Psalms

This is another Psalm celebrating victory.  There is some indication that this Psalm is tied to 46 through 47.  Some believe all these Psalms were written about to the Lord's victory over the Assyrians.  There really is no way to be sure.  Regardless of whether it was that specific victory or another, the victory was the Lord's.

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

 ¹ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
         In the city of our God,
         In His holy mountain.
Great is Yahweh and he is so great He deserves to be praised. God is great in the city of God.  Jerusalem is part of the identity of God.  It's God's city.  Great is Yahweh in His holy mountain.  A mountain set apart, in holiness to be used by God.

 ² Beautiful in elevation,
         The joy of the whole earth,
         Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
         The city of the great King.

In this Psalm the city almost seems worthy of praise but only because it is identified with the Lord.  It is the city of the great King and the joy of the whole earth.  This is the city identified by the God of the Jews.  God protects the city and comes down to move on behalf of its protection.  The nations of the world are blessed by Jesus Christ.... by the gospel message of this amazing King.  That message goes out to all the world.

The ancients regarded the north as dark and obscure.  The word Zaphon is translated as north but was also the name for a place.  Zaphon was the dwelling place of the pagan gods in Canaanite mythology.  This is where the god baal and others supposedly lived.

See Isaiah 14

¹²" How you are fallen from heaven,
      O Lucifer,son of the morning!
      How you are cut down to the ground,
      You who weakened the nations!
       ¹³ For you have said in your heart:

      ' I will ascend into heaven,
      I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
      I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
      On the farthest sides of the north;(Zaphon)

This is more likely to be read as Mt. Zion is even viewed and known as the great city of the king even in Zaphon.  This makes God the King of Kings and the God of all supposed gods.

³God is in her palaces;
         He is known as her refuge.
The palaces are the citadels or fortresses.  God was there and He was known and had a reputation of being the stronghold or refuge.  The reputation of the city was rooted in the reputation of God. 

         
 ⁴ For behold, the kings assembled,
         They passed by together.
 ⁵ They saw it, and so they marveled;
         They were troubled, they hastened away.
 ⁶ Fear took hold of them there,
         And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,
 ⁷ As when You break the ships of Tarshish
         With an east wind.
The song of joy and rejoicing is for the Lord saving the city from their enemies.  Some kings assembled against the city.  And the Lord took the battle to them in a supernatural way.  Although there was a great desire for them to come against Jerusalem, they found that they could not do it.  They were troubled and pained.  God put a fear on them and they rushed away from His city.  This sounds very much like the angel of the Lord striking 185,000 Assyrians and the army leaving town.  The judgment came suddenly, without warning, like a woman in birth pangs. 

The ships of Tarshish were a fleet of famous ships that hauled cargo all over the Mediterranean.  These ships were captained by old sea dogs and had dealt with many storms.  It was sudden, violent and painful.  It was sure and just because it was a judgment that came from the Lord.

         
 ⁸ As we have heard,
         So we have seen
         In the city of the LORD of hosts,
         In the city of our God:
         God will establish it forever.  Selah  
We see the Psalmist acknowledge the awesome and everlasting will of God.  It's been heard and now it had been seen.  If there ever was a doubt, there isn't any longer.

         
 ⁹ We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness,
         In the midst of Your temple.
 ¹⁰ According to Your name, O God,
         So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
         Your right hand is full of righteousness.
 ¹¹ Let Mount Zion rejoice,
         Let the daughters of Judah be glad,
         Because of Your judgments.
In the congregation, in their worship together they consider the lovingkindness of God.  By his right hand He lives and moves to the ends of the earth.  The "according to Your name" is actually one word meaning 'by your reputation'.  His reputation went out to the entire earth.  He was world renowned.

         
 ¹² Walk about Zion,
         And go all around her.
         Count her towers;
 ¹³ Mark well her bulwarks;
         Consider her palaces;
         That you may tell it to the generation following.
 ¹⁴ For this is God,
         Our God forever and ever;
         He will be our guide
         Even to death.

To walk around Zion was a testimony to an awesome God.  To count her towers and bulwarks and see the palaces was a testimony to the God's protection.  This testimony should be told to the next generation.  They need to know about what God has done.  You can picture a Grandfather telling a grandson.....

"You see that tower over there....I remember when the city was under siege and we thought that tower along with all the palaces would be brought to the ground...... but God moved on our behalf.  He saved us with His might right hand."

The security of the city was made sure by God.