mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 48.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xlix" n="xlix" next="Ps.l" prev="Ps.xlviii" progress="38.00%" title="Chapter XLVIII">
<h2 id="Ps.xlix-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xlix-p0.2">PSALM XLVIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xlix-p1">This psalm, as the two former, is a triumphant
song; some think it was penned on occasion of Jehoshaphat's victory
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.20.1-2Chr.20.30" parsed="|2Chr|20|1|20|30" passage="2Ch 20:1-30">2 Chron. xx.</scripRef>), others
of Sennacherib's defeat, when his army laid siege to Jerusalem in
Hezekiah's time; but, for aught I know, it might be penned by David
upon occasion of some eminent victory obtained in his time; yet not
so calculated for that but that it might serve any other similar
occasion in aftertimes, and be applicable also to the glories of
the gospel church, of which Jerusalem was a type, especially when
it shall come to be a church triumphant, the "heavenly Jerusalem"
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.22" parsed="|Heb|12|22|0|0" passage="Heb 12:22">Heb. xii. 22</scripRef>), "the
Jerusalem which is above," <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gal.4.26" parsed="|Gal|4|26|0|0" passage="Ga 4:26">Gal. iv.
26</scripRef>. Jerusalem is here praised, I. For its relation to
God, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.1-Ps.48.2" parsed="|Ps|48|1|48|2" passage="Ps 48:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. For
God's care of it, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.3" parsed="|Ps|48|3|0|0" passage="Ps 48:3">ver. 3</scripRef>.
III. For the terror it strikes upon its enemies, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.4-Ps.48.7" parsed="|Ps|48|4|48|7" passage="Ps 48:4-7">ver. 4-7</scripRef>. IV. For the pleasure it gives to
its friends, who delight to think, 1. Of what God has done, does,
and will do for it, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.3" parsed="|Ps|48|3|0|0" passage="Ps 48:3">ver. 3</scripRef>.
2. Of the gracious discoveries he makes of himself in and for that
holy city, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.9-Ps.48.10" parsed="|Ps|48|9|48|10" passage="Ps 48:9,10">ver. 9, 10</scripRef>. 3.
Of the effectual provision which is made for its safety, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.11-Ps.48.13" parsed="|Ps|48|11|48|13" passage="Ps 48:11-13">ver. 11-13</scripRef>. 4. Of the assurance we
have of the perpetuity of God's covenant with the children of Zion,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.14" parsed="|Ps|48|14|0|0" passage="Ps 48:14">ver. 14</scripRef>. In singing this
psalm we must be affected with the privilege we have as members of
the gospel church, and must express and excite our sincere
good-will to all its interests.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xlix-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48" parsed="|Ps|48|0|0|0" passage="Ps 48" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xlix-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.1-Ps.48.7" parsed="|Ps|48|1|48|7" passage="Ps 48:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.48.1-Ps.48.7">
<h4 id="Ps.xlix-p1.13">The Beauty and Strength of
Zion.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xlix-p1.14">
<p id="Ps.xlix-p2">A song <i>and</i> psalm for the sons of Korah.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlix-p3">1 Great <i>is</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xlix-p3.1">Lord</span>, and greatly to be praised in the city of
our God, <i>in</i> the mountain of his holiness.   2 Beautiful
for situation, the joy of the whole earth, <i>is</i> mount Zion,
<i>on</i> 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 <i>it, and</i> so they marvelled; they were troubled,
<i>and</i> hasted away.   6 Fear took hold upon them there,
<i>and</i> pain, as of a woman in travail.   7 Thou breakest
the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p4">The psalmist is designing to praise
Jerusalem and to set forth the grandeur of that city; but he begins
with the praises of God and his greatness (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.1" parsed="|Ps|48|1|0|0" passage="Ps 48:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), and ends with the praises of God
and his goodness, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.14" parsed="|Ps|48|14|0|0" passage="Ps 48:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>. For, whatever is the subject of our praises, God
must be both the Alpha and Omega of them. And, particularly,
whatever is said to the honour of the church must redound to the
honour of the church's God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p5">What is here said to the honour of
Jerusalem is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p6">I. That the King of heaven owns it: it is
<i>the city of our God</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.1" parsed="|Ps|48|1|0|0" passage="Ps 48:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>), which he chose out of all the cities of Israel to
put his name there. Of Zion he said kinder things than ever he said
of place upon earth. <i>This is my rest for ever; here will I
dwell, for I have desired it,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.13-Ps.132.14" parsed="|Ps|132|13|132|14" passage="Ps 132:13,14">Ps. cxxxii. 13, 14</scripRef>. It is <i>the city of
the great King</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.2" parsed="|Ps|48|2|0|0" passage="Ps 48:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), the King of all the earth, who is pleased to declare
himself in a special manner present there. This our Saviour quotes
to prove that to swear by Jerusalem is profanely to swear by God
himself (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.35" parsed="|Matt|5|35|0|0" passage="Mt 5:35">Matt. v. 35</scripRef>),
<i>for it is the city of the great King,</i> who has chosen it for
the special residence of his grace, as heaven is of his glory. 1.
It is enlightened with the knowledge of God. <i>In Judah God is
known, and his name is great,</i> but especially in Jerusalem, the
head-quarters of the priests, whose lips were to keep this
knowledge. In Jerusalem <i>God is great</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.1" parsed="|Ps|48|1|0|0" passage="Ps 48:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>) who in other places was made
little of, was made nothing of. Happy the kingdom, the city, the
family, the heart, in which God is great, in which he is uppermost,
in which he is all. There <i>God is known</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.3" parsed="|Ps|48|3|0|0" passage="Ps 48:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>) and where he is known he will be
great; none contemn God but those that are ignorant of him. 2. It
is devoted to the honour of God. It is therefore called <i>the
mountain of his holiness,</i> for <i>holiness to the Lord</i> is
written upon it and all the furniture of it, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Zech.14.20" parsed="|Zech|14|20|0|0" passage="Zec 14:20">Zech. xiv. 20, 21</scripRef>. This is the privilege of
the church of Christ, that it is <i>a holy nation, a peculiar
people;</i> Jerusalem, the type of it, is called <i>the holy
city,</i> bad as it was (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Matt.27.53" parsed="|Matt|27|53|0|0" passage="Mt 27:53">Matt. xxvii.
53</scripRef>), till that was set up, but never after. 3. It is the
place appointed for the solemn service and worship of God; there he
is greatly praised, and <i>greatly to be praised,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.1" parsed="|Ps|48|1|0|0" passage="Ps 48:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Note, The clearer
discoveries are made to us of God and his greatness the more it is
expected that we should abound in his praises. Those that from all
parts of the country brought their offerings to Jerusalem had
reason to be thankful that God would not only permit them thus to
attend him, but promise to accept them, and meet them with a
blessing, and reckon himself praised and honoured by their
services. Herein Jerusalem typified the gospel church; for what
little tribute of praise God has from this earth arises from that
church upon earth, which is therefore his tabernacle among men. 4.
It is taken under his special protection (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.3" parsed="|Ps|48|3|0|0" passage="Ps 48:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): He is <i>known for a refuge;</i>
that is, he has approved himself such a one, and as such a one he
is there applied to by his worshippers. Those that know him will
<i>trust in him, and seek to him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.9.10" parsed="|Ps|9|10|0|0" passage="Ps 9:10">Ps. ix. 10</scripRef>. God was known, not only in the
streets, but even in the palaces of Jerusalem, for a refuge; the
great men had recourse to God and acquaintance with him. And then
religion was likely to flourish in the city when it reigned in the
palaces. 5. Upon all these accounts, Jerusalem, and especially
Mount Zion, on which the temple was built, were universally beloved
and admired—<i>beautiful for situation,</i> and <i>the joy of the
whole earth,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p6.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.2" parsed="|Ps|48|2|0|0" passage="Ps 48:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. The situation must needs be every way agreeable, when
Infinite Wisdom chose it for the place of the sanctuary; and that
which made it beautiful was that it was the mountain of holiness,
for there is a beauty in holiness. This earth is, by sin, covered
with deformity, and therefore justly might that spot of ground
which was thus beautified with holiness he called <i>the joy of the
whole earth,</i> that is, what the whole earth had reason to
rejoice in, that God would thus in very deed dwell with man upon
the earth. Mount Zion was on the north side of Jerusalem, and so
was a shelter to the city from the cold and bleak winds that blew
from that quarter; or, if fair weather was expected out of the
north, they were thus directed to look Zion-ward for it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p7">II. That the kings of the earth were afraid
of it. That God was known in their palaces for a refuge they had
had a late instance, and a very remarkable one. Whatever it was, 1.
They had had but too much occasion to fear their enemies; for
<i>the kings were assembled,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.4" parsed="|Ps|48|4|0|0" passage="Ps 48:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. The neighbouring princes were
confederate against Jerusalem; their heads and horns, their
policies and powers, were combined for its ruin; they were
assembled with all their forces; they passed, advanced, and marched
on together, not doubting but they should soon make themselves
masters of that city which should have been the joy, but was the
envy of the whole earth. 2. God made their enemies to fear them.
The very sight of Jerusalem struck them into a consternation and
gave check to their fury, as the sight of the tents of Jacob
frightened Balaam from his purpose to curse Israel (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.24.2" parsed="|Num|24|2|0|0" passage="Nu 24:2">Num. xxiv. 2</scripRef>): <i>They saw it and
marvelled, and hasted away,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.5" parsed="|Ps|48|5|0|0" passage="Ps 48:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Not <i>Veni, vidi, vici—I came,
I saw, I conquered;</i> but, on the contrary, <i>Veni vidi victus
sum—I came, I saw, I was defeated.</i> Not that there was any
thing to be seen in Jerusalem that was so very formidable; but the
sight of it brought to mind what they had heard concerning the
special presence of God in that city and the divine protection it
was under, and God impressed such terrors on their minds thereby as
made them retire with precipitation. Though they were kings, though
they were many in confederacy, yet they knew themselves an unequal
match for Omnipotence, and therefore <i>fear came upon them, and
pain,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.6" parsed="|Ps|48|6|0|0" passage="Ps 48:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Note,
God can dispirit the stoutest of his church's enemies, and soon put
those in pain that live at ease. The fright they were in upon the
sight of Jerusalem is here compared to the throes of a woman in
travail, which are sharp and grievous, which sometimes come
suddenly (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.5.3" parsed="|1Thess|5|3|0|0" passage="1Th 5:3">1 Thess. v. 3</scripRef>),
which cannot be avoided, and which are effects of sin and the
curse. The defeat hereby given to their designs upon Jerusalem is
compared to the dreadful work made with a fleet of ships by a
violent storm, when some are split, others shattered, all dispersed
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.7" parsed="|Ps|48|7|0|0" passage="Ps 48:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): <i>Thou
breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind;</i> effects at
sea lie thus exposed. The terrors of God are compared to an east
wind (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Job.27.20-Job.27.21" parsed="|Job|27|20|27|21" passage="Job 27:20,21">Job xxvii. 20,
21</scripRef>); these shall put them into confusion, and break all
their measures. <i>Who knows the power of God's anger?</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xlix-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.8-Ps.48.14" parsed="|Ps|48|8|48|14" passage="Ps 48:8-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.48.8-Ps.48.14">
<h4 id="Ps.xlix-p7.9">God's Care of His Church.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlix-p8">8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xlix-p8.1">Lord</span> of hosts, in the city of
our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.   9 We have
thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
  10 According to thy name, O God, so <i>is</i> thy praise
unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of
righteousness.   11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters
of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.   12 Walk about
Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.   13
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell
<i>it</i> to the generation following.   14 For this God
<i>is</i> our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide
<i>even</i> unto death.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p9">We have here the good use and improvement
which the people of God are taught to make of his late glorious and
gracious appearances for them against their enemies, that they
might work for their good.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p10">I. Let our faith in the word of God be
hereby confirmed. If we compare what God has done with what he has
spoken, we shall find that, as <i>we have heard,</i> so <i>have we
seen</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.8" parsed="|Ps|48|8|0|0" passage="Ps 48:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), and
what we have seen obliges us to believe what we have heard. 1. "As
we have heard done in former providences, in the days of old, so
have we seen done in our own days." Note, God's latter appearances
for his people against his and their enemies are consonant to his
former appearances, and should put us in mind of them. 2. "As we
have heard in the promise and prediction, so have we seen in the
performance and accomplishment. We have heard that God is the Lord
of hosts, and that Jerusalem is the city of our God, is dear to
him, is his particular care; and now we have seen it; we have seen
the power of our God; we have seen his goodness; we have seen his
care and concern for us, that he is a <i>wall of fire round about
Jerusalem and the glory in the midst of her.</i>" Note, In the
great things that God has done, and is doing, for his church, it is
good to take notice of the fulfilling of the scriptures; and this
would help us the better to understand both the providence itself
and the scripture that is fulfilled in it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p11">II. Let our hope of the stability and
perpetuity of the church be hereby encouraged. "From what we have
seen, compared with what we have heard, in the city of our God, we
may conclude that God will establish it for ever." This was not
fulfilled in Jerusalem (that city was long since destroyed, and all
its glory laid in the dust), but has its accomplishment in the
gospel church. We are sure that that shall be established for ever;
it is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail
against it, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.16.18" parsed="|Matt|16|18|0|0" passage="Mt 16:18">Matt. xvi. 18</scripRef>.
God himself has undertaken the establishment of it; it is the Lord
that has founded Zion, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.14.32" parsed="|Isa|14|32|0|0" passage="Isa 14:32">Isa. xiv.
32</scripRef>. And what we have seen, compared with what we have
heard, may encourage us to hope in that promise of God upon which
the church is built.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p12">III. Let our minds be hereby filled with
good thoughts of God. "From what we have heard, and seen, and hope
for, we may take occasion to think much of God's loving-kindness,
whenever we meet <i>in the midst of his temple,</i>" <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.9" parsed="|Ps|48|9|0|0" passage="Ps 48:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. All the streams of mercy
that flow down to us must be traced up to the fountain of God's
lovingkindness. It is not owing to any merit of ours, but purely to
his mercy, and the peculiar favour he bears to his people. This
therefore we must think of with delight, think of frequently and
fixedly. What subject can we dwell upon more noble, more pleasant,
more profitable? We must have God's lovingkindness always before
our eyes (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.26.3" parsed="|Ps|26|3|0|0" passage="Ps 26:3">Ps. xxvi. 3</scripRef>),
especially when we attend upon him in his temple. When we enjoy the
benefit of public ordinances undisturbed, when we meet in his
temple and there is none to make us afraid, we should take occasion
thence to think of his lovingkindness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p13">IV. Let us give to God the glory of the
great things which he has done for us, and mention them to his
honour (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.10" parsed="|Ps|48|10|0|0" passage="Ps 48:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>):
"<i>According to thy name, O God! so is thy praise,</i> not only in
Jerusalem, but to the ends of the earth." By the late signal
deliverance of Jerusalem God had made himself a name; that is, he
had gloriously discovered his wisdom, power, and goodness, and made
all the nations about sensible of it; and <i>so was his praise;</i>
that is, some in all parts would be found giving glory to him
accordingly. As far as his name goes his praise will go, at least
it should go, and, at length, it shall go, when all the ends of the
world shall praise him, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.27 Bible:Rev.11.15" parsed="|Ps|22|27|0|0;|Rev|11|15|0|0" passage="Ps 22:27,Re 11:15">Ps.
xxii. 27; Rev. xi. 15</scripRef>. Some, by his <i>name,</i>
understand especially that glorious name of his, <i>the Lord of
hosts;</i> according to that name, so is his praise; for all the
creatures, even to the ends of the earth, are under his command.
But his people must, in a special manner, acknowledge his justice
in all he does for them. "<i>Righteousness fills thy right
hand;</i>" that is, all the operations of thy power are consonant
to the eternal rules of equity.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p14">V. Let all the members of the church in
particular take to themselves the comfort of what God does for his
church in general (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.11" parsed="|Ps|48|11|0|0" passage="Ps 48:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>): "<i>Let Mount Zion rejoice,</i> the priests and
Levites that attend the sanctuary, and then <i>let</i> all <i>the
daughters of Judah,</i> the country towns, and the inhabitants of
them, be glad: let the women in their songs and dances, as usual on
occasion of public joys, celebrate with thankfulness the great
salvation which God has wrought for us." Note, When we have given
God the praise we may then take the pleasure of the extraordinary
deliverances of the church, and <i>be glad because of God's
judgments</i> (that is, the operations of his providence), all
which we may see wrought in wisdom (therefore called
<i>judgments</i>) and working for the good of his church.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p15">VI. Let us diligently observe the instances
and evidences of the church's beauty, strength, and safety, and
faithfully transmit our observations to those that shall come after
us (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.12-Ps.48.13" parsed="|Ps|48|12|48|13" passage="Ps 48:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>):
<i>Walk about Zion.</i> Some think this refers to the ceremony of
the triumph; let those who are employed in that solemnity walk
round the walls (as they did, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.12.31" parsed="|Neh|12|31|0|0" passage="Ne 12:31">Neh.
xii. 31</scripRef>), singing and praising God. In doing this let
<i>them tell the towers and mark well the bulwarks,</i> 1. That
they might magnify the late wonderful deliverance God had wrought
for them. Let them observe, with wonder, that the towers and
bulwarks are all in their full strength and none of them damaged,
the palaces in their beauty and none of them blemished; there is
not the least damage done to the city by the kings that were
assembled against it (<scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.4" parsed="|Ps|48|4|0|0" passage="Ps 48:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>): <i>Tell this to the generation following,</i> as a
wonderful instance of God's care of his holy city, that the enemies
should not only not ruin or destroy it, but not so much as hurt or
deface it. 2. That they might fortify themselves against the fear
of the like threatening danger another time. And so, (1.) We may
understand it literally of Jerusalem, and the strong-hold of Zion.
Let the daughters of Judah see the towers and bulwarks of Zion,
with a pleasure equal to the terror with which the kings their
enemies saw them, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.5" parsed="|Ps|48|5|0|0" passage="Ps 48:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. Jerusalem was generally looked upon as an impregnable
place, as appears, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Lam.4.12" parsed="|Lam|4|12|0|0" passage="La 4:12">Lam. iv.
12</scripRef>. <i>All the inhabitants of the world would not have
believed that an enemy should enter the gates of Jerusalem;</i> nor
could they have entered if the inhabitants had not sinned away
their defence. <i>Set your heart to her bulwarks.</i> This
intimates that the principal bulwarks of Zion were not the objects
of sense, which they might set their eye upon, but the objects of
faith, which they must set their hearts upon. It was well enough
fortified indeed both by nature and art; but its bulwarks that were
mostly to be relied upon were the special presence of God in it,
the beauty of holiness he had put upon it, and the promises he had
made concerning it. "Consider Jerusalem's strength, and tell it to
the generations to come, that they may do nothing to weaken it, and
that, if at any time it be in distress, they may not basely
surrender it to the enemy as not tenable." Calvin observes here
that when they are directed to transmit to posterity a particular
account of the towers, and bulwarks, and palaces of Jerusalem, it
is intimated that in process of time they would all be destroyed
and remain no longer to be seen; for, otherwise, what need was there
to preserve the description and history of them? When the disciples
were admiring the buildings of the temple their Master told them
that in a little time one stone of it should not be <i>left upon
another,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Matt.24.1-Matt.24.2" parsed="|Matt|24|1|24|2" passage="Mt 24:1,2">Matt. xxiv. 1,
2</scripRef>. Therefore, (2.) This must certainly be applied to the
gospel church, that Mount Zion, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p15.7" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.22" parsed="|Heb|12|22|0|0" passage="Heb 12:22">Heb.
xii. 22</scripRef>. "Consider the towers, and bulwarks, and palaces
of that, that you may be invited and encouraged to join yourselves
to it and embark in it. See it founded on Christ, the rock
fortified by the divine power, guarded by him that neither slumbers
nor sleeps. See what precious ordinances are its palaces, what
precious promises are its bulwarks; tell this to the generation
following, that they may with purpose of heart espouse its
interests and cleave to it."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlix-p16">VII. Let us triumph in God, and in the
assurances we have of his everlasting lovingkindness, <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.14" parsed="|Ps|48|14|0|0" passage="Ps 48:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. Tell this to the
generation following; transmit this truth as a sacred deposit to
your posterity, That <i>this God,</i> who has now done such great
things for us, <i>is our God for ever and ever;</i> he is constant
and unchangeable in his love to us and care for us. 1. If God be
our God, he is ours for ever, not only through all the ages of
time, but to eternity; for it is the everlasting blessedness of
glorified saints that <i>God himself will be with them and will be
their God,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlix-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.21.3" parsed="|Rev|21|3|0|0" passage="Re 21:3">Rev. xxi. 3</scripRef>.
2. If he be our God, <i>he will be our guide,</i> our faithful
constant guide, to show us our way and to lead us in it; he will be
so, <i>even unto death,</i> which will be the period of our way,
and will bring us to our rest. He will lead and keep us even to the
last. He will be our guide <i>above</i> death (so some); he will so
guide us as to set us above the reach of death, so that it shall
not be able to do us any real hurt. He will be our guide
<i>beyond</i> death (so others); he will conduct us safely to a
happiness on the other side death, to a life in which there shall
be no more death. If we take the Lord for our God, he will conduct
and convey us safely to death, through death, and beyond
death—down to death and up again to glory.</p>
</div></div2>