A new year lies ahead.

What will it bring? What will we ex­perience, if we may live, in the year that lies ahead? Such questions al­most automatically enter our minds, often accompanied with fear and anxiety. What will happen to the world, to our own families, to the church and to ourselves? These ques­tions become more urgent when we think of the threatening world in which we live. Think, for example of the dreaded AIDS disease, of which we knew nothing several years ago. What will it do in the next 30 years if no cure is found? We are already told that it may become the worst "epidemic" that has been ex­perienced in the world since the New Testament time. It is one of the signs of the times, a sign of judgment of God upon sin. 1988 is still under the constant threat of nuclear war. We are often reminded of the damage being done to our ecology. Think also of the growing millions of poor in the world, compared with the small minority of the rich. Con­sider the possible future great clash between the two. The world is be­coming much smaller in this age of "communication explosion," as telephone, television, radio and com­puters bring the people of the world closer together. Important events al­most anywhere in the world can be seen in our homes on the evening news. We become apprehensive about the future of our children and grandchildren, unless the Lord returns soon.

Where can man find guidance and direction? Where can we find peace and security in this constantly shrink­ing, changing and godless world?

The answer has been the same throughout the ages — in the Word of God. The Word is infallible, inerrant and always dependable, for it is the Word of our unchangeable God. Let's consider Psalm 48 and learn from its inspired author how to face the future.

The Psalm can be divided into four sections. We quote the first one, found in verses 1-3.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise in the city of our God his holy mountain. It is beautiful in its lof­tiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great king. God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.

The Psalm became well known in Israel in later years. The Israelites were called to go to Jerusalem three times per year for the celebration of feasts. It became custom, we read in history accounts, to sing songs as they walked and traveled together. This was one of the Psalms which they sang.

The city of Jerusalem was built on Mt. Zion surrounded by a high, thick wall. This made the city almost invul­nerable against the enemies of God's people. On this wall were towers and fortresses. These "bulwarks" were enclosed structures in which the sol­diers could take defensive positions against the attackers from the out­side. There must have been many of them.

Within the city of Jerusalem was, of course, the temple. Here God dwelt in the presence of the cloud in the Holy of Holies. This cloud had been with Israel in the wilderness and led them through the wilderness. For the people of Israel the great protective wall became symbolic of their real security, the presence and protec­tion of their great God dwelling in the temple within the city. The heart of the temple was, of course, God dwelling there through the sacrifices that were brought. These constantly pointed to the Christ who was to come. This great city with its protec­tion became the joy of God's people.

Great is the Lord we read. This great God of the fortified Jerusalem is their Lord. The name Lord, formerly also translated Jehovah, is the God of the covenant. Lord is His covenant name. As Lord in Christ He is their faithful God, assuring them of His promises, power and love. To the believing Israelite this fortified city, with its temple, was a visible, tangible evidence of the power and protection of this great God. The sight of this city where God had revealed Himself and centered his worships gave him a sense of security.

We who live in 1988 know much more about God than did the Old Testament saints. With His complete Bible revelation, we know much more about Him and His greatness in His works in history and the church. We know about His mar­velous love in the gift of His Son. We also see His power over death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We know more about God's greatness with all the discoveries of His great­ness in nature – not the least, the al­most unimaginable size of the universe. Today the Christian can surely say, "Great is our Lord, and most worthy of praise." Our God is Lord, He rules over all. He causes all things to happen according to His will. Try to say this with the psalmist, in a spirit of adoration and awe, "Great is our Lord."

When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, they saw her and were astonished, they fled in ter­ror. Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labor. You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind. As we have heard so have we seen in the city of the Lord Almighty, in the city of our God; God makes her secure forever.

These words refer to something that happened to Israel in times past. No one knows exactly when. Some commentators think it was in the days of Hezekiah when he was at­tacked by an enemy, perhaps As­syria. When the attackers saw for the first time this wall with its many bul­warks, they were gripped with fear. What would happen to them if they would try to attack such a fortified city? God can and does destroy Israel's enemies like an east wind destroys the ships of Tarshish. Although the ships of Tarshish might be some of the largest and strongest ships on the sea, they were no match for the powerful east wind. The God of Israel, of the people living in this city, is so strong and mighty. Cen­turies later Luther wrote a song about our God being "a mighty fortress." Think of how God destroyed the army of the Egyptians in the Red Sea and how one angel killed 185, 000 Assyrians in one night. And above all, remember how Christ defeated the devil. Christ said that He saw the devil falling from heaven like lightning. As Paul, wrote, God, "is able to do exceedingly abun­dantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).

Within your temple O God we meditate on your unfailing love. Like your name, O God your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judg­ments.Psalm 48:9-11

The psalmist speaks of the loving kindness of this great God of Israel. He shows love and mercy to sinners. Think of the millions of sacrifices that were brought in the temple, which all pointed to the sacrifice of Christ. One can hardly imagine how much blood flowed throughout the years. It all speaks of the infinity value of the blood of Christ. In that blood the Lord shows that He is righteous, that sin has to be paid for, that He in love sent His Son to save us. The judgment, for His people, is past. In righteous judgment, God often protected His people by bring­ing destruction upon their enemies. Many signs that the Lord Jesus listed regarding the end of the world are signs of coming judgment. But the judgment for His people is past be­cause of His lovingkindness in Christ. And because He is righteous Jesus will come back someday. Be­cause we are right in Him He will deliver us completely from sin and give us new bodies in a new heaven and earth.

Let us with the inhabitants of Jerusalem rejoice with gratitude in this Lord.

Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide unto the end.Psalm 48:12-14

In summary the author tells the people to walk around the city and take a "second" and "third" look at that big wall with all its towers. Doing this, they will be impressed anew with how great He is. How great is His protection of His people. And that His lovingkindness and righteousness are equally great.

How blessed are the people who enjoy such Divine protection. They must tell this to the next generation. Who wouldn't want his children to share in such blessings? They, too, must learn to know this God with all of His protective love and care.

Let us walk around Jerusalem and count those towers at the beginning of another year. "Count those towers" by listening to Isaiah when he says: Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket, they are regarded as dust on the scales. "Count those towers" as you listen to Paul, "O the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." "Count those towers" by listening to the psalmist when he says that earth and heaven were made by the mere speech of His mouth. Consider also what the Heidelberg Catechism says about His providence:

Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God by which He upholds heaven and earth, and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty, all things in fact come to us not by chance, but from His fatherly hand.

Why do all this? Why count all these towers? Why should we con­sider His greatness with the begin­ning of another year? Because this God will be our God forever and ever. Imagine what this means from now on and forever He will be our great and gracious Lord. That in­cludes the rest of our lives. God says, "That's my promise to you." Do we really believe this? Let's say and sing with the psalmist, "Great is our Lord."