DAWN

     Explanation: Psalm 48 encourages us to trust deeply in God who is majestic, and who lives in the majestic city of Zion. The painting above shows Jerusalem's beauty and strength, which are mentioned throughout the Psalm.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalms 27. Psalm 37. Psalm 73. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 48 - #1. Psalm 48 - #2. Psalm 48 - #3. Psalm 48 - #5. Psalm 48 - #5. ]

     The Psalmist opens by extolling the LORD for his greatness, praiseworthiness, and holiness. Likewise, he extols Zion because it is well situated; it is the joy of the earth; and it is the city of the great King -- the LORD God. God is known in her palaces (i.e., by the king and his courtiers) as a refuge. Foreign kings saw the city, marveled, became troubled, and hastened away in fear and travail. And God did more than frighten away Zion's enemies; he broke the ships of Tarshish with an east wind, But, in contrast to all of that, God will establish Zion forever (1-8). Then, addressing God directly, the Psalmist says that, in the midst of the Temple, he remembered God's lovingkindness, his praiseworthiness, and his righteousness. Therefore, the Psalmist asks God to let Zion and its inhabitants rejoice and be glad because of his judgments. Then, addressing his audience, he tells them to walk around Zion, observe her defenses, and tell of these things to the generation following because this God is our God forever; and he will be our guide even unto death (9-14).

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.
³ God is known in 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 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.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]