Psalm 48:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

NIV: Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments.

NASB: Mount Zion shall be glad, The daughters of Judah shall rejoice Because of Your judgments.

CSB: Mount Zion is glad. Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments.

NLT: Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice. Let all the towns of Judah be glad because of your justice.

KJV: Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

NKJV: Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments.

This psalm holds up Jerusalem as an example of God's glory (Psalm 48:1–3). "Mount Zion" is a term used for a few different aspects of the site on which Jerusalem is built. As such, references to Zion or Mount Zion are bywords for the city of Jerusalem. The people of the city are poetically called "daughters of Judah." Jerusalem was in that tribe's territory, and the unending line of kings through David was part of Judah (2 Samuel 7:12–13).

God's "judgments" are reflected in His actions. This psalm may look back on events such as the miraculous failure of an attack during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20), or, perhaps on the annihilation of an Assyrian army attempting to lay siege to Jerusalem (2 Kings 19). These remarkable events were proof of God's direct intervention on behalf of His people and the city from which their king reigned.

In his letter to Titus, the apostle Paul describes the believer's hope of eternal life as having been promised by God. He underscores the certainty that this promise will be fulfilled because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Every promise God gave to Israel regarding His plans for her will be fulfilled, because He cannot lie (Hebrews 6:13–20). Also, every promise He has given to Christians will be fulfilled because He cannot lie. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20: "For all the promises of God find their Yes in [Jesus]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory."

The psalm begins with a declaration of God's superiority and that He is worthy of worship. In this song, Jerusalem is used as an example of the Lord's greatness. Prior victories over enemies and the preservation of city walls and defenses attest to His loyal, persistent love for the city. Notes about assembled kings fleeing may refer to the miraculous rescue of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20), where Israel didn't even need to fight to see her enemies flee. This psalm echoes themes found in Psalms 46 and 47, as well as the concept of passing along these truths to successive generations, as seen in Psalm 44:1–3.

Like Psalm 47, this psalm celebrates the Lord's deliverance of Jerusalem. This might refer to the defeat of Sennacherib (2 Kings 19) or the miraculous rout of an enemy coalition (2 Chronicles 20). The focus of the psalm is on Jerusalem as a living example of God's love and power. This shares themes with Psalms 46 and 47. Phrasing in certain verses resembles text found in Isaiah (Isaiah 33:14, 18, 21, 22). The "Sons of Korah" appear to be descendants of those who survived God's judgment during the exodus (Numbers 16:25–32; 26:9–11) and were especially connected to the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 9:19–21:).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.