Psalm 48 is a love song for Jerusalem and is part of the daily prayers for the second day of the week – Monday. Why was this psalm about Jerusalem chosen to be read on the second day of the week, a day know as “division day” – the only day of creation when God did not say “it is good”? Also, how did Jerusalem get its name? We address these and others questions that arise from a close reading of this beautiful and well known psalm.
A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1-9
Great is Adonai and greatly to be praised in the town of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3 Within her citadels God has made Himself known as a fortress. 4 For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. 5 When they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. 6 Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor, 7 like an eastern wind that shatters the ships of Tarshish. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the town of Adonai of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah
10-14
We have thought on Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your Temple. 10 As Your name, O God, so Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments! 12 Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation 14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us beyond death.
REFERENCES:
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem (שלם, Shaleim) brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
Genesis 22:14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “Adonai will see”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount Adonai will be seen (יראה, yireh).”
Verse 2
Isaiah 56:6-7 “And the foreigners who join themselves to Adonai, to minister to Him, to love the name of Adonai, and to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast My covenant – these I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
“Then ‘God is great’, for His principal greatness is attained when those who were previously distant from Him know of Him and praise Him.” – R’ Nachman of Breslov
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
2Kings 23:17 Then he said, “What is that monument (ציון, tzion) that I see?” And the men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted these things that you have done against the altar at Bethel.”
Verse 5
Genesis 43:33 And they sat before [Joseph], the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement (תמה, tamah).
Verse 7
Psalm 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
PSALM OF THE DAY:
Sunday Psalm 24
Monday Psalm 48
Tuesday Psalm 82
Wednesday Psalm 94
Thursday Psalm 81
Friday Psalm 93
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