WE WILL PRAISE GOD UNTIL DEATH
PSALMS OF THE SONS OF KORAH – PSALM 48 - MESSAGE
Kewarra 20 March 2022 Ron Ferguson
Psalm 48 A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.
Psalm 48 v 1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Psa 48:2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.
McLaren suggests this – “we may, with considerable probability, regard this psalm as the hymn of triumph over the baffled Assyrian, and the marvellous deliverance of Israel by the arm of God.” The psalm begins with an outburst of praise magnifying the Lord. Then it says the Lord is to be greatly praised in the city of our God, which is Jerusalem. How is God great? In answer, every aspect of God is great, but what the people recognise is His great Name; His great deliverance; His great majesty and glory; His great care for Jerusalem and His great Presence with them. Jerusalem was glorious when God was with her. It is His city, the city that is raised up, called His holy mountain. This is praise and gratitude for Jerusalem. The term Mount Zion refers to the whole city. For “beautiful in elevation”, McLaren says – “For the devout men amongst them, of whom the writer of this psalm was one, there was one thing, and one only, that made Zion glorious. It was beautiful indeed in its elevation, lifted high upon its rocky mountain. It was safe indeed, isolated from the invader by the precipitous ravines which enclosed and guarded the angle of the mountain plateau on which it stood; but the one thing that gave it glory was that in it, God abode.”
In verse 2, the words “the joy of the whole earth” are used. Jerusalem was not a joy to the Philistines or to the Assyrians and probably not to the Egyptians, so how do we interpret that expression? I think there is very much a prophetic aspect contained in it. Jerusalem is home to the Great King and we know from lots of prophetic references that the Lord will reign in peace one day from Jerusalem. Joy will cover the whole earth then. However it was in Jerusalem that the Lord died for our sins and for the sins of the whole world, and so the joy of our salvation and of people’s souls had its origin in Jerusalem. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room; and heaven and nature sing . . . .” etc.
Presently the joy of the whole earth is very much Gentile, but one day it again will be Jewish. It is the City of the great King ? but look at what the city did to its King. In the first place they deserted Him very quickly. Even in the wilderness, coming out from Egypt, and all through their history, they turned to idolatry and terrible evil until God expelled them in BC 497. And they have never owned their holy city since. Even now they have only part of it. They will not have it in full until the Lord returns at the Second Coming. Secondly look at what they did to their Messiah. In shame, they crucified Jesus on a criminal’s cross and spurned any claim to the Messiah. That beautiful city, elevated above the surrounding countryside, will one day claim her Messiah with weeping for the sins of the past. They will mourn when they realise they put to death their very own King. Zechariah writes of that time – Zechariah 12 v 10-12 “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born. In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. And the land will mourn, every family by itself;”
We return to our Psalm.
VERSES 3-8
Psalm 48 v 3 In her palaces, God has made Himself known as a stronghold. Psa 48:4 Lo, the kings assembled themselves. They passed by together. Psa 48:5 They saw it, then they were amazed. They were terrified. They fled in alarm. Psa 48:6 Panic seized them there, anguish, as of a woman in childbirth. Psa 48:7 With the east wind You break the ships of Tarshish. Psa 48:8 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 her forever. Selah.
Any profession of faith, if it does not have substance or assurance, is worse than useless. Then it is nothing more than an empty profession, an illusion and an utterly false hope. Having an external show of Christianity without knowing Jesus Christ as Saviour is mind numbing and useless and powerless. In verse 3, there was assurance of God’s power, and events confirmed that. God was the stronghold for Israel.
From verses 4-7 there is a description of the enemy being routed as God advanced on them. Some commentators would say “This "may" have occurred in the time of Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 20, when the kings of Moab, Edom, and others, came up to attack Jerusalem, though the immediate cause of their overthrow was a conflict among themselves 2 Chronicles 20 v 22-25. It may have been, however, that they approached the city, and were dismayed by its strength, so that they turned away before the internal conflict occurred which ended in their ruin.” Some think the words best fit all of God’s victories. No enemy will stand against God and no earthly power will prevail. God’s enemies are everywhere and they think they have control, but they don’t. They think they can plan their own future, but they can’t. They think they will prevail, but they won’t. God rules in the heavens and on the earth. Abortionists, these murderers, think they are the final authority, but they aren’t. Those who destroy God-instituted marriage think they have all authority but they don’t. Those who destroy the sexuality of children think they make great laws but they aren’t. They are the ravings of perverted sinners. Man is powerless in the face of God. Here in the verses we have descriptions of an enemy in disarray. The assembled kings and their forces saw the power of God and fled. They were terrified and panic driven in anguish while God broke their ships to deliver His people. The palaces would have rejoiced at God’s deliverance. When Satan’s stranglehold is broken, there will be rejoicing. Rejoice in God’s victories. Rejoice in the victory of Calvary.
Israel today is back in part of its own land, a secular and rather godless nation, but even so, in the background, God is working for His chosen nation. Verses 4-7 were known back 3 000 years or so when this psalm was written, but they will have their greatest impact in the great battle of Armageddon when the world’s armies will be totally overthrown by God. Right after that, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to His people, then verse 8 will have the greatest force - 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 her forever. Jerusalem will be the chief city on earth, the home of the reigning King Jesus. Some time back in the bible study, we looked at the names Jerusalem will have in the future, and I think there were about 10 of them. They are magnificent ones. Just before the Second Coming, Mystery Babylon is destroyed and we read - Revelation 18 v 20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.” The next rejoicing we read of in Revelation is at the time of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Verse 8 ends with “God will establish her forever” but the psalmist could not imagine just how great the “forever” will be.
VERSES 9-10
Psalm 48 v 9 We have thought on Your loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of Your temple. Psa 48:10 As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness.
God’s people must think. Another word is meditate. Meditate on the loving-kindness and mercy and sacrificial love of God. In the midst of Your temple – is it there where the thoughts of God’s loving kindness come to the psalmist? Was it the Temple that conveyed God’s loving kindness? Can we be more inspired by God when in a special place? Yes, I believe so. I know that is absolutely true when you are in God’s word with just you and God. That is why we must not neglect that opportunity. Being in the Lord’s presence, which the Temple signified, is really the key to it all. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.
Spurgeon added these comments on this verse – “Holy people are thoughtful men; they do not suffer God's wonders to pass before their eyes and melt into forgetfulness, but they meditate deeply upon them. "Of Your loving kindness, O God." What a delightful subject! Devout minds never tire of so divine a theme. It is well to think of past loving kindness in times of trial, and equally profitable to remember it in seasons of prosperity. Grateful memories sweeten sorrows and sober joys.”
Verse 10 – I think as God’s name is great so should the praise to Him be great. Interesting wording “Your right hand is full of righteousness”. God’s right hand is the place of righteousness. I want to look at some precious thoughts about God’s right hand. Here are some references from the Psalms.
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Psalm 16 v 11 You will make known to me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy. In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. God’s right hand is the place of riches (goodness and abundance). We have been given every good gift. It means God gives delightful things to His own. It does not mean God makes you rich in physical wealth, but He does in spiritual things.
Psalm 17 v 7 Wondrously show Your loving-kindness, O Saviour of those who take refuge at Your right hand, from those who rise up against them. God’s right hand is the place of refuge. That is so great. When things rise up against us, there is a place of quiet rest in God’s right hand. We all need to go there for security and comfort.
Psalm 18 v 35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness makes me great. God’s right hand is the place of reinforcement. He holds us up. How many times are we feeling limp and He supports us, keeping us upright lest we fall. In addition, His gentleness makes us great.
Psalm 20 v 6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed. He will answer him from His holy heaven, with the saving strength of His right hand. God’s right hand is the place of rescue. God will save; He will rescue His anointed from the enemy’s hand. The lovely thing here is that the psalmist knows the Lord does that. It’s a blessed assurance.
Psalm 44 v 3 By their own sword they did not possess the land, and their own arm did not save them, but Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your presence, for You favoured them. God’s right hand is the place of rescue. (Redemption). It was God who routed the enemies, not man; it was God’s presence that favoured them. He redeemed the land for them and was their personal God.
Psalm 45 v 4 In Your majesty ride on victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness. Let Your right hand teach You awesome things. God’s right hand is the place of revelation. This is wonderful. This is poetic language and it is not saying that God has to learn stuff. It means God does awesome things. Awesome things are revealed from God. Isn’t it joyous when God teaches us and reveals things to us.
Psalm 48 v 10 As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness. God’s right hand is the place of righteousness. The psalmist knows that God does right and is able to make His followers righteous.
Psalm 63 v 8 My soul clings to You. Your right hand upholds me. God’s right hand is the place of refreshment. God supports and refreshes His servants. Sometimes the battle is hard and wickedness is strong but cling to the Lord, and be refreshed by Him. That is the last one I will use, but there are many more verses that speak of “right hand” but they deal with the strength of God’s right hand over enemies.
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In closing verse 10 there in Psalm 48, it mentions “Your praise to the ends of the earth” and that infers that all the world’s nations come into the blessings of the Lord. The writer could not have understood the meaning behind what he was writing under inspiration, but this blessing is the result of the Lord’s death on the cross. The earth sings God’s praise but its ultimate fulfillment will be when Jesus reigns over the whole earth.
VERSES 11-14
Psalm 48 v 11 Let Mount Zion be glad. Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments. Psa 48:12 Walk about Zion, and go around her. Count her towers, Psa 48:13 consider her ramparts, go through her palaces that you may tell it to the next generation, Psa 48:14 for such is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us until death.
To end the psalm the writer breaks out in imperative praise. That is, he sets commands to sweep up the people in responsive praise. Verse 11 is part desire, part command. The invitation is for gladness and rejoicing because of God’s judgements. These judgements are the ones God achieved to deliver the Jews at some time, or many times. In verses 12 and 13 the psalmist sets out 5 commands with their focus on Zion. The reason for examining Zion is to gain an appreciation of God and God’s special connection with the nation. The psalm began with the glory of Zion and ends with that same glory.
Verse 14 “for such is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us until death.” This is the climax of the psalm. In the end it is God. All the preceding glory of Zion is because God is God, and God is forever. This is the eternal God the one who has looked after Jerusalem, and therefore He will be our guide until the death of each one. The writer issued an invitation and a pleading to appreciate and honour Jerusalem because God’s judgements have set the city as His own. Unfortunately the Jews forgot about the honour of Jerusalem and honoured their pagan idols much more. Instead of counting towers they counted pagan practices, and instead of rejoicing in Zion, they lamented in Babylon.
The very special truth in the final words also applies to us. Our Lord Jesus Christ will guide us unto death. He will be with us forever. He promised that just before His ascension - Matthew 28 v 20 “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” How precious that is in a troubled world where now, more than ever, we need the Lord to walk close beside us. In addition to all that, He has sent the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth and is our Helper and Advocate. Has God been good to us? Has God given us all the resources? God is great!
I want to say that He will guide us until death, but most glorious, He will guide us through death. Death is the door opening to heaven. It is the transition from this life to the reality of eternal life. It is the door that opens to the very presence of the Lord Himself! Amen and amen.
Death’s the shutting of the book
Upon this earthly life.
Final chapter of our race
In this world with its strife.
Death’s the concrete stairs of faith
That rise to realms above;
Stepping stone on glory’s path
That enters to His love.
It’s a gateway op’ning wide
Upon the heav’nly scene.
It’s a call from our dear Lord
To follow where He’s been.
At His side are hanging down
The keys of death and hell.
Jesus has the sole control -
He keeps them very well.
My key too, as well as yours,
Is hanging in His care.
Not until He takes your key
Does Jesus want you there.
Then you’ll see His lovely face
And be with Him always.
Then your worship will break forth
Through endless, golden days.
(Ron Ferguson Poem. 2 of 11 stanzas 1999)
Benson wrote – “Observe, reader, if Jehovah be our God, he will be our guide, our faithful, constant guide, to show us our way to true happiness here, and hereafter, and to lead us in it; he will be so even unto death, which will be the period of our way, and will bring us to our rest. He will conduct us safe to joy and immortality on the other side of death, to a life most blessed, in which there shall be no more death nor suffering. If we take the Lord for our God, He will convey us safe to death, through death, and beyond death; down to death, and up again to glory.”
O God our help in ages past
Guide me of thou great Jehovah
Ron Ferguson ronaldf@aapt.net.au
