The Book of Psalms

Psalm 48

Psalm XLVIII · Vol. II, p. 1017

The ornaments and privileges of the church.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

^aA song and psalm for¹ the sons of Korah.

1 Great is ^bthe LORD, and greatly to be praised in the ^ccity² of our God, in the mountain³ of his holiness.

a Ps.xxx.xlii titles.

1 Or, of.

b Job 11.7. Ps.145.5; 147.5; 111.9; 89.7; 86.10; 65.1.

c ver.2; Ps.78.68; cxxii.; 76.2.

2 The government of all countries must be concentrated in cities; thence, as from a centre, must go forth civil order and power; and thence have usually emanated the light and influences of religion.—C.

3 The temple was built upon a mountain, as an emblem of the strength, stability, exaltation, and visibility of all true religion, Ps. 30. 7. Mat. 5. 14.—C.

2 Beautiful^d for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the ^esides of the north,⁴ the city of the ^ggreat King.

d Ps.50.2. Eze.20.6. Da.8.9; 11.16. La.2.15. Is.2.2,3; 60.15,19.

e Is.14.13.

4 In high northern latitudes a southern aspect and exposure to the sun are desirable for comfort or fertility; but in countries nearer the equator, a northern aspect, especially in cities, is equally desirable, as a protection against the oppressive heat of the sun. See Is.4.6; 25.4; 32.2.—C.

g Ps.47.2,7,8. Mat.5.35.

3 God^h is known in her palaces for a refuge.

h ver.4-8. Ex.34.24. 2 Ch.12.7; 14.9-15; xx.; 32.1-22.

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

i 2 Sa.10.6-19. 2 Ch.xii.xiv.xx.xxxii. Is.10.28-34; 17.12-14; 29.5-8; 30.30-33; 33.10-12,23; 37.7,33-38.

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

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

j Ex.15.14-16. Is.13.7,8; 37.36.

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

k Eze.27.25,26. Re.18.17. Je.18.17.

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

l Ps.44.1,2; 78.3-6. Is.38.19.

n ver.1,2. Mat.5.35.

o Ps.46.5; 87.5. Is.2.2; 33.20. Mat.16.18.

9 We^p have thought of thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

p Ps.104.34; 105.1-6; 135.1,2. Is.30.15.

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

q Jos.7.9. Ps.113.3. ver.1; Ps.111.9; 65.1,2; 126.1-3. Is.12.4-6.

r Ps.145.17; 11.5-7; 45.7. Re.19.2,11; 15.3.

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

s 2 Ki.19.21. 2 Ch.20.26,27. Ps.58.10; 97.7,8. Re.16.5-7; 15.4; 18.20; 19.1-7; xiv.

12 Walk^t about Zion, and go round about her: ^utell the towers thereof.

t Ne.12.31.

u Is.33.20; 37.33; 10.32. Eze.43.11.

13 Mark ye well her ⁵bulwarks, ⁶consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.

5 Heb. set your heart to her bulwarks.

6 Or, raise up.

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

v Is.25.9; 58.11. Ps.16.1,2; 31.14; 13.5; 73.24,26; 142.4,5; 46.1,5,7,10.

**ZION GATE—ON MT. ZION, WHERE DAVID LIVED. [Psalms, xlviii:2]** "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." The Zion Gate is called in Arabic, "The Gate of the Prophet David." It is on the summit of the ridge of Zion between the Armenian convent and the tomb of David. The Zion Gate opens into several footpaths which lead down to the valley of Hinnom. We pass through this gate to go to the tomb of David in the possession of the Mohammedans. A little further north, near the wall, is the Armenian church with the house of Caiaphas, and between the two is the place the monks point out as the spot where the cock crowed and where Peter wept after denying his Master. The Armenian church is almost due southwest of Zion Gate.

Notes

Ver. 6. That these words are not a historic reference or narrative, but a historic prophecy, will be evident from considering that they introduce to faith the perpetual establishment of Zion, ver. 8, whereas it yet presents to sense nothing but the feature of 'perpetual desolations.' C.

Ver. 8. In the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. How can this be reconciled with the destruction of all things foretold, 2 Pe. 3. 7? Most easily: God will establish Zion for ever in the person of her King, in the happiness of her subjects, in the fulfilment of her prophecies, the realization of her types, the demonstration of her faith, the beauty of her holiness, and the brightness of her glory. C.

Ver. 11. The daughters of Judah. Not the inferior cities, but literally, the daughters of Judah: as Miriam and her attendants rejoiced at passing the Red Sea, Ex. 15. 20, 21; or the women out of all the cities of Israel, to hail and celebrate the victory of David over Goliath, 1 Sa. 18. 6, 7. C.

Reflections.—Great, and greatly to be praised, is our exalted Redeemer. Glorious is his gospel-church in which his presence dwells. And in a marvellous manner hath he, in instances unnumbered, been known for her refuge. When ravaging invaders and furious persecutors have concurred in attempts to destroy her, their plots and fury have often issued in their own ruin, and his people's triumph and praise of his kindness. Quickly shall her remaining enemies be undone; and no gates of hell have, or ever shall, prevail against her. Her bulwarks, palaces of ordinances, and officers, are built on Jesus the Rock of ages, and are protected by his arm of omnipotence. Let us then declare his wondrous works and our relation to him to posterity, as an honour to him, and an encouragement to them to come and cleave to him and triumph in his praise.