Prepared for Psalms Group, 5/23/21
Psalm 48 is a descriptive hymn of praise that belongs to a group of psalms called songs of Zion, psalms that celebrate the city of Jerusalem and the temple as the epicenter of cosmic reality.The purpose of these Songs of Zion is to enliven our minds and hearts with thankfulness, praise and longing for the presence of God with us, as we learn to worship by worshipping.
The Beautiful City of God
Zion, the City of Our God
This is a hymn, and a song of Zion.
Hymns extol the glory and greatness of God as it is revealed in nature and history, and particularly in Israels’s history. Hymns praise God in general terms for his power and faithfulness as creator of the cosmos, ruler of history, and creator/redeemer of Israel to bring blessing to all the world. Israel’s hymns stress God’s active involvement in the life story of Israel. Hymns typically demonstrate motives for worshipping and praising God. A clear example is Psalm 117, the shortest psalm, just two verses:
1 O praise the Lord, all you nations; *
praise him, all you peoples.
2 For (= Hebrew ki) great is his loving-kindness towards us, *
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
Praise the Lord.
Hymns were used for exuberant worship in the temple and the synagogue. The people of God before the Incarnation invite us to celebrate and praise with them in hope of the kingdom of God and his Messiah. Hymns, like all psalms, show Christians how to praise God who has acted in creation, in revelation, and in redemption, and who is acting decisively in establishing his kingdom on earth. They do not ask anything; they simply rejoice in God’s presence.
Examples: Psalms 8, 19:1-6, 33, 66:1-12, 100, 103, 104, 145-150, and others
Several psalms express the view that God chose Zion as the earthly center of the divine rule. Mount Zion was the site of the Jerusalem temple. It was the place where God chose to be present in the midst of the people. So it became a sanctuary to which the people made pilgrimages. To the psalmists, Zon was the center of historical meaning that God had disclosed to Israel and, through Israel, to the whole world. The psalmists glorify Zion at that location. Zion came to represent the meeting place of heaven and earth and a foreshadowing of eternal life.
Examples: Psalms 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 121, 122
Heb. 12:22-29
A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
48
Magnus Dominus
1 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised *
in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill.
2 The hill of Zion is beautiful and lofty; *
it is the joy of the whole earth.
3 Upon the north side lies the city of the great King; *
God is well known in her palaces as a sure refuge.
4 For behold, the kings of the earth *
have gathered and advanced together.
5 They marvelled to see such things; *
they were astonished and fled in terror.
6 Trembling came upon them, and anguish, *
as upon a woman in travail.
7 You caused the east wind to blow *
and broke apart the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; *
God upholds her for ever.
9 We wait for your loving-kindness, O God, *
in the midst of your temple.
10O God, according to your Name, so is your praise to the world’s end; *
your right hand is full of righteousness.
11Let Mount Zion rejoice, and the cities of Judah be glad, *
because of your judgments.
12Walk about Zion, and go round about her; *
count the number of her towers.
13 Mark well her bulwarks, consider her strongholds, *
that you may tell those who come after.
14This God is our God for ever and ever; *
he shall be our guide, even unto death.