Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com
Psalms 48:1
psa 48:1
The city - In Jerusalem. Mountain - In his holy mountain.
Psalms 48:2
psa 48:2
The joy - This is spoken prophetically, because the joyful doctrine of the gospel was to go from thence to all nations. The city - Of God, who justly calls himself a great king.
Psalms 48:3
psa 48:3
Known - By long experience. Palaces - Possibly he may point at the king's palace and the temple, which was the palace of the king of heaven; which two palaces God did in a singular manner protect, and by protecting them, protected the whole city and people.
Psalms 48:4
psa 48:4
The kings - Either those kings confederate against Jehoshaphat, Ch2 20:1, or the Assyrian princes; whom they vain - gloriously called kings, Isa 10:8. Passed - In their march towards Jerusalem.
Psalms 48:5
psa 48:5
Saw it - They did only look upon it, but not come into it, nor shoot an arrow there - nor cast a bank against it, Kg2 19:32. Marvelled - At the wonderful works wrought by God.
Psalms 48:6
psa 48:6
Fear - At the tidings of Tirhakah's coming against them, Kg2 19:9, and at that terrible slaughter of their army, Kg2 19:35.
Psalms 48:7
psa 48:7
Breakest - Thou didst no less violently and suddenly destroy these raging enemies of Jerusalem, than sometimes thou destroyest the ships at sea with a fierce and vehement wind, such as the eastern winds were in those parts.
Psalms 48:8
psa 48:8
Heard - The predictions of the prophets have been verified by the events. Establish - God will defend her in all succeeding ages. And so God would have done, if Jerusalem had not forsaken him, and forfeited his protection.
Psalms 48:9
psa 48:9
Thought - It hath been the matter of our serious and deep meditation, when we have been worshipping in thy temple.
Psalms 48:10
psa 48:10
So - Thou art acknowledged to be such an one as thou hast affirmed thyself to be in thy Word, God Almighty, or All - sufficient, the Lord of hosts, and a strong tower to all that trust in thee. Righteousness - Of righteous actions; by which thou discoverest thy holiness.
Psalms 48:11
psa 48:11
Judgments - Upon thine and their enemies.
Psalms 48:12
psa 48:12
Tell - He bids them mark well her towers, bulwarks, and palaces, with thankfulness to God, when they should find upon enquiry, that not one of them were demolished.
Psalms 48:13
psa 48:13
Tell it - That they may continue their praises to God for this mercy, by which they hold and enjoy all their blessings.
