Psalms 48:4-14

4 For see! the kings came together by agreement, they were joined together.

5 They saw it, and so were full of wonder; they were troubled, and went quickly away in fear.

6 Shaking came on them and pain, as on a woman in childbirth.

7 By you the ships of Tarshish are broken as by an east wind.

8 As it came to our ears so have we seen it, in the town of the Lord of armies, in the town of our God; God will keep it fixed for ever. (Selah.)

9 Our thoughts were of your mercy, O God, while we were in your Temple.

10 As your name is, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth; your right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let there be joy in the mountain of Zion, and let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your wise decisions.

12 Make your way about Zion, and go round it, numbering its towers.

13 Take note of its strong walls, looking well at its fair buildings; so that you may give word of it to the generation which comes after.

14 Because this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide.

Psalms 48:4-14 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.