SOAP 07/03/2015; Psalm 48:12-14

Today's reading: Psalm 48; Isaiah 6, 7; 2 Chronicles 26, 27; Philemon

S) "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."

Psalm 48:12-14 (NASB)

O) The way the Israelites felt about Jerusalem and Zion sometimes seemed to border on a sort of idolatry, but the last verse in this psalm holds an important key. As long as they saw the security of their mighty capital as an extension of their security in God, that was still good. As long as they saw the beauty of their land as an extension of God's beauty, that was still good. as long as they saw the gifts of God as extensions of the Giver, as long as they saw the creations as reflections of the Creator, then it was still good. In this passage, there is a command to observe all of these things, and to see them as blessings from God, and to tell these things to the next generation. So, this passage is not about their city, towers, walls, palaces, or land, but about God Himself.

A) So many ways, American Christian culture reminds me of the culture in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Too often, we have equated the United States of America to a "Christian country" as if we were the new Zion. Just as the Jews fell to a sort of idolatry about their country, and feeling entitled because of the name they bore, there is the same temptation my own culture. When the constitution is viewed as a holy document, there is a problem. When the government is expected to be infallible and fix society, there is a problem. I love my country, monuments, landscape, and history. But, all of those things must only ever be a reflection of a good God. I should relay and teach them to my children, as a matter of praising the LORD our God, who is forever and ever; He will guide us until death.

P) Father, You have been so good to me, personally. You have been good to my people and country, here in the USA. I don't ever want to be ungrateful, unaware, or ignorant to the various ways You have been involved in bringing this country to existence. You deserve to be glorified, and this country and its accomplishments and its history are full of countless reasons to glorify You. As we approach our Independence Day, I pray that I never forget that is only a political declaration. As an individual citizen, and for my family, I pray we always remember that we are fully dependent on You, our Lord and God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.