Read Psalm 48

Tell the Generation Following

About half the Psalms are attributed to king David. Another eleven are believed to be written by the sons of Korah, including Psalms 44-49. The New King James Version titles the forty-eighth Psalm, “The Glory of God in Zion.” The occasion of the composition of this Psalm is not certain; many place it in the time of deliverance from Sennacherib, while others identify it with conflict during Jehoshaphat’s reign as recorded in 2 Chronicles 20.

The theme that runs through this inspired song of praise is that our glorious God is the great protector of His faithful children. Throughout the city of the great King and His holy mountain, the psalmist declares, “He is known as her refuge” (Psalm 48:3). When the enemy approached, “they marveled; they were troubled; they hastened away” (Psalm 48:5). The faithful have nothing to fear.

Due to His faithfulness, the people of God should meditate on His “lovingkindness,” “righteousness,” and “judgments” (Psalm 48:9-11). However, we should not keep those thoughts to ourselves. The final stanza shows the great responsibility to share the glory of God with others, especially to future generations.

“Walk about Zion, and go all around her: count her towers; mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death” (Psalm 48:12-14).

The importance of passing down the faith to children is declared throughout the Scriptures. God said through Moses, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). There is wisdom in godly instruction: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). The example of Lois and Eunice teaching Timothy also comes to mind (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15).

What are you telling the generations that follow you about God?