This is the third of these psalms that relate to the millennium, and it celebrates the final victory of the coming Messiah. Prophets had written and preached about this from Old Testament days, and Jews worldwide have looked forward to this future time, which they read. At the time of writing the psalm, likely foes were surrounding the city of Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of the city were afraid of what was going to happen to them. Then, miraculously, the Lord sent the enemies running away, and those inside the city burst into praise to the Lord from their hearts. In a foreshadowing of the day that our Lord Jesus Christ reigns, there was a procession around the city as the people praised God in clapping their hands and shouting their praise. The first eight verses are about the “city of our God.” The remaining verses are directed to “praise to our God.”
The greatness of the Lord should be demonstrated in extraordinary ways by those who praise Him. To go beyond that which is normal happens when there is great appreciation for the Lord. We who have experienced a great deliverance from our sins and their consequences because of the triumphs of our Lord over all our foes are very conscious of God with us. When God’s people gather and join together in praise, the whole experience in “the city of our God” lifts the spirits of the saints and brings far greater glory to God than could come from scattered individuals. The “mountain of His holiness” is where we are especially conscious of being on holy ground because our Lord is there among His people.
In the coming day, when he is in Jerusalem as the Great King, the Jews will remember the prophets told of that time, and those who read about it in the books of the prophets will see it come to pass. What was prophesied will be accomplished, and all will marvel at Jerusalem and Mount Zion when the Lord is in their midst. They will teach their children how God came to their defense in future generations. He was their defense, not the city walls, and He was the Great King who caused the hostile nations to retreat in panic. They will learn that the glory of Mount Zion, the highest place in that area, is the One who dwells there, not the location.
God will be in His city, and the whole world will exalt Him as the wonders of Mount Zion are reviewed. The highest place on earth is where God dwells with His people. Other religions had high places; some had mountains in their nations from which they believed their gods ruled. But Mount Zion will be “the joy of the whole earth.” World leaders will fear as they recognize their power is nothing compared to the power of the Lord. Praise to the Lord will extend to all parts of the world. The coming generations who heard of the greatness of the Lord and the nation of Israel will then see what their ancestors told them from the days of the prophets. On that coming day, worship will come to the temple as it should, and the people's joy and worship of the Lord will be genuine.
The greatness of the Lord needs to be considered over and over because every one of His infinite attributes is a reason to worship Him. His great power is seen in nature—his excellent knowledge of the awesomeness of His creation, particularly in our human bodies. Great grace gave us the gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Great love was demonstrated when Christ died for us. Great mercy is experienced daily as God preserves us in every way. Great compassion is experienced when He draws near to bear our grief and sorrows. Great infinite wisdom unfolds as His plan for the ages and glimpses of the future are revealed to us in His word. His great knowledge surpasses all accumulated knowledge of all mankind because He knows the end from the beginning. He is great in judgments because He knows the thoughts and intents of every heart.
He is the great Creator and Sustainer of all things by the word of His power. He is the Great High Priest who intercedes for us and represents us before the holy throne of God. He makes our worship and service acceptable in Himself. He is the great Prophet, unfolding the plans of the ages and giving messages of truth to build up and strengthen His people. He is the great King of kings who will rule in righteousness and peace. He is the great Redeemer and Savior of His people. He is the great Shield and Defender of all who are in the shelter of His fold, including Mount Zion and Jerusalem. This will be taught to Jewish children in generations to come as the older people tell the younger who God is and that He is from eternity to eternity.
As the people of God walk through the city in a procession of celebration, they will be reminded of places where God made Himself known to the people in ages past. The Jews will finally acknowledge “This is our God” when they see the Lord Jesus Christ sitting on the throne of David. They will experience fellowship with Him in the way His people today enjoy and experience fellowship with Him now. Where God dwells among His people is their spiritual home. Even though we can see and sometimes experience injustice, there will be times when His people are respected. The Jews who have been persecuted from the days of slavery in Egypt until now will be looked at with respect and honor because of their association with the Lord.
It is good for us to take a “procession” through our lives and see and remember how God has been with us. He has brought us safely through the deep waters of suffering and trials. He has kept us going when there seemed to be nothing but desert that did not nurture our souls nor quench our thirst. He has brought us through storms when we were helpless to do anything. The fires of persecution occasionally burned hot against us. But our faith is in Him. His word has never failed, and His grace has been sufficient for every need. Our foundation is secure, our fellowship is genuine, and our faith is in One who never fails. Our “procession” will bring praise to our lips, joy to our hearts, and honor to our God.