Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 48:3
God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
3. More exactly:
God hath made himself known in her palaces for a high fortress.
This verse is commonly connected with Psa 48:1-2. But Psa 48:1-2 describe the relation of Zion to Jehovah generally, while Psa 48:3 first alludes to the recent deliverance, which is further described in Psa 48:4 ff.
in her palaces ] The stately palaces of Zion which the Assyrians threatened to plunder and destroy. Cp. Psa 48:13; Mic 5:5. High fortress (A.V. refuge) is the same word as that in Psa 46:7; Psa 46:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3 8. Jehovah’s revelation of Himself as Zion’s protector in the recent discomfiture of her enemies.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
God is known in her palaces – The word rendered palaces here means properly a fortress, castle, or palace, so called from its height, from a verb, ‘aram, meaning to elevate, to lift up. It may be applied to any fortified place, and would be particularly applicable to a royal residence, as a castle or stronghold. The word known here means that it was well understood, or that the point had been fully tested and determined that God had chosen those abodes as his special residence – as the place where he might be found.
For a refuge – See the notes at Psa 46:1. That is, there was safety or security in the God who had chosen Jerusalem as his special abode.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 48:3
God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
The secret of national greatness
It is not the nation makes the people, but the people make the nation. On the rulers depends the nations prosperity. When God is honoured in the palace He will be worshipped in the cottage. When Atheists make laws, sedition will be the offspring.
I. Influence always descends. It is like the rain and dew. The less follow the great. Great power, great wealthy, great minds always lead.
II. The great affect the great. The kings of the earth saw and were troubled. Palace religion is more displayed than that of the cottage. God has His own work for the insignificant, but the great have also their higher sphere.
III. National religion is national preservation. The kings hasted away. Their hostility was vain in the presence of Him who was the Refuge of the palace. (Homilist.)
God known as a refuge
Even false worship argues a constitutional capacity for the true.
I. The conception of God is the greatest thing in man. In proportion as it is lost or distorted, human dignity decays, and the race sinks nearer the level of inferior creatures. The mould on which he was made is the cause of mans original greatness; but when he ceases to lay himself habitually back upon his origin, his being shrinks down again into the dimensions of a lower species.
II. God is. This is the first proposition in the inspired confession of faith (Heb 11:6). An atheist may reason against the existence of God, and a worldly man may keep God out of all his thoughts, but neither the one nor the other can blot God out of being. Although we practically banish God out of our little spot of time, He will meet us when we enter His great eternity.
III. God is known. Observe Pauls method in reasoning with the Athenians regarding the altar which they had dedicated to the unknown God, and the cognate argument which he addressed to the idolaters at Lystra (Act 14:15-17; Act 17:22-29). This is an inspired recognition of natural religion. The revelation which has been imprinted on earth and sky does not go far enough for the necessities of the fallen; but it is true as far as it goes. Men ought both to perceive its meaning and trust in its truth.
IV. God is known in her. God is known, may be taken as the motto of natural, God is known in her, as the motto of revealed religion. Wherever Christ is admitted King into a believing heart, there are the thrones of the house of David, there the temple stands, and thence sweet incense rises morning and evening to Heaven. Wherever many such believers are congregated, there is the city of the great King; wherever there are believing men and women, there is a peopled Jerusalem; and of that city it is the distinction still that God is known in her.
V. God is known in her palaces. The psalm commemorates a revival in high places (2Ch 17:1-19; 2Ch 18:1-34; 2Ch 19:1-11; 2Ch 20:1-37.). When grace was poured into the heart of the king, all ranks felt the benefit. The human skull, where the material organ of thought resides, has been called the palace of the soul. The princely spirit that dwells beneath that stately dome counts and keeps the whole world its tributary. In a princely way this king of the creatures has caught and tamed the powers of nature, and yoked them to his chariot. At the door of that regal residence a Stranger stands and knocks. Hear His voice, If any man open, I will come in. This is God our Saviour. When He is admitted, God will be known in that palace; for, He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father. Not Christ in heaven, but Christ in you, is the hope of glory.
VI. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. The idea, the existence, the knowledge of God, whether among rich or poor, become for us all or nothing, according as we recognize Him as our refuge, or fear Him as our foe. For poor, blind, guilty, dying creatures, such as we are, there are only two ways open–we must either flee from God, or flee to Him. To those no good can happen, to these no evil. One thing is needful; and this is the meaning of a Gospel ministry, Be ye reconciled to God. Make Him your refuge, and you will find the way is open, the welcome prepared; all things will work together for your good. (W. Arnot.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 3. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.] All those who worship there in spirit and truth, find God for their refuge. But the words may be understood: God is known for the defence of her palaces; and with this view of the subject agree the three following verses.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
God is known to his people by sensible and long experience, and to all neighbouring nations by their own observation.
In her palaces, i. e in the habitations, or to the inhabitants of that city. Possibly he may here point at the kings 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 he protected the whole city and people.
For a refuge; under whose shadow we are more safe and secure, than other cities are with their great rivers and impregnable fortifications.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. palacesliterally,”citadels.”
refuge (Psa 9:10;Psa 18:3). He was so known inthem because they enjoyed His presence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
God is known in her palaces for a refuge. As there were palaces in Jerusalem; see Ps 48:13; so there are in the church of Christ; every place in it is a palace fit for a king; and everyone that has truly a name and a place there are kings and priests unto God: and here God is a “refuge” both for saints and sinners to fly unto;
[See comments on Ps 46:1]; and is “known” to be so; the ministers of the Gospel being here appointed to direct and encourage souls to flee to Christ for refuge, who is the hope set before them in the everlasting Gospel, preached by them to lay hold upon; and all that do flee to him know, by experience, that he is a refuge for them; and as all the people of God do in every time of distress, and when all refuge fails them elsewhere.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. God in her palaces is known for a defense Here the sacred poet again brings forward, for the purpose of setting forth the dignity of the city of Jerusalem, the protection which God afforded it; as we have seen in Psa 46:5,
“
God is in the midst of her: she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”
He expressly makes mention of palaces for the sake of contrast — to teach the Jews, that although the holy city was fortified by strong towers, and had within it magnificent houses, and such as resembled fortresses, yet its continued safety was owing to the power and aid of God alone. By these words, the people of God are taught, that although they dwell in strongholds and palaces, they must, nevertheless, be carefully on their guard, that this magnificence or loftiness may not shroud or conceal from their view the power of God; and that they be not like worldly men, who, resting satisfied with riches and earthly means of help, set no value whatever upon having God for their guardian and protector. Worldly wealth, from our natural perverseness, tends to dazzle our eyes, and to make us forget God, and, therefore, we ought to meditate with special attention upon this doctrine, That whatever we possess, which seems worthy of being prized, must not be permitted to obscure the knowledge of the power and grace of God; but that, on the contrary, the glory of God ought always clearly to shine forth in all the gifts with which he may be pleased to bless and adorn us; so that we may account ourselves rich and happy in him, and no where else.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) Refuge.See Note, Psa. 46:1. Prominence should be given to the idea of security from height. We might render, God among her castles is known as a high and secure tower.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 48:3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
Ver. 3. God is known in her palaces for a refuge ] As the city was an ornament to the whole country, so was God to the city, as being a common refuge to both; and as having his holy temple there, not a professed sanctuary for impiety, as Florus spitefully styled it, but far better deserving than Numa’s new temple in Rome did, to be called , the sacrary of faith and peace, where the true God was truly worshipped, and found to be a very present help in trouble, the best bulwark.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
is known = hath made Himself known.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 76:1-5, Psa 125:1, 2Ch 12:7, 2Ch 14:9-15, 2Ch 20:1-37, Isa 4:5, Isa 4:6, Isa 37:33-36, Zec 2:4, Zec 2:5
Reciprocal: Deu 33:27 – refuge 1Sa 18:12 – afraid 2Sa 22:51 – the tower 1Ch 19:19 – would Psa 9:9 – The Lord Psa 46:11 – the God Psa 87:3 – Glorious Psa 122:7 – within thy palaces Psa 145:1 – my God Jer 6:5 – let us destroy Lam 1:6 – from Eze 48:35 – The Lord
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 48:3. God is known To his people, by sensible and long experience; in her palaces In the habitations of the city, and not only in the cottages, or meaner dwellings, but in the palaces: the princes and great men have recourse to God, and seek help from him. Possibly he may point at the kings 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. For a refuge Under whose shadow his people are more safe and secure than other cities are with their great rivers and impregnable fortifications. Thus the great Founder of the church is also her protector and defender. The dependance of the new Jerusalem, like that of the old, is not in man, or in the arm of flesh, but in God, who resideth in the midst of her. For, surely, unless he kept the city, the watchmen in the towers would wake but in vain. Horne.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
48:3 God is known in her palaces for a {d} refuge.
(d) Unless God is the defence of it, neither situation nor munition can prevail.