Psalm 48:1-49:20 ESV

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Psalms 48:1-14

Psalms 48:0A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praisedIn the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.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.3 God is knownIn her palaces for a refuge.4 For, lo, the kings were assembled,They passed by together.5 They saw it, and so they marvelled;They were troubled, and hasted away.6 Fear took hold upon... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - Psalms 48:1-14

Psalms A SONG OF DELIVERANCE Psa_48:1 - Psa_48:14 . The enthusiastic triumph which throbs in this psalm, and the specific details of a great act of deliverance from a great peril which it contains, sufficiently indicate that it must have had some historical event as its basis. Can we identify the fact which is here embalmed? The psalm gives these points-a formidable muster before Jerusalem of hostile people under confederate kings, with the purpose of laying siege to the city; some... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Psalms 48:1-14

“The City of Our God” Psalms 48:1-14 This psalm also probably dates from 2 Chronicles 20:20 . Tekoa was only three hours’ march from Jerusalem and commanded an extensive view, so that Psalms 48:4-5 were literally true. The psalmist celebrates the beauty and glory of Zion, Psalms 48:1-3 . The Church today is the City of the great King. Apart from God, the fairest palace is no refuge; but a cottage becomes a palace if God is known and loved there. Judah’s recent deliverance is gratefully... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Psalms 48:1-14

In Psa 46:1-11 the dominant note was of confidence, because of the government of God in the midst of His people. This is a song describing the experience resulting from such government. It is the anthem of a city's deliverance from an alliance of hostile kings. The beauty and glory of the city remain, notwithstanding the foes attack. The intervention of God was of such a nature that the attack failed ere it positively began. The kings assembled themselves, They passed by together. They were... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48:1-3

The Greatness of God And The Beauty Of The Place Which Represents His Dwelling Among Men (Psalms 48:1-3 ). Psalms 48:13 ‘Great is YHWH, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, The city of the great King. God has made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.’ We should note here that while Mount Zion is being admired, it is not Mount Zion but the Great God Himself... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 48:1-14

XLVIII. A Psalm which Describes the Impression made on a Pilgrim by his Visit to Zion. Psalms 48:1 f. Praise of Zion.— sides of the north is hard to comprehend. It has been explained as contrasting Zion, the true mountain of the North, with the Oriental Olympus ( Isaiah 14:13). The text, however, does not even hint at any such contrast. Mount Zion did indeed occupy the NE. corner of Jerusalem, but what of that? It has been suggested that the pilgrim came from the extreme S. of Egypt. But... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 48:1

In the city of our God; in Jerusalem, which he hath chosen for his dwelling-place. In the mountain of his holiness, i.e. in his holy mountain; either Zion, where the ark and tabernacle was; or rather Moriah, where the temple now was. Although both of them are supposed by some to be but one mountain, having two tops; and it is certain that both are frequently called by one name, to wit, Zion. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Psalms 48:1-14

INTRODUCTIONSuperscription. “A Song and Psalm.” “It is not easy,” says Barnes, “to account for this double appellation, or to distinguish between the meaning of these words, though probably the real distinction is that the word Psalm refers to that to which it is applied, considered merely as a poem or composition; Song is applied with reference to its being sung in public worship.” “It embraced what was usually understood by the word Psalm, and it was intended also specifically to be... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:1-14

Psalms 48:0 There is one event, and only one, in Jewish history which corresponds point for point to the details of this Psalm the crushing destruction of the Assyrian army under Sennacherib. We may, with considerable probability, regard it as the hymn of triumph over the baffled Assyrian and the marvellous deliverance of Israel by the arm of God. The Psalm falls into three portions. There is the glory of Zion, the deliverance of Zion, and the consequent grateful praise and glad trust of Zion.... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Psalms 48:1-14

Psalms 48:1-14 Psalms 48:1-14 :Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountains of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King ( Psalms 48:1-2 ).This is still looking forward into the Kingdom Age, when Jesus the great King will dwell in Jerusalem. His throne will be upon Mount Zion. So it is always so exciting to me when I go over to Jerusalem, one of my favorite... read more