Psalm 48: Mt. Zion and the Massiah

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In 1948 the state of Israel was established. It is only fitting that a Psalm praising Jerusalem, its seductive spiritual power and the force G-d plays in it will be written in this Psalm, Psalm 48. In this part-prayer, part-prophetic Psalm, King David describes the magnetism the Mountain of G-d holds on all nations, and he establishes the importance of generations to come in the grander scheme. It is as if King David had already known that the city will fall and the temple will be lost. He knew and asked that we never forget Jerusalem, and that we never stop telling its story for the generations that will come. 

A few notable points are the way King David perceived G-d. G-d, for him, is not only a force directing the world for better or worse. It is a king, a teacher, a knowledgeable force that teaches what glory is. The power of His teachings were not for all to digest, as he writes “for here kings will meet and pass by together” and “There, their grasp shook.” 

Notice the future tense of this line; the kings will meet. This indicates that we are reading a prophetic Psalm, not a mere reflection of King David’s historic review of the state of things at that time. David’s claim that “in the city of G-d, G-d will wholesomely dwell forever” is referring to his own faith, and also to the times of the Massiah. 

The idea that “as Your name, G-d, so will Your fame reach onto the edges of earth” is echoed in multiple prophetic texts discussing the arrival of the Massiah and the messianic era; a time when the knowledge of G-d and the Jewish teachings will reach all around the globe. At that time “justice filled Your helpers [Your right hand]” as prophecies claim that the ability to prophecy will return to the people.

King David ends this Psalm with a vision of the city of Zion in the times of redemption: “Joyous will be Mount-Zion, the daughters of Judah will be revealed for Your judgments.” He describes how people from all around the world will arrive at the city and “circle around Zion and stand all around it, count its towers.” At that time, when there will be a thirst for spiritual knowledge and deeper connection with the forces of the divine, all those arriving at Jerusalem will be able to “Drink [to soothe] your hearts.”

The call for action King David brings forth in this Psalm is both for his time, and for the messianic times. “Drink your hearts” - take in all the spiritual knowledge and power you can, and “be as soldiers climbing the hilltops of her castles, so you can tell the last generation.” Referring to “the last generation” is a direct connection between King David and our days. He sees the future, understands his role in the grand scheme of the Jewish story. He legally buys all the lands needed so no future rulers and people could claim we do not belong on this land, and while doing all that, he turns to his people and tells them - keep learning, keep telling the stories of Jerusalem and Zion, because ‘at the end of days’ our future generations will need to know our history. By stepping up to fulfill our role in spiritual work and praising the Lord today, said King David, we are helping our children’s children to ensure the safety of Mount-Zion thousands of generations away.  “For this G-d is our eternal G-d, and forever He will lead us beyond death.” May King David's prophetic prayer be a source for our strength during these turmile filled day. And please G-d, my we know true and wholesome peace on the Mountain of Zion and through all edges of our world. 

שִׁ֥יר מִ֝זְמוֹר לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח׃

A poetic song for the sons of Korach.

גָּ֘ד֤וֹל ה’ וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹקינוּ הַר־קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃

Great is G-d and very praised in the city of our Lord, His holy mountain.

יְפֵ֥ה נוֹף֮ מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ כָּל־הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ הַר־צִ֭יּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב׃

The beautiful view elevates, the whole land is Mount Zion,

At the feet of the northern suburb is a knowledgeable-teacher king.

אֱלֹקים בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ נוֹדַ֥ע לְמִשְׂגָּֽב׃

G-d in her palaces was known to elevate higher. 

כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה הַ֭מְּלָכִים נֽוֹעֲד֑וּ עָבְר֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃

For here kings will meet and pass by together.

הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ כֵּ֣ן תָּמָ֑הוּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ׃

They saw this and wandered, startled and rushed.

רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃

There, their grasp shook, the soldiers became like a woman giving birth.

בְּר֥וּחַ קָדִ֑ים תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃

In winds from the east You will break the ships of Tarshish.

כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ ׀ כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֗ינוּ בְּעִיר־ה’ צְ֭בָאוֹת בְּעִ֣יר אֱלֹקינוּ אֱלֹ֘קים יְכוֹנְנֶ֖הָ עַד־עוֹלָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃

As we heard, so we saw in the city G-d’s armies,

In the city of G-d, G-d will wholesomely dwell forever.

דִּמִּ֣ינוּ אֱלֹקים חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב הֵיכָלֶֽךָ׃

In Your temple we were able to imagine Your loving-kindness.

כְּשִׁמְךָ֤ אֱלֹקים כֵּ֣ן תְּ֭הִלָּתְךָ עַל־קַצְוֵי־אֶ֑רֶץ צֶ֝֗דֶק מָלְאָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃

As Your name, G-d, so will Your fame reach onto the edges of earth,

Justice filled Your helpers [Your right hand].

יִשְׂמַ֤ח ׀ הַר־צִיּ֗וֹן תָּ֭גֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶֽיךָ׃

Joyous will be Mount-Zion,

The daughters of Judah will be revealed for Your judgments.

סֹ֣בּוּ צִ֭יּוֹן וְהַקִּיפ֑וּהָ סִ֝פְר֗וּ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ׃

Circle around Zion and stand all around it, count its towers.

שִׁ֤יתוּ לִבְּכֶ֨ם ׀ לְֽחֵילָ֗ה פַּסְּג֥וּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֥עַן תְּ֝סַפְּר֗וּ לְד֣וֹר אַחֲרֽוֹן׃

Drink your hearts, be as soldiers climbing the hilltops of her castles,

So you can tell the last generation. 

כִּ֤י זֶ֨ה ׀ אֱלֹקים אֱ֭לֹקינוּ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד ה֖וּא יְנַהֲגֵ֣נוּ עַל־מֽוּת׃

For this G-d is our eternal G-d, and forever He will lead us beyond death.