RRB notes on Psalm 48

Psalms 48 KJV

A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.

1. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in 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. [1] 

[1] Verse 1 could have reference to earthly Jerusalem on earthly Mount Zion, but verse 2 could not possibly be under any circumstances. There are no “palaces” (vs. 3) on Mount Zion in earthly Jerusalem. The “mount Zion” of verse 2 is not in Palestine; it is “on the sides of the north,” which is located above the clouds and the stars (Isa. 14:13-14). “The city of the great King” is the “mount Sion” of Hebrews 12:22, where “the heavenly Jerusalem” is located “above” (Gal. 4:26) in “the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2). There are two Mount Zions and two Jerusalems in the Scriptures, and if you aren’t “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15), you will end up a destructive critic of the Bible instead of a “workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”

3. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

4. For, lo, the kings were assembled, [a] they passed by together.

[a] Second Advent (Psa. 2:2; Rev. 16:12-14).

5. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

6. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

7. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

8. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

9. We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

10. According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

11. Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

12. Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

13. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.

14. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.