Psalms 48:1-11

1 The Lord is great; he should be praised in the city of our God, on his holy mountain.

2 It is high and beautiful and brings joy to the whole world. Mount Zion is like the high mountains of the north; it is the city of the Great King.

3 God is within its palaces; he is known as its defender.

4 Kings joined together and came to attack the city.

5 But when they saw it, they were amazed. They ran away in fear.

6 Fear took hold of them; they hurt like a woman having a baby.

7 You destroyed the large trading ships with an east wind.

8 First we heard and now we have seen that God will always keep his city safe. It is the city of the Lord All-Powerful, the city of our God.Selah

9 God, we come into your Temple to think about your love.

10 God, your name is known everywhere; all over the earth people praise you. Your right hand is full of goodness.

11 Mount Zion is happy and all the towns of Judah rejoice, because your decisions are fair.

Psalms 48:1-11 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.