__ Psalms 48:1 _« A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah. » Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness._ A Psalm and Song for the sons of Korah] When and by whom compiled we certainly know not. If by David, probably it was upon occasi... [ Continue Reading ]
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Ver. 2. _Beautiful for situation_] A beautiful nymph, so R. Solomon. Or, beautiful for the branch that droppeth balsam, saith Moller; _Pulcher surculo,_ beautiful branch, t... [ Continue Reading ]
God is known in her palaces for a refuge. Ver. 3. _God is known in her palaces for a refuge_] As the city was an ornament to the whole country, so was God to the city, as being a common refuge to both; and as having his holy temple there, not a professed sanctuary for impiety, as Florus spitefully... [ Continue Reading ]
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. Ver. 4. _For, lo, the kings were assembled_] The princes of the Philistines, 2 Samuel 5:5. Or, Sennacherib's princes, which were all kings, Isaiah 10:8. Oecolampadius, upon Isaiah 13:19, saith, that there were twenty and two kingdoms in As... [ Continue Reading ]
They saw [it, and] so they marvelled; they were troubled, [and] hasted away. Ver. 5. _They saw it, and so they marvelled_] None of them could say, as Caesar, _Veni, vidi, vici,_ I came, I saw, I conquored, but the contrary; they no sooner saw this heaven guarded city, but their hearts misgave them;... [ Continue Reading ]
Fear took hold upon them there, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail. Ver. 6. _Fear took hold upon them there_] By "so" in the former verse, and "there" in this, the shameful flight of these enemies is lively deciphered, and, as it were, pointed at with the finger. So Psalms 14:5, "There were they... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. Ver. 7. _Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish_] _i.e._ Of the ocean, or of the Mediterranean Sea, Isaiah 2:16; Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 23:6; Isaiah 23:10; Isaiah 23:14. The meaning is, Like as thou, O God, with thine east wind, that Euroclydon espec... [ Continue Reading ]
As 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. Ver. 8. _As we have heard_] viz. By the relation of our forefathers, Psalms 44:1, or rather by the promises contained in the Holy Scriptures, which now we see verified... [ Continue Reading ]
We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. Ver. 9. _We have thought upon thy lovingkindness_] Heb. We have silently mused or minded, as being amazed, or rather amazed, thereat, not able to speak for a while, we were so transported when we met in thy temple for the pur... [ Continue Reading ]
According to thy name, O God, so [is] thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. Ver. 10. _According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise_] _i.e._ It is infinite and inexpressible, Psalms 148:1; Psalms 145:3. God's name is exalted above all blessing and praise,... [ Continue Reading ]
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. Ver. 11. _Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters, &c._] Let the Church catholic, and each particular member thereof: give God the glory of his justice, and see that their joy be spiritual.... [ Continue Reading ]
Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Ver. 12. _Walk about Sion, and tell the towers thereof_] _q.d._ Are they not still the same and as many as they were before the approach of the enemy? is anything diminished or defaced by the late stage or assault? "Therefore thus sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell [it] to the generation following. Ver. 13. _Mark ye well her bulwarks_] Not at all impaired. The Great Turk could never have gotten the Rhodes but by treachery, notwithstanding his long and mighty batteries made upon that place day a... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this God [is] our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide [even] unto death._ Ver. 14. _For this God is our God_] To draw them up to this consideration it was, that the prophet so calls upon people to view Zion, &c., and to take notice that she might well have written upon her gates (as th... [ Continue Reading ]