Psalm 48  Zion - the city of our God.  The "joy of the whole earth".  The "perfection of beauty" (Psalm  50:2).  A place that awed and terrified the kings.  A place God established "forever".   A place of gladness and rejoicing.  Of judgements and righteousness.  The "footstool of His feet" ( Matt. 5:35.

Yet because of Israel's sin,  Jeremiah writes, "All who pass along the way clap their hands in derision at you; they hiss and shake their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem, 'Is this the city of which they said, The perfection of beauty, A joy to all the earth'" ( Lamentations 2:15).

But one day Jesus will again stand on Mount Zion.  This place will once again be a place of joy. They will sing a new song there, we are told.  For the Messiah will return.
Like us, Zion is in need of restoration.  Restoration which can only be accomplished by our Mighty God.  "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised."  
You alone O God can bring us into Your Holy Presence.  Into the beautiful city of God.  What wonders we will see!  What joy will we know! Thank You for salvation and restoration that You have provided so that we too will be able to enter the City of God.
" We're marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion.  We're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God."
"For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death." ( v14)

Matthew 8:11-12  "And I say to you, that many shall come from the east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

I want to be seated at the table, not crying in the darkness!  What makes the difference?  True faith.
The "sons" were the Jewish leaders who thought that Heaven was their birthright.  But they had no real faith.  They were pretenders with sinful hearts.  They will not see Zion in her beauty. They will be cast into outer darkness.  Those who come from the east and west are those who come to faith in Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord.  They receive salvation and are born again into new life,  born into the family of God.  And, they serve Jesus, their Master... who "will guide us until death."

Jesus, lead us to Zion, the beautiful city of God.  Help us to have real faith and real obedience.
Thank you for saving us and for never forsaking us.  We need You every hour.  Draw us close today, I ask in Your Mighty Name. Amen