Psalm 48
Verse 1 The city - In Jerusalem. Mountain - In his holy mountain. Verse 2 The joy - This is spoken prophetically, because the joyful doctrine of the gospel was to go from thence to all nations. The city - Of God, who justly calls himself a great king. Verse 3 Known - By long experience. Palaces - Possibly he may point at the king's palace and the temple, which was the palace of the king of heaven; which two palaces God did in a singular manner protect, and by protecting them, protected the whole city and people. Verse 4 The kings - Either those kings confederate against Jehoshaphat, 2Chron 20:1, or the Assyrian princes; whom they vain - gloriously called kings, Isa 10:8. Passed - In their march towards Jerusalem. Verse 5 Saw it - They did only look upon it, but not come into it, nor shoot an arrow there - nor cast a bank against it, 2Kings 19:32. Marvelled - At the wonderful works wrought by God. Verse 6 Fear - At the tidings of Tirhakah's coming against them, 2Kings 19:9, and at that terrible slaughter of their army, ver. 35. Verse 7 Breakest - Thou didst no less violently and suddenly destroy these raging enemies of Jerusalem, than sometimes thou destroyest the ships at sea with a fierce and vehement wind, such as the eastern winds were in those parts. Verse 8 Heard - The predictions of the prophets have been verified by the events. Establish - God will defend her in all succeeding ages. And so God would have done, if Jerusalem had not forsaken him, and forfeited his protection. Verse 9 Thought - It hath been the matter of our serious and deep meditation, when we have been worshipping in thy temple. Verse 10 So - Thou art acknowledged to be such an one as thou hast affirmed thyself to be in thy Word, God Almighty, or All - sufficient, the Lord of hosts, and a strong tower to all that trust in thee. Righteousness - Of righteous actions; by which thou discoverest thy holiness. Verse 11 Judgments - Upon thine and their enemies. Verse 12 Tell - He bids them mark well her towers, bulwarks, and palaces, with thankfulness to God, when they should find upon enquiry, that not one of them were demolished. Verse 13 Tell it - That they may continue their praises to God for this mercy, by which they hold and enjoy all their blessings.