Psalms 48

¹A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Psa 48:1-14. This is a spirited Psalm and song (compare Psa 30:1), having probably been suggested by the same occasion as the foregoing. It sets forth the privileges and blessings of God’s spiritual dominion as the terror of the wicked and joy of the righteous. 1. to be praised--always: it is an epithet, as in Psa 18:3. mountain of his holiness--His Church (compare Is 2:2, 3; 25:6, 7, 10); the sanctuary was erected first on Mount Zion, then (as the temple) on Moriah; hence the figure.

²Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

³God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

2-3. situation--literally, “elevation.” joy of, &c.--source of joy. sides of the north--poetically for eminent, lofty, distinguished, as the ancients believed the north to be the highest part of the earth (compare Is 14:13).

⁴For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

⁵They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

⁶Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

4-6. For--The reason is given. Though the kings (perhaps of Moab and Ammon, compare Psa 83:3-5) combined, a conviction of God’s presence with His people, evinced by the unusual courage with which the prophets (compare 2Ch 20:12-20) had inspired them, seized on their minds, and smitten with sudden and intense alarm, they fled astonished.

⁷Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

7. ships of Tarshish--as engaged in a distant and lucrative trade, the most valuable. The phrase may illustrate God’s control over all material agencies, whether their literal destruction be meant or not.

⁸As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

8. This present experience assures of that perpetual care which God extends to His Church.

⁹We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

9. thought of--literally, “compared,” or considered, in respect of former dealings. in the ... temple--in acts of solemn worship (compare 2Ch 20:28).

¹⁰According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

10. According ... praise--that is, As Thy perfections manifested (compare Psa 8:1; 20:1-7), demand praise, it shall be given, everywhere. thy right hand, &c.--Thy righteous government is displayed by Thy power.

¹¹Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

11. the daughters, &c.--the small towns, or the people, with the chief city, or rulers of the Church. judgments--decisions and acts of right government.

¹²Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

¹³Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.

¹⁴For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

12-14. The call to survey Zion, or the Church, as a fortified city, is designed to suggest “how well our God secures His fold.” This security is perpetual, and its pledge is His guidance through this life.