For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV
If you want to skip right to the thoughts from Psalm 48 click here or scroll down to the end of this section.
I have some very simple exegetical guidelines that I use when reading the Bible and trying to make sense of it. (Don’t worry I have not forgotten Psalm 48 but I feel like I need to set some guidelines before I offer my interpretation of this Psalm.)
It’s all about Jesus. (And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27)
Whenever I read the Bible I know it is about Jesus and so I look for Jesus. Of course there will be contextual, historical and thematic truths that will need to be understood as well but they are tools to make my way to Jesus.
It’s not all about me. It is easy to try to apply everything to myself and try to make my relationship with God, my needs and my thoughts the centre of attention, but I must resist the urge to make the Bible about me. Like John the Baptist, I need to say, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 Read at least verses 30 to 35 to be blessed with how John brings the focus on Jesus!)
Most everyone and everything that is in the Bible, every story, example or promise in some way points to Jesus. I am not saying it is all a metaphysical analogised non-literal spiritualized mumbo-jumbo that isn’t real. I believe totally in the real historicity of the Bible, its accounts and its “literal” interpretation when that is the intention. There are also realities we know nothing of, and these too are literal, real, concrete things, even if they are outside our current empirical investigation. I totally believe in miracles. I believe in the resurrection of the dead and that Joseph, Moses, David and Daniel lived and experienced God in the real world.
8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the [i]outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshipper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the [j]body imposed until a time of reformation. 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things [k]to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect [l]tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; Hebrews 9:8-11 ESV (with vv.12-15)
23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:23-26 ESV
10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 ESV
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40 ESV
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17
19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” and 21 But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body. 22 After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. John 2
Main Point: Jesus is the city of God.
Psalm 48 talks about the city of God, Holy mountain, Mount Zion, City of the great King, Jerusalem's towers, the city’s glory, The City of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, city of our God, Temple, City of Jerusalem, towers, walls, citadels,
For that is what God is like.
He is our God forever and ever,
and he will guide us until we die.
Psalm 48:14 NLT
14 For such is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will guide us until death.
Psalm 48:14 NASB
God is like this safe place.
God is like this beloved place.
God is like this place of national pride.
God is like this place of welcome.
God is like a place to eat, rest, drink, talk, and enjoy worship.
God is like this place of kings.
God is like this place of envy of the nations.
God is like this famous and desirable place.
God is wonderful to behold.
God is a seat of power and authority over all the earth.
These days it is very common to say “Brussels” to mean the EU or “Washington” to refer to the USA or the president. We use the name of the city to evoke all its laws, power, culture, commercial and military might. If I say “Moscow” or “Beijing” you will possibly fast-forward in your mind to some geopolitical stance that will affect your well-being, your income, your freedom of speech and movement. You see, the city named represents an ideology, a way of interacting, providing and protecting.
When you read this list of words and phrases:
the city of God, Holy mountain, Mount Zion, City of the great King, Jerusalem’s towers, the city’s glory, The City of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, city of our God, Temple, City of Jerusalem, towers, walls, citadels
When you read these words found in Psalm 48 you are meant to think of the Messiah, kingdom of God, kingdom of Heaven, eternal rule, God’s king, JESUS!
Don’t cheapen it or settle for something else. I’m not saying it isn’t significant and that it didn’t refer also to something else, won’t also refer to the real city or shouldn’t be interesting when we consider the history, but like kids at Christmas, don’t play with the box and miss the gift. The person of Jesus is what this Psalm is talking about.
How great is the Lord,
how deserving of praise
Psalm 48:1
Try reading verse three like this:
God himself is …. revealing himself as its defender. v.3
Conclusion: You are being shown God. So see God.
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:3
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| Handwritten Psalm 48 |
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