1. to be praised—always: it is an epithet, as in Psalms 18:3. mountain of his holiness—His Church (compare Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 25:6; Isaiah 25:7; Isaiah 25:10); the sanctuary was erected first on Mount Zion, then (as the temple) on Moriah; hence the figure. read more
2, 3. situation—literally, "elevation." joy of, &c.—source of joy. sides of the north—poetically for eminent, lofty, distinguished, as the ancients believed the north to be the highest part of the earth (compare :-). read more
3. palaces—literally, "citadels." refuge— (Psalms 9:10; Psalms 18:3). He was so known in them because they enjoyed His presence. read more
4-6. For—The reason is given. Though the kings (perhaps of Moab and Ammon, compare :-) combined, a conviction of God's presence with His people, evinced by the unusual courage with which the prophets (compare :-) had inspired them, seized on their minds, and smitten with sudden and intense alarm, they fled astonished. read more
Ancient peoples connected the glory of a god with the place where he dwelt. That association is clear in this psalm. The holy mountain where His Ark resided reflected God’s greatness. This verse summarizes the theme of the psalm, namely, that God is worthy of great praise. read more
1. Zion’s privilege 48:1-3 read more
Psalms 48The psalmist praised God for delivering Zion from her enemies (cf. Psalms 46, 47). Jerusalem was secure and glorious because God had blessed it with His favor. read more
The lofty beauty of Jerusalem, situated on Mt. Zion, gave all people reason to rejoice. The writer compared its beauty to that of Mt. Zaphon far to the north of Jerusalem, specifically some 25 miles to the northeast of Ugarit. The NIV translation of Psalms 48:2 clarifies the reference to this second mountain. Yet what made Jerusalem truly great was the presence of the Lord in it."Zaphon, located north of Israel, was the sacred mountain of the Canaanites from which their high god El supposedly... read more
Besieging armies could not prevail against God’s stronghold. They turned away unsuccessful. It was as though the presence of God terrified them. The psalmist may have written these words shortly after an invading army, perhaps the Assyrians, had attacked Jerusalem and failed (cf. Isaiah 10:8; Isaiah 33:3; Isaiah 33:14). read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 48:2
Psalms 48:2. Beautiful for situation, &c.— The expression of mount Sion's being the joy of the whole earth, seems to allude to the promise made to the patriarch, that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed. And the law, the Christian law, may be said literally to have gone out from mount Zion into all lands. On the sides of the north, or north side [lies] the city of the great king, means the city of Jerusalem. It may be asked, why this circumstance is mentioned as an... read more