14).
VI.  THE PRESENCE: FELLOWSHIP FOR LIFE.
Verse 14 contains words that remind me of God’s promise of fellowship, of His power to provide for me in all of the times of my life, and of His promise to be there for me even when death comes my way. I need God—and I resolve to live in the light of His lovingkindness from now on—through the valley of the shadow of death.
And I am so very thankful that I have been told about Him and His Zions.
     — Skip Andrews

Next week:  Psalm 49:
 
 
 I need to say something about my generation.
 
 
 
 

We wish to thank you for all your thoughtfulness during this time of the loss of Helen’s father,  Frank Burch.  The prayers, flowers, cards, calls, food, and all the packers, movers, and unpackers are appreciated more than you will know.  With the move into our new house and Helen’s illness, all that has happened would have been overwhelming without you.

Our new address: 
3768 Rogers Cove, Duluth, GA  30096. 
Our phone number is the same (770 497-0240).

SICK LIST:  Charles Kendrick, Wayne’s brother, is hospitalized with throat cancer.  Nell McClain is home following her stay in Safehaven.  Alan, Lisa, and Lauren Carlyle have been ill.  John Pate has been diagnosed with diabetes and needs our prayers as he begins treatment.  Joyce Hatcher has been experiencing back pain.  Dalton Robertson, a four-year old friend of the O’Neal’s, needs our prayers.  A cyst that was removed is malignant.
PRAYERS:  Devendra Williams came forward Sunday asking for the prayers of the church.  We rejoice with her as she begins again her Christian life.
WELCOME:  Three families have expressed a desire to place membership with Duluth.
John & Jacqi Grubb (who have moved here from Indianapolis to continue their work with Truth for the World) live at 3159 Bradford Pear Drive, Buford, GA  30519.  Their phone number is 678 546-1832.  Still at home: Samuel )who is at Indiana State) and Libby.
Theresa Heilman has been visiting here for several months and was baptized in Indiana last week.  Here address is 11280 Crossington Road, Alpharetta, GA  30005.  Her phone number is 770 231-9750.
Ray & Debbie Baker come to us from Winder.  We also welcome Heather and Boomer (Ray, Jr.), too.  Their address is 541 Boone Road, Hoschton, GA  30548.  Their phone number is 706 658-2500. 

NEW BABY:  Rachel Nicole Carlyle was born March 10 and weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces.  Congratulations to Alan and Lisa and the big sister, Lauren! 
 
LADIES’ RETREAT:  Don’t forget our ladies’ retreat at Lake Hartwell planned for April 14 and 15. 
FOR THE RECORD:   3/5        3/12         3/19 
Bible Class                   132        112         141
AM Worship                141        137         152
PM Worship                 105        108         127
Wednesday Bible Class 114        119         119
Contribution                 $5589   $26245   $6367
Budget                         $6500     $6500   $6500
EVENING LADIES’ CLASS:  The evening ladies’ class will meet Monday, March 27, at 7:30.  Mary Jones will be teaching the lesson on Abigail.