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Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
In the city of our God,
In the mountain of His holiness.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
Is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
In the city of our God,
In the mountain of His holiness.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
Is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
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United States
GOD MEETING OUR NEEDS IN THE CITY
“God is our refuge and strength; A help in distress, He is most readily found” (v. 1). Where is God our refuge, our strength, and help most readily found? In the city! God is all this to us in the city. Verses 2 and 3 then tell us something as a background for the city. “Therefore we will not fear, Though the earth change, And the mountains slip into the heart of the seas; Though the waters of the sea roar and foam; Though the mountains shake at its swelling. Selah There is a river. ” There are seas in verse 2. The seas are in the earth, but in the city there is a river “whose streams gladden the city of God. ” This river signifies the flowing of God Himself as life to us; it signifies the river of life, which is mentioned in Revelation 22. The river of life is nothing less than God Himself in Christ as the Spirit to be our life. The streams of this river gladden the city of God.
Now we know that the city of God is the church strengthened, built up, and enlarged. In Psalms 46 through 48 the church has become the city over which God rules and from which God reigns. It is not just the house for the Father’s home but also the city for God’s rule in His kingdom. The city of God is the enlarged, strengthened, and built-up church as the ruling center of God in His kingdom. It is in this city that we have the river. The picture here corresponds to that of the New Jerusalem found in Revelation 21 and 22. In those chapters we also see a city with a flowing river. Here we have a river with many streams to gladden the city.
Psalms 46 through 48 tell us how God dwells in the city, His habitation, the church, to be experienced by the saints as their refuge, strength, and ready help, that in Christ He may be the King over all the earth.
Christ and the Church
Revealed and Typified in the Psalms
Chapter 8 (LSM)
Houston, Texas, United States
I suddenly remembered this song today and searched for it to refresh my memory. My first time of hearing and singing it was about 52 years ago, at the Sing-Song that was mandatory for all students to attend every Sunday evening, when I was in boarding school. Indeed, GOD is great and worthy to be praised!
Birkenhead, Wirral, United Kingdom
This was a staple of youth worship-and-teaching days in the 1970s in Suffolk, U. K. I learned to play the guitar for songs such as this. Reading Psalm 48 for my devotion this morning, it sprang into my memory, partially, as soon as I read v. 1, and I just had to web search for it, to find the exact words, which then evoked the full tune. A reminder of happy days long gone and teen anguish as well!
Maryville, Tennessee, United States
Someone requested the rest of the lyrics. Beautiful the way it repeats its way back to the main chorus!
Great is the Lord
And greatly to be praised
In the city of our God
In the mountain of his holiness
Beautiful for situation
The joy of the whole earth
Is Mt Zion on the sides of the north
The city of our great king.
So let's go up to Zion, let's go up to Zion
Let's go up to Zion, the city of our King
There's oil and wine in Zion, there's oil and wine in Zion.
There's oil and wine in Zion, the city of our King.
So let's go up to Zion, let's go up to Zion
Let's go up to Zion, the city of our King
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of our Great king.
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
I thank God for this song. It just came to me as I was preparing the kids for school. I remember singing this song in my school fellowship in the 1990s
God is indeed Great 👍
North York, Ontario, Canada
To God be the glory, hallelujah, Amen. Shortly before I woke up today, I was leading some women seated in round circle with this song: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. ... After singing then the women will re echo the song as well. Then I woke up after singing the 2nd round, and the time was 8:04am. Thursday 29, 2024.
Richard Dallas TX posted 3 March’24
Amen(let it be so) I. TIMOTHY
2 scriptures additionally:
… sing with the understanding and pray with the understanding … I. CORINTHIANS
… whatever ye do, as unto the Lord …COLOSSIANS
in love with Jesus
Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Psalms 48:1-2 Sing of God's greatness.
Heathcote, Ontario, Canada
I was so pleased to find the lyrics to this Hymn! A friend visiting from Jamaica taught us this chorus about 40 years ago and I had forgotten about it until I was reading my Devotional and that scripture was referenced! So thankful for the Choruses and Hymns from my past!!
Mansfield, Ohio, United States
I love singing scripture. In that day there will be a New Jerusalem, the place God will rule His Kingdom. It will be a spiritual city the place God has chosen. The practicable church’s expressed on the earth today in cities should be a miniature of that heavenly city. It is wonderful to think of His ruling over the whole earth. What a wonderful city that will be.