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Scripture Reading: Psa. 46—48
We have seen that the church comes into being out of the experience of the enjoyment of Christ. Then, when the church is strengthened and enlarged, it becomes not only the house in which God dwells but also the city in which God rules. The church is the house for God’s home and the city for God’s kingdom.
We have also seen that the Psalms are of five books. Some versions of the Bible have all five books clearly indicated. Let us define them again. Book One, Psalms 1 to 41; Book Two, Psalms 42 through 72; Book Three, Psalms 73 through 89; Book Four, Psalms 90 to 106; and Book Five, Psalms 107 to 150. It is good for us to remember the divisions of these five books.
As we have clearly seen, all the praises of the psalmists began with the law. Because they were human, because they were religious, and because they were so well taught in the law, their concept was naturally law-centered. We cannot criticize them: that was their background. But they were near to God and open to Him, and they were deeply in fellowship with God. Hence, when they were praising according to their religious concept, the Spirit of Christ was given the opportunity to speak. It was in this way that their praises, though they did not realize it, were shifted from their concept of the law to the concept of God concerning Christ. In all the psalms there is this transition. It is like driving a car in one lane of the highway and then suddenly shifting unconsciously to another lane. While the psalmist was scribing Psalm 1, someone who was subconsciously with him in the driver’s seat shifted to another lane in Psalm 2. His intention was to drive in the left lane, but eventually he shifted to the right, not by himself but by someone subconsciously with him. This is marvelous! Hallelujah, the concepts of the Psalms have been shifted from the law to Christ!
In Book One, especially in Psalm 23, the concept of the house of God was introduced through Christ. By the shepherding of Christ in His resurrection life, the saints are led into the house, where they say, “I will dwell in the house of Jehovah / For the length of my days.” It is immensely significant that the house is introduced in this way. All of Christ’s shepherding is to bring the saints into the house.
Next, in Psalm 24 we have seen that the holy mountain is the steppingstone for Christ to regain the entire earth. Thus, the mountain is not only for the house but also for the city. Therefore, in the first book we have the introduction of the concept of the house with the mountain, which is for the city.
Following Psalm 24, we have all those psalms in the last part of Book One, Psalms 25 to 41, concerning the house. Do you still remember all those verses? They are marvelous! We should pray-read those verses a hundred times.
Christianity, as we have seen, is poverty-stricken in the application of the Psalms. There the Psalms are applied mostly for a kind of comfort. When you are sick, you may read a portion of the Psalms regarding the Lord’s healing. If you are in some other situation of need, the pastor may come and read Psalm 23: “Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing.” Some advanced Christians, however, have seen something in the Psalms concerning Christ. Martin Luther, for instance, said that Psalms 110 and 118 are the greatest of all the psalms, for these psalms speak of Christ. This proves that he saw something of Christ in the Psalms. Some Christians, therefore, apply the Psalms not just for comfort but for the experience of Christ. But it is rather difficult to find among all Christian books any book saying that in the Psalms we find not only Christ but also the church as the house and city of God. Have you ever heard of such a book?
The Lord is merciful to us. He has drawn aside the veil and shown us that in the Psalms the primary concern is not comfort but Christ, and following Christ, the church as the house and city of God. You must pray-read all these verses again and again until you are mingled and saturated with Christ and with the church as the house and city of God.
Many criticize and condemn our emphasis on the church. Why must the church be stressed? Because Christianity does not care for the church. Because Christianity is so unbalanced, the Lord must do some balancing. Have you ever seen the house of the Lord as the practical church life in the Psalms? Have you ever been taught concerning this matter? The house! The house! You have to see the house!
Consider again Psalm 31:21: “Blessed be Jehovah, / For He displayed His lovingkindness wondrously / To me in a fortified city.” It does not speak of any other fortified things, but “a fortified city.” Hence, so far we have the law, Christ, the house, and the city.
We have seen how Book Two begins with the house. The psalmist speaks of the house in the way of remembrance. He recalls how in the past he came to the house of God with a multitude, with the voice of a joyous shout and praise. It is after these psalms on the house, then, that we come to Psalm 45, where we encounter a richer and deeper experience of Christ. As Christ is known by the saints in a deeper way, He becomes the saints’ sweeter experience in the local churches.
Following these deeper and sweeter experiences of Christ in such an intimate way, we come immediately to Psalms 46 through 48. These are three psalms on the church as the city of God. In these psalms we reach the climax of the city. The climax of the house is in Psalms 27 through 36; now in Psalms 46, 47, and 48, we have the climax of the city.
In Book One we have merely one short phrase concerning the city — “in a fortified city.” That is all. But now, when we come to Psalms 46 through 48 in Book Two, we reach the peak concerning the city. Book Two is mainly for the city. Do you see the improvement? With the deeper and sweeter experiences of Christ, we have the climax of 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.
“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.
We are so very happy because of this river, this flow of the divine life. If we did not have the flow of life, we would be shriveled and withered. Our joy would be gone; there would be no gladness. We are the most joyful people because in the city, in the church, we have a flow of living water — not just a trickle but a river.
This holy city of God is “the holy place of the tabernacles [or habitations] of the Most High” (v. 4). You must pay attention to all these titles. The Most High God dwells here; this is the holy place of His habitations.
Then verse 5 says, “God is in the midst of her” — in the midst of the enlarged church. “She will not be moved.” The earth will be moved, and the mountains will be carried away, but the city will never be moved. Why? Because the immovable God is within her. God is immovable, so she is immovable. “God helps her at the dawn of the morning.” If we are in the local church, we are in the morning; if we are outside the local church, we are simply in the night. In the church there is always the dawn of the morning, and when you are in the morning, God is your help. “God helps her at the dawn of the morning,” after the night of trial.
Verse 6 says, “The nations rage; the kingdoms are moved. / He utters His voice; the earth melts.” Why? Because He is in the city. Verses 7 through 10 say, “Jehovah of hosts is with us; / The God of Jacob is our high retreat. Selah / Come, see the works of Jehovah, / How He has made desolations on earth. / He makes wars cease unto the end of the earth; / He breaks the bow and cuts the spear to pieces; / He burns the war wagons with fire. / Be still and know that I am God.” These verses are a kind of prophecy. When God has a church on this earth so strengthened and enlarged that it may be reckoned as a city, He will then have the ground to deal with the nations and possess the entire earth. The nations today are raging, but God will one day obtain a church as a city, and at that time He will say to all the nations, “Be still and know that I am God.” God cannot say this today, for He lacks such a strong church. God has not yet obtained a stronghold on this earth for Him to speak in such a way to the nations. But He will have it. Verse 10 continues, “I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted on earth.” When God has a church so strengthened, so much enlarged and built up as a city to Him, He can say, “I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted on earth.”
Finally, in the city we may say, “Jehovah of hosts is with us; / The God of Jacob is our high retreat. Selah” (v. 11).
Psalm 47 is a continuation to Psalm 46. In Psalm 46 God is our enjoyment, meeting our needs in the needful hours. Then Psalm 47 continues by telling us that this very God who meets our needs in the city will be, in Christ, the King over all the earth through the city, the strengthened and enlarged church. Verse 1 says, “Clap your hands, all you peoples; / Shout to God with the voice of a triumphant sound.” When the church is truly enlarged as a city, in which we enjoy God as our everything, we will surely clap our hands. In such a church life, how can we help but shout unto God with the voice of a triumphant sound! Christians today remain so silent in their services because they are not in the proper church life, because they do not have God as their enjoyment in their needs, because they are short of God in their experiences through the proper church life.
Verses 2 and 3 say, “Jehovah Most High is...a great King over all the earth. / He subdues people under us, / And nations under our feet.” These are all God’s doings in Christ through the city, the enlarged church. When the church is enlarged as a city, God will subdue the peoples through the city and rule over all the earth in Christ as a great King. Without such a church it would be difficult for God to accomplish this. It is the church enlarged as a city that will bring the entire earth under God’s authority and kingship in Christ.
Verses 5 through 9 say, “God ascends amidst shouting; / Jehovah, at the sound of a trumpet. / Sing psalms to God, sing psalms; / Sing psalms to our King, sing psalms. / For God is the King of all the earth; / Sing psalms with understanding. / God reigns over the nations; / God sits upon His holy throne...He is greatly exalted.” All these marvelous things will take place because God has obtained a city as a base on the earth. The church must be built up as a city so that God may have a base on the earth for His move. It is through the strengthened and enlarged church that God in Christ is praised and exalted as the King of all the earth, reigning over all the nations.
Now we come to Psalm 48. “Great is Jehovah, / And much to be praised / In the city of our God” (v. 1). Here we reach the climax of the city. Only in the city, only in the strong and enlarged church, could God be great and greatly praised. Do you think that God could be so great among two or three meeting together in a home? Could God be greatly praised in such a situation? Yes, God will be great, but in a pitiful way. If we would have God greatly manifested, we need a strong church, a city. Two or three persons meeting together are not a city, and you could hardly call them a house. They are a meager group, a poor free group. How could God be great, and how could God be greatly praised? We need to be a city. We need to be strengthened, enlarged, and built up as a city. Then God’s greatness will be expressed.
Verse 2 says, “Beautiful in elevation, / The joy of the whole earth, / Is Mount Zion, the sides of the north, / The city of the great King.” When the church is strengthened, enlarged, and built up as a city, there is an elevation in the earth. The church is elevated, and that elevation is the beauty of the church. Beautiful in elevation is Mount Zion. Such a church, such a city, is the joy of the whole earth. It is in this city that God is the great King, and this great King is God in Christ — Christ Himself. In the house He is the great Father, but in the city He is the great King.
Verse 3 says, “God has made Himself known / In her palaces as a high retreat.” The city is the church, and the palaces are the local churches. God is known in all the local churches of the church. If you would know God as a refuge, as a high tower, and as a high retreat, you must be in the local churches.
Verse 4 says, “Behold, the kings have assembled themselves; / They passed by together.” Why? Because they saw the church, because they saw such a stronghold. Verse 5 says, “They saw; therefore they were astounded. / They were dismayed; they hurried off in alarm.” Just to look at such a built-up church caused the enemies to flee in terror.
In Brother Watchman Nee’s three-volume book, The Spiritual Man, there is a section concerning spiritual warfare. That section was composed mostly from articles written by Mrs. Penn-Lewis concerning the experiences of Evan Roberts of Wales, the leader of the Welsh revival of 1904. Evan Roberts himself experienced considerable spiritual warfare, but what he experienced was only on an individual, personal level. He was not able to record his experiences (he was a worker in a coal mine), so he related them to Mrs. Penn-Lewis, who put them into writing. At that time the church on this earth had failed to see that spiritual warfare is not an individual matter but a Body matter. In the years 1920 through 1924, Brother Nee read all these books and received help; hence, he extracted all these things and put them together as a chapter in his book The Spiritual Man. In the first edition of that book in Chinese, he mentioned this fact clearly in his preface. Following the publishing of this book, in the years 1937 through 1940, Brother Nee began to see that spiritual warfare is not to be engaged in as an individual, but with the Body. At that time, by the mercy of God, Brother Nee came to see the Body in a practical way and gave many messages on this matter. He pointed out from Ephesians 6 that spiritual warfare is not an individual matter but a Body matter. The warrior, the soldier, mentioned in that chapter is not any single individual but the Body of Christ. The whole Body is the warrior. After that, he gave a number of messages on spiritual warfare undertaken by the Body. He indicated that in the time of Evan Roberts it was really difficult to gain the victory, but now, since we have seen that the battle is a matter of the Body, we need only abide in the Body, and the enemy will flee. Praise the Lord! Therefore, in The Spiritual Man the part regarding spiritual warfare is no longer up-to-date. Spiritual warfare, as presented there, is not according to the light the Lord has shown His church today.
In Psalm 48, when the enemies see the church, they flee in terror. As long as we are in the church as a stronghold on this earth, no enemy can prevail. The Lord said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Amen, Hallelujah! Spiritual warfare is simply a matter of getting yourself into the city. When you are in the city, you will see how the enemies will flee. This is not a mere teaching; we have the experience. Before I came into the local church, it was really difficult for me to overcome many things, even the little besetting sins. But since I have come into the church, I have simply been in the tower, watching the enemies flee. I am not fighting; I am in the tower watching. Hallelujah! The enemies flee; they flee! This is the spiritual warfare.
Then Psalm 48:6 says, “Trembling seized them there; / Writhing, like that of a woman in labor.” Trembling seized them, not us. We are in the high retreat watching. Then verse 8 says, “As we have heard, / So we have seen / In the city of Jehovah of hosts, / In the city of our God.” We have heard something of the ancient times; now we are seeing these things. “As we have heard, / So have we seen.” Where? “In the city of Jehovah of hosts, / In the city of our God.” Brothers and sisters, can you say this? When we come into the church as the city of God, we can really say this. “God will establish her forever. Selah.”
Verse 9 says, “We consider, O God, Your lovingkindness / In the midst of Your temple.” It is really good! The enemies flee, and we think of the lovingkindness of God. Their business is to run, and ours is to consider the lovingkindness of God in His temple. Verses 10 and 11 say, “As Your name is, O God, / So is Your praise / Unto the ends of the earth; / Your right hand is full of righteousness. / Let Mount Zion rejoice; / Let the daughters of Judah exult / Because of Your judgments.
Now we have two wonderful verses, verses 12 and 13: “Walk about Zion, and go around her; / Count her towers. / Consider carefully her bulwarks; / Pass between her palaces; / That you may recount it to the generation following.” Inside the city we have the palaces, and outside we have the bulwarks. We must consider all these. We should be able to recite at least these two verses, verses 12 and 13, of Psalm 48. You may ask the psalmist, “Why do you emphasize the city so much? Why don’t you speak more about Christ?” He would answer, “Walk about Zion, and go around her; / Count her towers. / Consider carefully her bulwarks; / Pass between her palaces; / That you may recount it to the generation following.” This is his answer. If you have ever seen such a church life, you can understand why the psalmist was so excited about the city of God.
Finally, we have verse 14: “This God is our God forever and ever. / He will guide us even unto death.” Which God is our God? The God of the city. “This God is our God forever and ever.” It is so good. He will guide us even unto death. If we are outside the local church, we are wandering astray. But when we come into the church, we have a Guide. In the church as the city, our Guide is our God.
