Psalms 48

1 in finem filiis Core psalmus

2 audite haec omnes gentes auribus percipite omnes qui habitatis orbem

3 quique terriginae et filii hominum in unum dives et pauper

4 os meum loquetur sapientiam et meditatio cordis mei prudentiam

5 inclinabo in parabolam aurem meam aperiam in psalterio propositionem meam

6 cur timebo in die malo iniquitas calcanei mei circumdabit me

7 qui confidunt in virtute sua et in multitudine divitiarum suarum gloriantur

8 frater non redimit redimet homo non dabit Deo placationem suam

9 et pretium redemptionis animae suae et laboravit in aeternum

10 et vivet * adhuc; in finem

11 non videbit interitum cum viderit sapientes morientes simul insipiens et stultus peribunt et relinquent alienis divitias suas

12 %et; sepulchra eorum domus illorum in aeternum tabernacula eorum in progeniem et progeniem vocaverunt nomina sua in terris suis

13 et homo cum in honore esset non intellexit conparatus est iumentis insipientibus et similis factus est illis

14 haec via illorum scandalum ipsis et postea in ore suo conplacebunt diapsalma

15 sicut oves in inferno positi sunt mors depascet eos et dominabuntur eorum iusti in matutino et auxilium eorum veterescet in inferno a gloria eorum

16 verumtamen Deus redimet animam meam de manu inferi cum acceperit me diapsalma

17 ne timueris cum dives factus fuerit homo et cum multiplicata fuerit gloria domus eius

18 quoniam cum interierit non sumet omnia neque descendet cum eo *pone; gloria eius

19 quia anima eius in vita ipsius benedicetur confitebitur tibi cum benefeceris ei

20 introibit usque in progenies patrum suorum usque in aeternum non videbit lumen

21 homo in honore cum esset non intellexit conparatus est iumentis %insipientibus; et similis factus est illis

Psalms 48 Commentary

Chapter 48

The glories of the church of Christ.

Verses 1-7 Jerusalem is the city of our God: none on earth render him due honour except the citizens of the spiritual Jerusalem. Happy the kingdom, the city, the family, the heart, in which God is great, in which he is all. There God is known. The clearer discoveries are made to us of the Lord and his greatness, the more it is expected that we should abound in his praises. The earth is, by sin, covered with deformity, therefore justly might that spot of ground, which was beautified with holiness, be called the joy of the whole earth; that which the whole earth has reason to rejoice in, that God would thus in very deed dwell with man upon the earth. The kings of the earth were afraid of it. Nothing in nature can more fitly represent the overthrow of heathenism by the Spirit of the gospel, than the wreck of a fleet in a storm. Both are by the mighty power of the Lord.

Verses 8-14 We have here the improvement which the people of God are to make of his glorious and gracious appearances for them. Let our faith in the word of God be hereby confirmed. Let our hope of the stability of the church be encouraged. Let our minds be filled with good thoughts of God. All the streams of mercy that flow down to us, must be traced to the fountain of His loving-kindness. Let us give to God the glory of the great things he has done for us. Let all the members of the church take comfort from what the Lord does for his church. Let us observe the beauty, strength, and safety of the church. Consider its strength; see it founded on Christ the Rock, fortified by the Divine power, guarded by Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps. See what precious ordinances are its palaces, what precious promises are its bulwarks, that you may be encouraged to join yourselves to it: and tell this to others. This God, who has now done such great things for us, is unchangeable in his love to us, and his care for us. If he is our God, he will lead and keep us even to the last. He will so guide us, as to set us above the reach of death, so that it shall not do us any real hurt. He will lead us to a life in which there shall be no more death.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 48

\\<>\\. This psalm is entitled a "song psalm", a psalm to be sung vocally; or "a song and psalm" to be sung both vocally and instrumentally; and is one of the spiritual songs the apostle speaks of, Eph 5:19; It was occasioned, as some think, by David's spoiling the Philistines, 2Sa 5:17-21; or, as others, by the deliverance of the people from the Moabites and Ammonites in the times of Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 20:27,28; or, as others, by the deliverance of the inhabitants of Jerusalem from Sennacherib in the times of Hezekiah, 2Ki 19:34,35; though as Kimchi, a celebrated Jewish commentator, owns, it belongs to the times of the Messiah, as the other preceding psalms; and treats of his greatness, and of the praise and glory due to him, and gives large encomiums of his church.