Psalms 48

Psalms 48:1-14

The victory over the last confederacy. A Song: a psalm of the sons of Korah. We have now the celebration of the final victory over the enemies of Israel, which leaves them in peace and gladness to realize the goodness of God, according to all that they had heard from their fathers of His works of old. The victory is plainly that of Eze 38:1-23, and not the deliverance of Zec 14:1-21, which precedes it. In the one case the city is in the extreme of distress, already partly in the enemy’s hands, and on the brink of ruin, when the Lord interferes. Clearly it is not yet the glorious city of God, of which this psalm speaks, but in the misery which is the result of sin and departure from Him. It is saved by the appearing of Christ from heaven, the triumph of the enemy turned into defeat and overthrow. We should naturally conclude that this would be the end of all attempts of this kind; but our conclusions are often mistaken, even when we think them quite secure.

The attack of Gog as prophesied in Ezekiel is against the “land that is brought back from the sword and gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel which have been constantly” -not “always” “waste, but is brought forth out of the nations; and they dwell safely, all of them.” Here the state of things is quite different from that pictured in Zechariah; and correspondingly there is no hint of any disaster to the people of God, but the contrary: when he comes up against the land of Israel, the Lord says, “my fury shall come up in my face, . . . and I will call for a sword against him through all my mountains.” So in the psalm here: the glorious city of God, strong in the might of Him who dwells in her; laughs the invader to scorn. The kings see, and marvel, and are smitten with fear and overthrown. All the circumstances are in this way different.

1. The first section here therefore begins with the celebration of the city of God, the place where He dwells, His holy mountain. The numerical structure indicates What I doubt not, the blessed unity which the city, indwelt of God; manifests. What a contrast to the strife and corruption hitherto found in her at the best of times! Now she is the home of peace and concord; man fitted to man in the realization of that sweet mutual dependence and ministry of each to each which God has ordained to His creatures for their blessing and comfort and moral invigoration. So in the heavens the home of the redeemed is again a city; the new Jerusalem; “Jerusalem which is above,” the “city which hath foundations,” -those glorious foundations of light-jewels, Urim and Thummim, the Lights and Perfections of God Himself; and which abides therefore as surely as He abides. Where He is, there is unity, -intelligent subjection to Him in love; whereby each being occupies his own place in ceaseless activity of service without weariness. And great is Jehovah here, and greatly to be praised. No wonder that this city, beautiful in its elevation, spiritually as physically, should be the joy of the whole earth. It is Mount Zion, the “fixed” place of Jehovah’s rest (see 2 Samuel 5:7, notes). There shall be no more alienation from Him, no more Jebusite treading down of holy places forever. Who shall disturb the place of His rest? “On the sides of the north,” adds to this great significance. There is no need to quarrel with any topographical reference that may be suggested, for the typical meaning never displaces the literal and external, but shines through it, and gives it beauty and enforcement. We must not make matter the enemy; but the servant and shrine of the Spirit. Let Mount Zion be actually and literally on the sides of the north; this is the beautiful symbol of a deeper reality. The north -tzaphon -is “what is hidden;” because the north side of anything is the dark; the hidden side. The north therefore is the place of mystery; and of opposition to the light; and “God is light.” From the mysterious in nature; the mysteries of God’s providence, the clouds and darkness which are round about His throne, -full as all these must be of His wisdom and goodness really; -infidelity derives its arguments, and with these makes its attacks upon the truth of God.

In the sides of the north therefore it is that the Babylonian scoffer means to sit (Isaiah 14:13) in defiance of the Most High. But here now Mount Zion stands, God’s bulwark against the foe; who is (let us note) a northern foe. God opposes to him the grace of His promise, His immutable word; Himself; in short; as that against which the wave of national madness must first break; and break itself to pieces. And how grandly Mount Zion rises “on the sides of the north,” the answer at last to all the mystery of God’s dealings with His people; the fulfillment of promise, the sign of peace for the earth itself; God;s ways now to be open; in the sight of men; day having succeeded to night, sight (in some sense) to faith; Jerusalem now the city of the great King, for whom the expectant ages have been looking. Yes; God is known in her palaces as a high place; -Zion itself His symbol. 2. Now the brief passage of the storm-cloud is recited; -how the kings assembled; how in their collective might they passed and were gone! They but looked and marveled, and in the haste of fear started to flee. Fear seized upon them; the pangs of a woman in travail; and then sudden shipwreck, as of vessels broken with an east wind. 3. Zion emerges in her beauty from under this passing cloud. She is untouched. And now they realize in the present what they had in faith received from their fathers as to the days of old. As they had heard; so now they have seen; in the city of Jehovah of hosts as it truly is: God establishes it forever. In the sanctuary of His presence restored to them; they think upon His love. His praise is now; even to the ends of the earth, in accordance with His Name, -that is, with the revelation of Himself. Power has acted in righteousness so as to declare what His right hand is. Experience may well exhort them to exultant joy. 4. The next verses; while easy to understand on the whole; are difficult to particularize. They are urged to make full proof of this city of strength: survey her as a whole, I take it, -consider her points, -to tell it to the generations afterwards. For the God who has taken all this abundant care for His people, such as He has shown Himself in it, is their God forever, -the guide of His flock forever. This is the glorious portion of His people, a portion which, after all measurements; remains unmeasured. \