INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS XLVII, XLVIII, AND CXV. PSALMS OF KORAH. The invading host, instead of making a rapid descent upon Judah, while the people were still disarmed through fear, and thrown into confusion, for some cause unknown halted in their journey. The next morning Jehoshaphat led forth his people, with such troops as he could collect, southward toward Tekoa, and to the head of the wady, or valley, by the ascent or "cliff of Ziz." In the van of the procession were placed the Levites, who were accustomed to perform the sacred chants in the temple, "that they should praise the beauty of holiness, and to say, 'Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever."" As they advanced a supernatural terror spread through the ranks of the enemy. For some cause, not explained in the sacred narrative, this mixed multitude of various nations fell out among themselves. Their march had been arrested for several hours, contrary to all expectation, and this impolitic delay had placed the chances of war against them. A fierce dispute arose, (an occurrence by no means rare among freebooters, as these Arabians were,) and this led to still fiercer blows. At first the strife lay between Ammon and Moab on the one side, and Edom on the other; but it soon spread through all ranks, and every man's sword was turned against his fellow, without distinction of tribe, till the whole army was wasted and destroyed. The Hebrew army and people, who had been the astonished spectators of this mutual slaughter, had now nothing to do but to advance and take the spoils. Three days were occupied in gathering the armour and the rich ornaments from the bodies of the slain. On the fourth day they assembled in the adjacent valley of Berachah, and offered up general thanksgiving and praise to God; after which, "they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the fore-front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord." Read 2 Chronicles xx, 1-30. PSALM XLVII. ON JEHOSHAPHAT'S VICTORY OVER THE ARABIAN NATIONS. The people are exhorted to praise God for his majesty, his paternal care of his people, and his universal dominion. To the chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah. 1 O clap your hands, all ye people! 4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, The excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah! 5 God is gone up with a shout, The LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: Sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 Ford God is the King of all the earth: Sing ye praises 'with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the heathen: 2 God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. 9 The princes of the people are gathered together, Even the people of the God of Abraham; For the shields of the earth belong unto God: a Deut. 7. 21. b Mal. 1. 14. <1 Pet. 1. 4. d Zech. 14. 9. e 1 Cor. 14. 15, 16. 1 Or, every one that hath f Rom. 4. 11, 12. 2 Or, the voluntary of the people are gathered unto the people of the God of Abraham. PSALM XLVIII. ON JEHOSHAPHAT'S VICTORY OVER THE ARABIAN NATIONS. The glory and safety of Zion, 1-3; she is a terror to her enemies, 4–7; God is glorified in her defence, 8-10; an exhortation to survey her beauty and strength, 12–14. TA Song and Psalm for the Sons of Korah. 1 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, a 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, с And pain, as of a woman in travail. 7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish With an east wind. e 8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God; God will festablish it forever. Selah! 9 We have thought of thy loving-kindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple. 10 According to thy name, O God, So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth; 11 Let Mount Zion rejoice, 12 Let the daughters of Judah be glad, 1 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 it to the generation following. 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death. 1 Heb. set your heart to her bulwarks. 2 Or, raise up. b Isa. 58. 11. PSALM CXV. ON JEHOSHAPHAT'S VICTORY OVER THE ARABIAN NATIONS. God is to be praised for his mercy and his sovereignty, 1–3, idols are vanity, 4–7 ; their worship is debasing, 8; all are exhorted to trust the Lord and to bless him, for his protecting power and his munificence, 9-18. a 1 Not unto us, O LORD! not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, "Where is now their God?" с 3 But our God is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever he pleased. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths-but they speak not: Eyes have they-but they see not: 6 They have ears-but they hear not: Noses have they-but they smell not: 7 They have hands-but they handle not: a See Isa. 48. 11. Ezek. 36. 32. b Joel 2. 17. 1 Chron. 16. 26. Dan. 4. 35. d Deut. 4. 28. Jer. 10. 8, 80. Feet have they-but they walk not: Neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; So is every one that trusteth in them. 9 O fIsrael, trust thou in the LORD: He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield. 11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: 12 He is their help and their shield. The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, Both small 'and great. 14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, You and your children. 15 16 h Ye are blessed of the LORD Which made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's; But the earth hath he given to the children of men. 17 The dead praise not the LORD, k Neither any that go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the LORD From this time forth and for evermore. |