“Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, for he strengthens the bars 

of your gates and blesses your people within you. 

He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. “

Psalm 147:12-14

–

AUGUST 14, 2025

The walled city of Jerusalem was a place of refuge. When the city gates were closed at night or during attacks, the doors were securely shut by bars that extended horizontally through brackets on the inside of the doors, holding them immobile. Strengthening the bars made the city gates impenetrable, thus protecting the populace within the walls. This is the metaphor of shelter and safekeeping that the psalmist uses to describe the Lord. 

But how does God protect us? We are not spared the troubles common to all, such as disease, injury, natural disasters, tragedy, war, economic turmoil, etc. Rather, God’s people are rescued from the control of sin. The Holy Spirit gives us an awareness of our sin, so that we can recognize it and turn from it. An unbeliever has no way to do this. We have a Helper to guide us, if we will listen.   

God’s favor rested upon the people under His protection inside Jerusalem. The inhabitants could worship Him freely. We, too, can flourish in the place where God has placed us. We have Bibles in our possession that we can study. We can take time to pray in solitude and with fellow believers. We can come together in worship and receive teaching from the word of God. We have opportunities to serve within the church, giving of ourselves alongside brothers and sisters, encouraging one another and learning from each other.  

The psalmist imagines God’s safeguard extending beyond the city walls to the boundaries of the nation, as though enemies were enemies no longer for now peace had come. The borders remained, but rather than barriers, they provided places of cooperation and interchange. As believers we need this kind of relationship with our community. We are to bring goodness to those around us. CareFest is one opportunity to engage in this kind of giving of ourselves to the benefit of others. 

God is our Provider, and we are to extol Him. He is the only One who can fully satisfy our innate need to worship. After all, we are all worshippers! The question is, “Who or what do we worship?” Certainly other people, material things, or fame will ultimately prove insufficient objects of worship. None of these can meet our deepest need, which is to be in right relationship with our Creator. He has provided a Savior who took our sin upon Himself so that we can stand forgiven in the presence of the living God. The “finest of wheat” has become the Bread of Life for us.        

Questions for reflection and discussion:  

  • How has the Holy Spirit enabled you to recognize personal sin and to turn from it?  
  • Is there something that could help you flourish as a Christ follower that you need to pursue?  
  • What or whom do you worship?  

Church Reading Plan: 1 Samuel 4; Romans 4