There are many towns and cities in Europe with ancient walls still standing, testifying to the defence of the town centuries ago. Tourists and locals can walk along the walls and enjoy a fine panorama of the town, absorbing the history of the place. 

Jerusalem was similar. People rejoiced to ‘walk about Zion’ (v 12). Its impressive defences reminded them of the city’s past deliverances. They saw the city’s great beauty, and more importantly they recalled the city’s Great King who had graciously saved them (vs 1,2). From the walls, they could see where, fairly recently, vast Assyrian forces had besieged the city but had then been thoroughly vanquished (vs 4–7). The people had heard about the Lord’s saving power; now they looked at it, in this very place (v 8). The beauty and security of Jerusalem’s architecture strengthened everyone’s faith in God’s power and continuing love (vs 9–11).

They may have walked around Zion physically, or they may have done it in their imagination (‘meditation’, v 9). We can all view Jerusalem in our mind’s eye: see its impressive walls, the towers, the Temple, and then the cross, the empty tomb, and the Pentecost crowd. We too can meditate on this city of the Great King, who will be our God for ever, alongside us to the end (vs 2,14).