Psalm 48:1-3

How great is the LORD, how deserving of praise, in the city of our God, which sits on his holy mountain! It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King! God himself is in Jerusalem's towers, revealing himself as its defender.

I will never forget my first sight of Old Jerusalem; its golden limestone walls were set against a deep blue sky. It was absolutely beautiful and immediately triggered the memory of psalms like this one, which praise the magnificence and beauty of the city.

Jerusalem has a central place in the Bible. It was here that Abraham offered to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. Centuries later David established Jerusalem as his capital city and his son Solomon then built the glorious temple. Although Jesus lived in Galilee in the north of the country, he frequently visited Jerusalem and it was here that he was crucified and rose from death. It was in this city that the Spirit was poured out upon Jesus’ followers on the day of Pentecost, and the Church was born. And then, right at the end of the Bible, John has a vision of the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven and he pictures a place where there is no longer any more death, mourning, crying or pain (Revelation 21).

The city continues to act as a reminder of the way in which God has reached out to his people over thousands of years, and it is a wonderful privilege to be able to visit it. But now we have been set free to worship God anywhere. When two or three people meet in the name of Jesus he is there standing with them, whether it’s in Jerusalem, Jaipur or Jarrow – or anywhere else!

Question

Do you have a favourite place to worship God? Wherever you are, take some time to worship him freely.

Prayer

Loving Father, thank you that we are free to worship you anywhere. Help me as I worship you today. Amen