Our Sacred Citadel

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
    in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
    is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
    the city of the great King.
Within her citadels God
    has made himself known as a fortress…
As we have heard, so have we seen
    in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
    which God will establish forever. 

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
    in the midst of your temple.
As your name, O God,
    so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
    Let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
    because of your judgments!

Walk about Zion, go around her,
    number her towers,
consider well her ramparts,
    go through her citadels,
that you may tell the next generation
    that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
    He will guide us forever.” Psalm 48:1-3,8-14

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.” Isaiah 2:3

The city of God is described in Scripture as a fortress for God’s people. His abode is high and holy, welcoming all who are His. It is a citadel of beauty, joy, safety, and love. There He makes Himself known. He has established it as a place of discovery, belonging, security, instruction, and praise.

Come, let us go to the city of the Lord! Let us make time each day to leave behind things here below to climb Mount Zion. Let us set aside concerns and fretting and conflicts to explore her boundaries for life and consider her ramparts of strong defense and wisdom. God reveals Himself as we make our home with Him, His living word a constant source of discovery, guidance, and awe.

Where do we go to find comfort? Are we in the habit of seeking out worldly amenities and self–focused care? Where and whom do we worship? Do we spend an inordinate amount of attention and time at the mirror, or at work, or do we delight in and guard long seasons in the secret place with the Lord God? In what places- physical or mental- do we settle, looking for solace or understanding? Is our default to fixate on our phone, surround ourselves with cozy agreeing opinions, stew in past failures or regrets, or will we constantly press on and upward to draw closer to the high and holy King?

The sacred citadel of God beckons at all times. What have we learned there, and what do we want still to learn? Is it a priority for us to go up individually, as well as together with loved ones? Whom can we ask to come along? Are we brave enough to lead the way?

“Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known,
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.

The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets…
We’re marching thro’ Immanuel’s ground
To fairer worlds on high. 

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.” ~Isaac Watts (1707)

Lord, may I ever treasure Your sacred citadel.