In the Septuagint this psalm’s heading says, “A Psalm of praise for the sons of Core on the second day of the week.”

The second day of the week would be a Monday. Maybe the Lord knew we needed a Monday song to face another work-week.

This psalm is about Zion. And as we’ve read before, the name “Zion” can refer to the inner part of Jerusalem where the temple was and where David had his palace. But “Zion” is also used to refer to the heavenly city.

This psalms feels to me like it is focused more on the heavenly city because Jerusalem on earth could hardly be called “in the far north.” And while the earthly city of Jerusalem is “beautiful in elevation,” it’s not even the highest peak in Israel, let alone the world.

If this psalm is a song about the earthly Jerusalem, when did this event happen?

“For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭48‬:‭4-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A confederation of kings assemble around Zion (with some nefarious purpose), but they quickly turn and run and “the ships of Tarshish” are shattered by God.

(Interesting because Jerusalem isn’t exactly near a port for ships…)

Maybe it’s something that hasn’t happened yet but will. It sounds a LOT like Revelation 20:7-10 (which I feel like I’ve quoted or referenced in every post for a couple of weeks now).

But here’s an angle you may not have considered. What if these assembled kings aren’t just attacking the earthly city? What if this is hinting at an attack on the heavenly one?

🤔 Uhhh… are you serious?

Here’s about an 8-minute video of the late Dr. Michael Heiser explaining from the biblical text how The “Battle of Armageddon” is probably way different than we thought. And what he describes corresponds to what is described here in Psalm 48:4-7.

And since we’re watching YouTube videos today, here’s a 6-minute clip from a channel I’ve been binging lately. These are excerpts from much longer interviews with people who died, saw heaven, and then came back to life. In the clip linked above, 2 people describe what they saw of the Holy City. It’s pretty cool. And it makes me excited to go.

🙂 Maybe that’s why Psalm 48 is for Mondays. When I get up for work at the start of a new week, it’s good to have a little song to help me remember that this world is not my home and the best is yet to come.

Makes sense to me.