Psalms 48:6-14

6 They were gripped with terror and writhed in pain like a woman in labor.

7 You destroyed them like the mighty ships of Tarshish shattered by a powerful east wind.

8 We had heard of the city’s glory, but now we have seen it ourselves— the city of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever. Interlude

9 O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.

10 As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory.

11 Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice. Let all the towns of Judah be glad because of your justice.

12 Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem. Walk around and count the many towers.

13 Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations.

14 For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die.

Psalms 48:6-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 48

\\<>\\. This psalm is entitled a "song psalm", a psalm to be sung vocally; or "a song and psalm" to be sung both vocally and instrumentally; and is one of the spiritual songs the apostle speaks of, Eph 5:19; It was occasioned, as some think, by David's spoiling the Philistines, 2Sa 5:17-21; or, as others, by the deliverance of the people from the Moabites and Ammonites in the times of Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 20:27,28; or, as others, by the deliverance of the inhabitants of Jerusalem from Sennacherib in the times of Hezekiah, 2Ki 19:34,35; though as Kimchi, a celebrated Jewish commentator, owns, it belongs to the times of the Messiah, as the other preceding psalms; and treats of his greatness, and of the praise and glory due to him, and gives large encomiums of his church.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew Zion.