“Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Walk around and count the many towers. Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations. For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die.” (Psalm 48:12–14, NLT)
The Psalmist is reflecting on the greatness of God even as he focuses our attention on the walls of Jerusalem. Set on Mt. Zion, the walls protect the inhabitants from invaders. He invites the reader to walk around, count the towers, the palace, the glory of this place, and the security of this place.
He uses these images of the walls of Jerusalem as a metaphor for God. The Lord surrounds His people, protects His people, and embraces His people. The walls will one day crumble and fall. An invader will overthrow the city. But the Lord’s embrace will continue to hold His people.
We read, “He is our God forever and ever.” The word “forever” connotes age after age. We can look back in history to former ages and see His hand of grace. We can look forward to ages to come. Some scholars suggest that this word forever (ʿôlām) can also connote the horizon boundary. Look as far as you can see, and He is still beyond every boundary on the horizon. God’s love cannot be contained by time or space.
While this psalm was written by ancient Hebrews, many cultures have found comfort in this promise of God’s unfailing love. As St. Paul writes, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39, NLT)
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