SCRIPTURE: Psalm 48
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Walk around and count the many towers. Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations. For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die. [Psalms 48:12-14]
The psalmist describes the great city of Jerusalem as an ominous fortress and symbol of God’s glory and goodness.
At the time of writing, the city was impressive, and the psalmist could see in it a reminder of how powerful God was.
But what made Jerusalem so special? In fact, it was God that made the city impressive, His presence and power secured it.
For that is what God is like… sort of, but not exactly.
God’s impressiveness is rooted in Himself, but the city’s impressiveness was dependent on God.
It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever. [Psalms 48:8]
Forever? Unfortunately the wonder of the city was not permanent, unlike God, whose wonder lasts forever.

Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” [Luke 21:5-6]
Jesus has the audacity to speak against the temple (at the center of the city), that it will not be kept safe forever.
The reason is indicated in this psalm: the strength of the city, and the temple, was the power and presence of God.
By rejecting God, the buildings were weak, hollow, and unimpressive!
God’s presence and power make the ordinary extraordinary; but His absence leave them as ordinary, weak.
Both Jesus and the psalmist make it plain that it was not the city that deserved respect, but the God behind it.
By forgetting God, the people made the temple useless, an empty symbol.

Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said. [John 2:19-22]
Jesus compares His body to the temple – His weak, unimpressive body – but with God, even that can be fortified, strengthened and preserved.
The resurrection of Jesus shows the difference that God makes to whatever or whoever He blesses and helps – they become impressive and secure in/with Him.
God is the difference here, He is the one that fills anyone or anything with meaning and wonder.

What makes me so special?
By myself, I am nothing; but with God I am somebody – I am a child of God, I am an ambassador for the King, I am an image-bearer for the Creator.
This is not bragging, this is not pride; this is seeing myself in relationship to God.
May we see everyone – and everything – in relationship to God, and may we be transformed as a result!

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for reminding me that by myself I am nothing, but with You I am significant, special, Your much-loved child. Like Jerusalem in this psalm, my worth is tied to You, and therefore is infinite!