Fathers

Psalms 48

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Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah. We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 48:2

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Further, ...when he had said, "in the city of our God, in His holy mountain," what added he? "Spreading abroad the joys of the whole earth, the mountains of Sion" (ver. 2). Sion is one mountain, why then "mountains"? Is it that to Sion belonged also those which came from the other side, so as to meet together on the Corner Stone, and become two walls, as it were two mountains, one of the circumcision, the other of the uncircumcision; one of the Jews, the other of the Gentiles: no longer adverse, although diverse, because from …

On the Psalms, Psalm 48 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

Truly the Lord is called great. For consider, he has poured exaltation and joy over all the orb of this earth where previously the land produced the most dreadful growth of sin; he has made joyful the earth that once abounded in sorrow, tears and groans. Now our conscience is set free from sin and can rejoice. Before this it was unhappy, it was drowned in the whirlpool of its own sin; but now, through the goodness and kindness of Christ, it is absolved from all error.

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms, On Psalm 48 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"It is founded." Here he commends the city in three ways. First, from its extent or joyfulness. Second, from its arrangement. Third, from the wisdom of its citizens. He says, therefore, "It is founded with the exultation of the whole earth." As if to say: it has been founded on the mountain, that is, Christ. But does this foundation pertain to one land only? No, but it overflows into the joy of the whole earth, because all share in the joy of this foundation: Ps. 65: "Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing a psalm," etc. Is. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗