Psalms Chapter 48

“Great [is] the Lord, etc.] The same that in the foregoing psalm is said to be gone, up to heaven with a shout, to sit on the throne of his holiness, to reign over the Heathen, and to be King over all the earth; who is great, and the Son of the Highest; the great God and our Saviour; great in his person as God-man, God manifest in the flesh, his Father’s fellow and equal; and in the perfections of his nature, being of great power, and of great wisdom, and of great faithfulness, and of strict holiness and justice, and of wonderful grace and goodness; great in his works of creation and providence; in his miraculous…”

“This is a spirited Psalm and song (compare Psa 30:1), having probably been suggested by the same occasion as the foregoing. It sets forth the privileges and blessings of God's spiritual dominion as the terror of the wicked and joy of the righteous. (Psa 48:1-14) to be praised--always: it is an epithet, as in Psa 18:3. mountain of his holiness--His Church (compare Isa 2:2-3; Isa 25:6-7, Isa 25:10); the sanctuary was erected first on Mount Zion, then (as the temple) on Moriah; hence the figure.”

“Great is the Lord - That is, he is high and exalted; he is a Being of great power and glory. He is not weak and feeble, like the idols worshipped by other nations. He is able to defend his people; he has shown his great power in overthrowing the mighty forces that were gathered together against the city where he dwells. And greatly to be praised - Worthy to be praised. In his own nature, he is worthy of adoration; in interposing to save the city from its foes, he has shown that he is worthy of exalted praise. In the city of our God - Jerusalem. In the city which he has chosen for his abode, and where his worship…”

“The city - In Jerusalem. Mountain - In his holy mountain. Psalms 48:2”

“Ps 48 This song of Zion (see also Pss 46, 76, 87, 122) explicitly views Jerusalem (Zion) as the city of the Great King where the godly find protection (48:1-3). God rules from Zion in faithfulness, righteousness, and justice, and he inspires his subjects with confidence and joy (48:9-11). They commit themselves to seeing the glory of Zion for themselves so that they can tell the next generation about it (48:8, 12-14).”

“for: or, of, Psa 46:1 \*title Great: Psa 86:10, Psa 99:3, Psa 99:4, Psa 145:3, Psa 147:5 greatly: Psa 89:1-7; Neh 9:5; Rev 15:3, Rev 15:4, Rev 19:5 city: Psa 46:4, Psa 65:1, Psa 78:68, Psa 87:3; Heb 12:22; Rev 21:2, Rev 21:10-22 mountain: Psa 47:8, Psa 99:9; Isa 2:2, Isa 2:3, Isa 27:13; Jer 31:23; Oba 1:17; Mic 4:1; Zac 8:3; Mat 24:15 Psalms 48:2”

“(Heb.: 48:2-9) Viewed as to the nature of its subject-matter, the Psalm divides itself into three parts. We begin by considering the three strophes of the first part. The middle strophe presents an instance of the rising and falling caesural schema. Because Jahve has most marvellously delivered Jerusalem, the poet begins with the praise of the great King and of His Holy City. Great and praised according to His due (מהלּל as in Psa 18:4) is He in her, is He upon His holy mountain, which there is His habitation. Next follow, in Psa 48:3, two predicates of a threefold, or fundamentally only twofold, subject; for…”