Psalms 48
48
Beautiful Zion
A poetic song by the prophetic singers of Korah’s clan
1There are so many reasons to describe God as wonderful!
So many reasons to praise him with unlimited praise! # 48:1 This psalm was written to commemorate the defeat of the Assyrian army in the days of King Hezekiah.
2Zion-City is his home; he lives on his holy mountain—
high and glorious, joy-filled and favored.
Zion-Mountain looms in the farthest reaches of the north, # 48:2 Or “the sides of the north,” a metaphor to describe God’s heavenly home. See Isa. 14:13.
the city of our incomparable King!
3This is his divine abode, an impenetrable citadel,
for he is known to dwell in the highest place.
4-6See how the mighty kings united to come against Zion,
yet when they saw God manifest in front of their eyes,
they were stunned.
Trembling, they all fled away, gripped with fear. # 48:4–6 This no doubt refers to the night the angel of the Lord descended into the ranks of the Assyrians and killed 185,000 men. See Isa. 37:36.
Seized with panic, they doubled up in frightful anguish,
like a woman in the labor pains of childbirth.
7Like a hurricane blowing and breaking the invading ships, # 48:7 Or “ships of Tarshish.”
God blows upon them and breaks them to pieces.
8We have heard about these wonders,
and then we saw them with our own eyes.
For this is the city of the Commander of Angel Armies,
the city of our God, safe and secure forever!
Pause in his presence
9Lord, as we worship you in your temple,
we recall over and over your kindness to us
and your unending love.
10The fame of your name echoes throughout the entire world,
accompanied with praises.
Your right hand is full of victory.
11So let the people of Zion rejoice with gladness;
let the daughters of praise # 48:11 Or “the daughters of Judah.” leap for joy!
For God will see to it that you are judged fairly.
12-13Circle Zion; count her towers.
Consider her walls, climb her palaces,
and then go and tell the coming generation
of the care and compassion of our God.
14Yes, this is our God, our great God forever.
He will lead us onward until the end,
through all time, beyond death,
and into eternity!
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Psalms 48: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 48
48
The Splendor of the Invincible City
1A psalm of the Korahites.#Korahites: see note on Ps 42:1. A song.
I
2Great is the Lord and highly praised
in the city of our God:#Ps 96:4; 145:3.
His holy mountain,
3fairest of heights,
the joy of all the earth,#Ps 50:2; Lam 2:15.
Mount Zion, the heights of Zaphon,#The heights of Zaphon: the mountain abode of the Canaanite storm-god Baal in comparable texts. To speak of Zion as if it were Zaphon was to claim for Israel’s God what Canaanites claimed for Baal. Though topographically speaking Zion is only a hill, viewed religiously it towers over other mountains as the home of the supreme God (cf. Ps 68:16–17).#Is 14:13.
the city of the great king.
II
4God is in its citadel,
renowned as a stronghold.
5See! The kings assembled,
together they advanced.
6#When they looked: the kings are stunned by the sight of Zion, touched by divine splendor. The language is that of holy war, in which the enemy panics and flees at the sight of divine glory.When they looked they were astounded;
terrified, they were put to flight!#Jgs 5:19.
7Trembling seized them there,
anguish, like a woman’s labor,#Ex 15:14; Jer 4:31.
8As when the east wind wrecks
the ships of Tarshish!#The ships of Tarshish: large ships, named after the distant land or port of Tarshish, probably ancient Tartessus in southern Spain, although other identifications have been proposed, cf. Is 2:16; 60:9; Jon 1:3.
III
9#What we had heard we have now seen: the glorious things that new pilgrims had heard about the holy city—its beauty and awesomeness—they now see with their own eyes. The seeing here contrasts with the seeing of the hostile kings in Ps 48:6.What we had heard we have now seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
In the city of our God,
which God establishes forever.
Selah
10We ponder, O God, your mercy
within your temple
11Like your name, O God,
so is your praise to the ends of the earth.#Mal 1:11.
Your right hand is fully victorious.
12Mount Zion is glad!
The daughters of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments!#Ps 97:8.
IV
13Go about Zion, walk all around it,
note the number of its towers.
14Consider the ramparts, examine its citadels,
that you may tell future generations:#Ps 22:31–32; 71:18.
15That this is God,
our God for ever and ever.#Our God for ever and ever: Israel’s God is like Zion in being eternal and invincible. The holy city is therefore a kind of “sacrament” of God.
He will lead us until death.
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