Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Great is the LORDThe phrase begins with an emphatic declaration of the LORD's greatness. The Hebrew word for "great" is "gadol," which conveys not only size but also importance, power, and majesty. This sets the tone for the entire psalm, emphasizing the unmatched sovereignty and magnificence of God. In the context of ancient Israel, this declaration would remind the people of God's mighty acts throughout their history, from creation to the deliverance from Egypt. The LORD, or "Yahweh," is the covenant name of God, signifying His eternal presence and faithfulness to His people. and greatly to be praised
The repetition of the root "gadol" in "greatly" underscores the intensity and worthiness of the praise due to God. The Hebrew word "me'od" suggests an abundance or exceeding measure, indicating that God's praise should be as boundless as His greatness. This phrase calls believers to respond to God's majesty with heartfelt worship, recognizing that no amount of human adoration can fully encapsulate His glory. Historically, this would be a call to the Israelites to engage in worship at the temple, the center of their spiritual life. in the city of our God
This phrase locates the praise within a specific geographical and spiritual context—Jerusalem, often referred to as Zion. The city is not just a physical location but a symbol of God's dwelling among His people. The phrase "our God" personalizes the relationship, emphasizing a communal bond between God and His chosen people. Archaeologically, Jerusalem was the heart of Israelite worship, housing the temple where God's presence was believed to dwell. This highlights the significance of the city as a place of divine-human encounter. His holy mountain
The term "holy mountain" refers to Mount Zion, the elevated site of Jerusalem. The Hebrew word "qodesh" for "holy" signifies something set apart for a sacred purpose. This mountain is not just a physical elevation but a spiritual one, representing God's holiness and the place where heaven and earth meet. In the ancient Near Eastern context, mountains were often seen as dwelling places of the gods, but for Israel, Mount Zion was uniquely the dwelling place of the one true God. This phrase invites believers to ascend in their spiritual journey, seeking the holiness that God embodies and imparts. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The central figure of this verse, Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His greatness and worthiness of praise. 2. The City of Our GodThis refers to Jerusalem, often seen as the physical and spiritual center of God's presence among His people. 3. His Holy MountainThis is Mount Zion, a symbol of God's dwelling place and a representation of His holiness and majesty. Teaching Points The Greatness of GodRecognize and meditate on the greatness of God in your daily life. His greatness is beyond comprehension and worthy of our highest praise. The Importance of WorshipWorship is not just a Sunday activity but a daily acknowledgment of God's greatness. Let your life be a continuous act of worship. God's Presence in Our LivesJust as God dwelt in Jerusalem, He desires to dwell in our hearts. Invite His presence into every aspect of your life. Holiness and ReverenceApproach God with a sense of reverence and awe, recognizing His holiness and the privilege it is to be in His presence. Community and FellowshipThe "city of our God" symbolizes community. Engage actively in your church community, reflecting God's presence and love to others. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding the greatness of God influence your daily decisions and actions? 2. In what ways can you incorporate more worship into your everyday life, beyond traditional church services? 3. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence in a powerful way. How did it impact your faith journey? 4. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and holiness in your personal relationship with God? 5. What steps can you take to strengthen your involvement and fellowship within your church community, reflecting the communal aspect of "the city of our God"? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 95:3This verse also speaks of the greatness of the LORD, emphasizing His supremacy over all gods, which complements the theme of God's greatness in Psalm 48:1. Isaiah 2:2-3These verses describe the exaltation of the LORD's mountain, connecting to the idea of God's holy mountain in Psalm 48:1. Revelation 21:2-3The New Jerusalem is depicted as the ultimate fulfillment of the "city of our God," where God's presence will dwell with His people eternally. People Korah, Psalmist, TarshishPlaces JerusalemTopics Greatly, 48, Gt, Hill, Holiness, Holy, Korah, Lt, Mountain, Praise, Praised, Psalm, Song, Sons, Town, WorthyDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 48:1 1065 God, holiness of
8369 worthiness
8623 worship, of God Psalm 48: 7963 song Psalm 48:1-2 1060 God, greatness of
5256 city Psalm 48:1-3 5254 citadel Psalm 48:1-14 7271 Zion, as symbol Library A Song of Deliverance
'Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. 2. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 3. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. 4. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. 5. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. 6. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. 7. Thou breakest …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Mystery
Of the Two Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth. Two witnesses or prophets sent by God, clothed in sackcloth, are to preach, while the Gentiles are treading under foot the court of the people of God, or the holy city. These are the interpreters and assertors of Divine truth, who should deplore that foul and lamentable contamination of the Church of Christ, by continual complaints, and whom God would raise up as unceasing monitors to the Christian world, committing whoredom with the Gentiles, and as …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse Sermon on the Mount Continued Its Woes in Strict Agreement with the Creator's Disposition. Many Quotations Out of the Old Testament in Proof of This.
"In the like manner," says He, [3982] "did their fathers unto the prophets." What a turncoat [3983] is Marcion's Christ! Now the destroyer, now the advocate of the prophets! He destroyed them as their rival, by converting their disciples; he took up their cause as their friend, by stigmatizing [3984] their persecutors. But, [3985] in as far as the defence of the prophets could not be consistent in the Christ of Marcion, who came to destroy them; in so far is it becoming to the Creator's Christ that …
Tertullian—The Five Books Against Marcion But I Marvel, If, as it is Allowed to Put Away a Wife Who...
7. But I marvel, if, as it is allowed to put away a wife who is an adulteress, so it be allowed, having put her away, to marry another. For holy Scripture causes a hard knot in this matter, in that the Apostle says, that, by commandment of the Lord, the wife ought not to depart from her husband, but, in case she shall have departed, to remain unmarried, or to be reconciled to her husband; [1950] whereas surely she ought not to depart and remain unmarried, save from an husband that is an adulterer, …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage St. Malachy's Apostolic Labours, Praises and Miracles.
[Sidenote: 1140, October] 42. (23). Malachy embarked in a ship, and after a prosperous voyage landed at his monastery of Bangor,[576] so that his first sons might receive the first benefit.[577] In what state of mind do you suppose they were when they received their father--and such a father--in good health from so long a journey? No wonder if their whole heart gave itself over to joy at his return, when swift rumour soon brought incredible gladness even to the tribes[578] outside round about them. …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Departure from Ireland. Death and Burial at Clairvaux.
[Sidenote: 1148, May (?)] 67. (30). Being asked once, in what place, if a choice were given him, he would prefer to spend his last day--for on this subject the brothers used to ask one another what place each would select for himself--he hesitated, and made no reply. But when they insisted, he said, "If I take my departure hence[821] I shall do so nowhere more gladly than whence I may rise together with our Apostle"[822]--he referred to St. Patrick; "but if it behoves me to make a pilgrimage, and …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh 'He Uttered his Voice, the Earth Melted'
'Then Isaiah the son of Amos sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. 21. This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. 22. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Of Love to God
I proceed to the second general branch of the text. The persons interested in this privilege. They are lovers of God. "All things work together for good, to them that love God." Despisers and haters of God have no lot or part in this privilege. It is children's bread, it belongs only to them that love God. Because love is the very heart and spirit of religion, I shall the more fully treat upon this; and for the further discussion of it, let us notice these five things concerning love to God. 1. The …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial The Eternity of Heaven's Happiness.
Having endeavored, in the foregoing pages, to form to ourselves some idea of the glorious happiness reserved for us in heaven, there still remains to say something of its crowning glory--the eternity of its duration. This is not only its crowning glory, but it is, moreover, an essential constituent of that unspeakable joy which now inebriates the souls of the blessed. A moment's reflection will make this evident. Let us suppose, for the sake of illustration, that on the last day, God should thus …
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven Epistle ii. To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch.
To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Gregory to Anastasius, Patriarch of Antioch. I have received the letters of your most sweet Blessedness, which flowed with tears for words. For I saw in them a cloud flying aloft as clouds do; but, though it carried with it a darkness of sorrow, I could not easily discover at its commencement whence it came or whither it was going, since by reason of the darkness I speak of I did not fully understand its origin. Yet it becomes you, most holy ones, ever to recall …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Notes on the Third Century
Page 161. Line 1. He must be born again, &c. This is a compound citation from John iii. 3, and Mark x. 15, in the order named. Page 182. Line 17. For all things should work together, &c. See Romans viii. 28. Page 184. Lines 10-11. Being Satan is able, &c. 2 Corinthians xi. 14. Page 184. Last line. Like a sparrow, &c. Psalm cii. Page 187. Line 1. Mechanisms. This word is, in the original MS., mechanicismes.' Page 187. Line 7. Like the King's daughter, &c. Psalm xlv. 14. Page 188. Med. 39. The best …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 48:1 NIVPsalm 48:1 NLTPsalm 48:1 ESVPsalm 48:1 NASBPsalm 48:1 KJV
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