Psalm 48

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:7

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with east wind. This is either another simile, expressing the greatness of the dread and fear that shall now seize the kings of the earth; which will be, as Kimchi observes, as if they were smitten with a strong east wind, which breaks the ships of Tarshish; and to the same purpose is the note of Aben Ezra; who says, the psalmist compares the pain that shall take hold upon them to an east wind in the sea, which breaks the ships; for by Tarshish is meant,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:8

As we have heard, so have we seen ,.... These are the words of the people of God making their observations on the above things; and so Aben Ezra and Kimchi understand them of the people of Israel; and the former, referring them to the war of Gog and Magog, paraphrases them thus: "the Israelites shall say in that day, as we have heard the prophets, who prophesied of the fall of Gog and Magog, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts.' The words may be understood, either of facts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:9

We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God ,.... Jarchi interprets it, "we have waited for thy lovingkindness"; to see thy salvation; and some, as Ben Melech observes, explain it of hope and expectation; as if the sense was, "we have hoped for thy lovingkindness"; so the Syriac version renders it, and the word used has the signification of tarrying, 1 Samuel 14:9 . God has his set time to favour his Zion, and till that time comes it is right in them to be hoping, expecting, and waiting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:10

According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth ,.... That is, as he himself is in the perfections of his nature, which are displayed in the works of his bands, throughout the whole creation; so is or ought his praise to be: or rather, as in the latter day his name will be great in all the earth, Malachi 1:11 ; so will his praise be; and as his name will be One, Zechariah 14:9 ; he will be one Lord, there will be one faith and one baptism; his worship, word,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:11

Let Mount Zion rejoice ,.... The church in general; see Psalm 48:1 ; let the daughters of Judah be glad ; particular churches; and so the Targum renders it, "the congregations of the house of Judah"; or particular believers; such as are called the daughters of Jerusalem, and the daughters of Zion, Song of Solomon 3:10 ; these are exhorted to joy and gladness, at the loving kindness of God, at the spread of his name and glory to the ends of the earth, and at his righteousness his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:12

Walk about Zion, and go round about her ,.... These words are either an address to the enemies of the church, sarcastically delivered; calling upon them to come, and surround, and besiege Zion, and see what the issue and consequence of it will he, even the same as that of the kings, Psalm 48:4 ; or to the builders of Zion, as Jarchi observes, to come and take a survey of it, and see what repairs were necessary; or rather to the saints, to the daughters of Judah before mentioned, to take a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:13

Mark ye well her bulwarks ,.... Such as the free favour of God in Christ; which is not only as a shield, but as a bulwark to the church; his everlasting love, electing grace, the covenant of grace, with its blessings and promises, all which are more immovable than rocks and mountains; and especially the power of God, which surrounds his church, as the mountains did Jerusalem; and by which they are kept and preserved as in a garrison, Psalm 125:2 . Also salvation by Christ; his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:14

For this God is our God for ever and ever ,.... Who is spoken of throughout the whole psalm as greatly to be praised, as well as is known in Zion, as the stability, security, and protection of her. This is said as pointing unto him as if visible, as Christ is God manifest in the flesh, now in Gospel times, to which this psalm belongs; as distinguishing him from all others, from the gods of the Gentiles, rejected by the people of God; as claiming an interest in him as their covenant God; as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48

The ornaments and the privileges of the Church, Psalm 48:1-8 . The duty of God's people, Psalm 48:9-14 . The title: A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. To which the Vulgate, Septuagint, Aethiopia, and Arabic add, for the second day of the week; for which I believe it would be difficult to find a meaning. It is evidently of the same complexion with the two preceding, and refers to the Jews returned from captivity; and perhaps was sung at the dedication of the second temple, in order... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48:1

Great is the Lord - This verse should be joined to the last verse of the preceding Psalm, as it is a continuation of the same subject; and indeed in some of Kennicott's MSS. it is written as a part of the foregoing. That concluded with He is greatly exalted; this begins with Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; i.e., He should be praised according to his greatness; no common praise is suited to the nature and dignity of the Supreme God. In the city of our God - That is, in the... read more

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