Psalm 48:13
“Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.”
What God did for Israel was truly miraculous. To take a nation from Egypt and bring them through the wilderness and into the Promised Land could only have been done by the hand of God. Not only was God’s deliverance miraculous, but the infrastructure He gave them was second to none.
The psalmist told Israel that they needed to “mark” the ”bulwarks” and “consider her palaces.” He was telling them that they needed to study how their walls, towers and palaces were built so that they could pass along to the next generation exactly what had been handed to them. They were not to change how these things were built, but they were to keep them the same from generation to generation. They were not to tear down the towers, but they were to keep the towers tall and strong so that future generation could be safe. They were to study how the palaces were secure and safe so that future generations could live safely from those outside forces who so badly wanted them destroyed. They were to mark and consider so that they could tell the next generation how to continue to live.
We have a generation today who, instead of telling what the past generation gave us, are trying to destroy the bulwarks, towers and palaces that the past generation built to give us new ones. Friend, you shouldn't be interested in trying to build new bulwarks, towers and palaces, but you should be interested in keeping alive what the past generation gave us that made us who we are and brought God’s blessings on us.
Mark and consider the bulwarks of the past and keep those bulwarks the same. If holy living, dressing right and living separated lives kept us from sin’s temptation, don't change what has worked. The bulwarks of the past generation are as good today to keep us from sin as they were for the past generation. Holy living, dressing right and living separated lives will keep you from the moment of temptations as much today as they did in the past.
Moreover, don't try to rebuild the towers, but keep the towers high and strong. The tower was where the watchman stood. In other words, don't change the preaching. You need strong preaching today as much as they needed it in the past. Too many people are trying to water down the message in an attempt to bring in more people. Watered down preaching never helped one person or family, but it has destroyed churches, lives and families by the scores. Keep yourself under the type of preaching that is strong and wants you to keep your standards high and your service for God fervent.
Furthermore, don't change the palaces. It would be good if we looked at how the homes in the past turned out godly children and copy them. Don't make your home a sanctuary for the world. Protect your home from those outside influences that will destroy the purity and holiness of your home.
Friend, you cannot mark and consider if you are tearing down and destroying what the past generation gave. Your responsibility is to mark and consider what the past generation gave us so that you can give it to future generations unchanged. Don't listen to the voices of change, but keep what has been given to you the same. This is what will continue to keep the bulwarks, towers and palaces safe and strong for generations to come.