The next three Psalms which we will look at, Psalms 46-48, are connected and contain a trilogy of praise for some signal deliverance of Jerusalem from its enemies. They make clear that God is the Great King over all the earth. But as with so many Psalms they give no hint as to whom the deliverance was from. Psalms were written so that they could be continually used. They are focused on God and on His power to save, and were clearly written so that they might be of ongoing value. Thus for us they are a reminder that God is over all and that God's power is available to save us if we are His, whatever our circumstances might be. Thus:
· Psalms 46 stresses that God is with His people and is their refuge and Stronghold, and the consequence is that while their trust is in Him Jerusalem is the inviolate city of God, so that opposing kingdoms will melt before them at the sound of His voice. The invitation is then given to the people to consider how He has wrought peace on the earth, and has been exalted among the nations. Its overall theme is that ‘YHWH is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge'. Most commentators see it as having in mind God's deliverance of Jerusalem under Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 19:37; compare Isaiah 36-37), but other alternatives have been suggested.
· Psalms 47 concentrates on the idea of the universal sovereignty of YHWH. It stresses that God is their King, and is King over all the earth, and is the great Subduer of the nations.
· Psalms 48 stresses the mightiness of YHWH, and the inviolability of Mount Zion because it is the City of the Great King. The consequence will be that when the nations gather together against her, they will fall back in dismay so that great praise comes to God.
We will now consider the three Psalms individually.
Heading
‘For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A Song.'
Here we have another Psalm dedicated to the choirmaster, and also another which was either written by, or composed on behalf of ‘the sons of Korah' who were musicians and singers in the Temple. They were a branch of the subtribe of the Korahites. (See introduction to Part 2). ‘Alamoth' means ‘damsels' and 1 Chronicles 15:20 speaks of ‘psalteries set to Alamoth'. Thus Alamoth may well refer to Psalms set especially for women's voices.
This Psalm stresses that God is with His people and is their refuge. The consequence is that while they trust in Him Jerusalem is the inviolate city of God, with the result that opposing kingdoms will melt before them at the sound of His voice. (What they overlooked later was that this was only the case when king and people were loyal to God. It was not automatic).
The invitation is then given to consider how He has wrought peace on the earth, and has been exalted among the nations. Its theme is ‘YHWH is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge' (Psalms 46:7; Psalms 46:11).
Most commentators see it as having in mind God's deliverance of Jerusalem under Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 19:37; compare Isaiah 36-37), when the armies of Assyria which were besieging Libnah and Jerusalem were decimated by the angel of YHWH (Isaiah 37:36), something which, combined with news from Assyria about troubles at home (Isaiah 37:7), caused Sennacherib to return there, leaving Jerusalem relatively unscathed.
Note the contrast between the raging waters of the enemy, and of spiritual troubles battering at us (2-3), and the peaceful waters that come from the throne of God which bring only gladness to God's people (4). Compare the similar pictures in Isaiah 8:6-8 where because the people have rejected the peaceful waters ‘of Shiloah that flow gently', they will have to face the raging waters of the armies of Assyria. Because they have turned away from the true Immanuel (Psalms 7:14), they will find themselves at the tender mercies of Ahaz, the self-proclaimed Immanuel (Psalms 8:8).