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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Psalm Chapter 48

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: David, Asaph, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses, and the Sons of Korah
Date Penned: (1440-586 BC)
Overview: Poetry for the Expression of Praise and Worship to God (c 1-150)
Theme: The Second Book of Psalms (c 42-72)
Message: God is Our Joy (v 1-17)

Psalms 48 Commentary

(48:1) Mount Zion - Why is Mount Zion- Jerusalem--referred to as "the city of the great King"? Because the temple was located in Jerusalem, the city was seen as the center of God's presence in the world. The Bible pictures Jerusalem as the place where believers will gather in the last days (Isaiah 2:2-22) and as the future home of all believers, where God will live among his people (Revelation 21:2-3). 


(48:8) A New Jerusalem - Because Jerusalem has been destroyed several times since this psalm was written, the declaration that "God will establish it for ever" may refer prophetically to the new Jerusalem, where God will judge all nations and live with all believers (Revelation 21). 


(48:9-11) God will Bring Justice - The people of Judah were from Israel's largest tribe, which settled in the southern part of Canaan, where Jerusalem was located (Joshua 15:1-12). David was from Judah, and he made Jerusalem his capital and the center of the nation's worship. Jesus was also a member of the tribe of Judah. The psalm writer was saying that the day would come when God would bring justice to the land and God's people would get the respect they deserved. 


(48:12-13) Joy and Protection - After an enemy army had unsuccessfully besieged Jerusalem, the people had to make a tour of the city, inspecting its defenses and praising God for the protection he had given. In times of great joy or after God has brought us through some great trial, we ought to inspect our defenses to make sure that the foundations -faith in God, knowledge of his Word, and the fellowship and prayers of the body of believers--remain strong (Ephesians 2:20-22). Then we should praise God for his protection! 


(48:14) The Lord's Guidance - We often pray for God's guidance as we struggle with decisions. What we need is both guidance and a guide--a map that gives us landmarks and directions and a constant companion who has an intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly. The Bible is such a map, and the Holy Spirit is our constant companion and guide. As you make your way through life, use both the map and your guide.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Our All in All


Each day, we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text.  Today, we continue in the Book of Psalms with Chapter 48. In our text today, we see a theme of how God is our joy, security, defender, guide, and salvation. In applying, we see how our Lord is our all in all. Every good thing is in Him and not in ourselves. The world tells you the opposite: believe in yourself, you can do it, and try harder. The power is in you, for those who follow this philosophy find themselves empty, unfulfilled, and never satisfied. How about you? Are you full of joy? Who's philosophy are you following - the Lord or the World? Let us learn from our Psalm and Text today to remember that the World leaves us empty, our all and all is in the Lord, and if we follow Him, we will have joy, protection, guidance, and a home in heaven when we leave this World.

 

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Psalm 48

Psalm 48

 1Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

 2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

 3God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

 4For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

 5They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

 6Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

 7Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

 8As 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.

 9We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

 10According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

 11Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

 12Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

 13Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.

 14For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.