Psalm 48:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

NIV: God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.

NASB: In its palaces, God has made Himself known as a stronghold.

CSB: God is known as a stronghold in its citadels.

NLT: God himself is in Jerusalem’s towers, revealing himself as its defender.

KJV: God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

NKJV: God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge.

The residents of ancient Jerusalem knew they could trust in the Lord. He was the security even for those who lived in the city's palaces. He proved He was their "fortress:" their protection. Psalm 9:9 assures the Lord's people that "the LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." The same passage acknowledges that He has not forsaken those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10).

God certainly demonstrated His power to protect Jerusalem during incidents recorded in the Bible. He destroyed an Assyrian army that had laid siege to the city (2 Kings 19). He thwarted the combined forces of several nations who attacked the city (2 Chronicles 20) without Israel needing to fight at all. Those moments may have inspired this very psalm, including the descriptions of victory which follow (Psalm 48:4–9).

The Lord is just as much a place of assurance for Christians. Jesus promised, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:28–29). The security Jesus gives endures forever.

Psalm 48:1–9 extols the Lord's excellence and power. These verses establish Jerusalem, "the city of our God," as a shining example of His greatness. Scholars suggest this passage may refer to God's miraculous acts during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20), or to the defeat of the Assyrian army who attacked Hezekiah (2 Kings 19).

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.