Praying Psalm 48

Psalm 48: “Praise Zion”

 

What is the title of Psalm 48? A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Read Psalm 48:1-3

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, ² beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
³ Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

What is the object of praise?

Mt Zion – City of God

Isaiah 2:2-4

Jeremiah 3:13-15

Joel 3:16, 21

Zechariah 8:1-8

Quotes from OT in Romans 9:33, 11:26

Revelation 14:1

Read Psalm 48:4-8

⁴ For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together.
⁵ As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight.
⁶ Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.
⁷ By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.
⁸ As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah

What does Mt. Zion look like?

Scary, panic, shattering… GOD COMING DOWN

Exodus 19:7-20 – giving of the 10 commandments - 20:18-21

Read Psalm 48:9-11

⁹ We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
¹⁰ As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
¹¹ Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

What do God’s people focus on?

CHESED (steadfast love) NAME (history!) RIGHTEOUSNESS (justice, love this judgement)

BE Glad!

Read Psalm 48:12-14

¹² Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers,
¹³ consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation
¹⁴ that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.

What should God’s people DO?

Know Zion – know every bit of the city = for the next generation.

Know this is God!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 48?

Praise God for Mt. Zion

Describe Mt. Zion – what happened here

Reflect  on chesed and your history

Exhort to KNOW Zion, protection & city, to KNOW God.

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

Mark 13

Romans 9:30-10:4 STONE set in ZION (this is Christ)

How can we pray this?

Praise God for Mt. Zion – god’s city

Describe Mt. Zion – terrible day of the Lord, when he comes with power

Reflect  on chesed and your history

Exhort to KNOW Zion, protection & city, to KNOW God HOPE for restored Zion to come.

WE PRAY:  

Hallowed be Thy name.

What does this mean? God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may become holy among us also.

How is this done? When the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we as the children of God also lead holy lives in accordance with it. To this end help us, dear Father in heaven. But he that teaches and lives otherwise than God's Word teaches profanes the name of God among us. From this preserve us, Heavenly Father.

Praying Psalm 47

Psalm 47: “KING!”

 

What is the title of Psalm 47? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Read Psalm 47:1-4

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
² For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
³ He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
⁴ He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

Why do the people praise God?

FEARed

Subdue the people – to us!

CHOSE us

Read Psalm 47:5-7

⁵ God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
⁷ For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!

How do the people praise?

Trumpets, Singing

He is King!

Read Psalm 47:8-9

⁸ God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
⁹ The princes of the peoples gather with the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!

Who is God in this picture?

God is king over ALL, even princes and shields.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 47?

Praise God

Describe God for his acts – subdue, choosing

Proclaim God is in charge of everything – princes & shields

How does Christ pray this psalm?

Luke 4:36, Luke 6:19, Luke 9:1, Luke 10:19,

Luke 10:21:

²¹ In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.^{[b] 22} All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

²³ Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Revelation 4 – Elders declare power

How can we pray this?

Praise God

Describe God for his acts – subdue, choosing us in our baptism

Proclaim God is in charge of everything – princes & shields  (THIS has been revealed – to the children)

WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.

Praying Psalm 46

"We will not Fear!"

What is the title of Psalm 46? To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

Read Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Who is God? How does the psalmist respond?

He is our Refuge.

THEREFORE we will not fear

EVENTHOUGH – mountains moved, waters roar, tremble: These things will happen!

Read Psalm 46:4-7

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Who is this city?

Jerusalem?

See Revelation 21 – Holy city coming down from heaven, God is in the middle – THESE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE.

Read Psalm 46:8-9

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire..

What are the works of YHWH, here?

Desolation, wars stop, shatters spear, burns chariots – God is victorious over all.

Read Psalm 46:10-11

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

How does the psalm end?

Be still, calm – this is God, with us.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of Psalm 46?

Description  of earth, holy city, God

Contrast nations and holy city

Confess trust & victory in God 

How does Christ pray this psalm?

All power has been given to Christ. He has power over creation and enemies, etc.

When Christ returns, he will be victorious over earth, enemies.

Confess trust in the work of Christ & hope for his return.

How can we pray this?

We see earth, holy city, God

Contrast nations and holy city

Confess trust & victory in God through Christ= Comfort for us to go on!

WE PRAY:  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is this done? When God breaks and hinders every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow the name of God nor let His kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world, and our flesh; but strengthens and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.