THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

XLVIII: Praising God For His Future Assurances Via His Past Deliverances

(Psalm 48:1-14)

I. Introduction

A. It is fitting for God's people to praise Him for delivering them, but such deliverances imply future assurances!

B. Psalm 48:1-14 provides a great lesson on this matter that timelessly applies to all generations of His people, so we view it for our insight, application and edification (as follows):

II. Praising God For His Future Assurances Via His Past Deliverances, Psalm 48:1-14.

A. Verse one in the Hebrew text comprises the introductory remarks in the English Bible (Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1016), so we stay with the verse numbering arrangement of the English Bible for clarity with this lesson.

B. We translate Psalm 48:1-14 as follows:

1. "Great is Jahweh, and much, exceedingly (me'od, Ibid.; H. A. W., Theol. Wrdbk. of the O. T., 1980, v. I, p. 487) to be praised (halal, B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 237-239; Pual stem = intensive passive) in the city of our Elohim, His holy mountain," Psalm 48:1.

2. "It is beautiful in its height, the joy of all the earth. Mount Zion is the 'sides of the north' [an expression in pagan literature indicating the abode of the gods (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Ps. 48:2), so the psalmist ascribes Mount Zion as the TRUE God's dwelling], the city of the Great King," Psalm 48:2.

3. "Elohim is in her citadels, fortified dwellings ('armon, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., H. A. W., p. 73); He has shown Himself to be her High Tower of Refuge (misgab, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., H. A. W., v. II, p. 871)," Psalm 48:3.

4. "For behold! When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together," Psalm 48:4.

5. "They saw her and were astonished; they fled in terror," Psalm 48:5.

6. "Trembling seized them there; pain like that of a woman in labor," Psalm 48:6.

7. "You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish, shattered by an east wind," Psalm 48:7.

8. "As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of Jahweh of Hosts, in the city of our Elohim; Elohim (emphatic pron.) firmly establishes (kun, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 465-467; Polel stem = intensive active) her forever. Selah." (Psalm 48:8)

9. "Within Your temple, O Elohim, we consider, think of (damah, Ibid., p. 197-198) Your loyal love (hesed, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., H. A. W., v. I, p. 305-307)," Psalm 48:9.

10. "Like Your Name, O Elohim, Your praise reaches unto the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with righteousness," Psalm 48:10.

11. "Mount Zion rejoices; the villages of Judah are glad on account of Your judicial verdicts (mishpat, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1048-1049)," Psalm 48:11.

12. "Walk about Zion and go around her; count her towers," Psalm 48:12.

13. "Consider well her ramparts (protective barriers, hel, Ibid., p. 298); view her citadels (fortified dwellings, 'armon, cf. v. 3), in order that you may tell of them to the next generation," Psalm 48:13.

14. "Because this Elohim is our Elohim forever and ever; He (emph. pron.) will guide, conduct us along (nahag, Ibid., p. 624) until death," Psalm 48:14.

C. We note significant observations and applications of this psalm that edify believers today (as follows):

1. This psalm rejoices in God's victory for Jerusalem over foreign attackers.

2. The psalmist's appreciation of God's loyal love to His people (v. 9) evidenced in this deliverance and His sustained preservation of the city with its familiar and important landmarks (v. 12-13a) signals God's continued commitment to preserve and guide the nation all during the lives of its inhabitants (v. 13b-14).

3. Thus, the precedent of God's recent rescue assures His people that He will shepherd and help them for the rest of their lives so that they should praise Him not only for His past help, but for His future deliverances!

Lesson: The psalmist praised God for His past deliverance of Jerusalem from Gentile foes based on His loyal love, drawing assurance from that event for His future preservation and guidance throughout His people's earthly lives.

Application: If we have seen God recently deliver us from harmful foes, may we greatly praise the Lord not only for that deliverance, but praise Him for what that deliverance means for our future, drawing confidence from that precedent that based on His LOYAL love to us, His grace, He thus intends to CONTINUE to preserve and guide us relative to such similar trials we will face in the future for the duration of our lives on earth.