Psalm 48:1-3 Boasting in the Lord's City

In Jeremiah, God tells His people “let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Paul twice sums this up by saying “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17).

We know that it is wrong for us to be proud. Pride is one of the gravest of sins and the underlying cause of many other sins. We are fallen human creatures, completely given over to our depravity. Every good and perfect gift that we have is from the Lord. Therefore, the only boasting which we can really do is boasting in the Lord: boasting about the character of the Lord; boasting about His common works of grace for all creation; and boasting about the specific works grace for and through us.

In Psalm 48, the Sons of Korah give us an example of what it looks like to boast in the Lord. They go back and forth between boasting in the Lord with the Lord’s people and boasting in the Lord against God’s enemies. God is glorified both ways. Today, we will look at the first stanza of boasting with God’s people in God’s city.

Please read Psalm 48:1-3.

As the psalm begins, the Sons of Korah are gathered together in God’s Holy City. They are “in the city of our God”, which is a great place to gather and worship our Lord. Throughout history, God’s people have built incredible monuments to God’s glory. It is hard to visit some of these cathedrals, camps, and crosses, without marveling at God’s glory. In the ancient days, God’s people had Jerusalem, the city of David, the holy city.

Jerusalem was a symbol of God’s love for His people. When Jerusalem was protected, it was because God was protecting His people; when Jerusalem was in rubble, it was a sign of God’s judgment against His people. As the Sons of Korah gather in God’s Holy City, they are filled with awe and wonder at the Great God who rules over this city.

The city is built on a mountain for defense. This could have been just any ordinary mountain, but God chose this mountain and made it “His holy mountain.” God’s election has made this mountain “beautiful in elevation.” God’s presence on this mountain makes it “the joy of all the earth.” How blessed it is to be standing on God’s Holy Mountain!

Jerusalem was often called the city of David. David was the greatest king of Israel, and so His city was special. But, most translations have capitalized the word “King” at the end of verse 2. This is to indicate that the Hebrew is not referring to the human king David as great. The Sons of Korah are not referring to Jerusalem as David’s city. Oh no! They see Jerusalem plainly as the city of God.

Jehovah is “the great King.” He is the one who has made himself known by protecting His Holy City. This is especially plain in verse 3, where the Sons of Korah refer to God Himself as the Fortress. God does not merely protect the fortress of Jerusalem; He is the fortress. This is not equating God with any physical object; it is simply acknowledging that He is the ultimate protection of the city.

As the Sons of Korah walk through the streets of God’s city, on God’s mountain, and acknowledge that God is the Protector of this beautiful place, they boast proudly in the Lord. Let us do so likewise as we look at all the God has given us.