THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING A PSALM OF ZION (THE CHURCH): This is one of the psalms of Zion, namely, of the church, used to praise the Great God and His city, filled with glory, in a collective procession. It does not separate between God and His church, but present to them one cry-out of praise…. Counting it as a praise to God, glorified in His church, we should not, therefore, marvel to see it starts by saying: “Great is the Lord” (1); and ends by saying: “For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide, even to death” (14). For the church, in essence, is “Life with, and in the Lord”; In her, the glory of the Great Lord is proclaimed; His exalted care will be shown; and His free amazing grace will be experienced. The beauty, splendor, strength, and growth of the church is in her union with God, and her bond with the Lord Christ, being His body. The psalmist calls her “The city of the Great King”, a title referred to by the Lord Christ in His sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 35). His presence in it is the secret of her glory (1-2), “her refuge” (3-8), her joy, her praise, her righteousness, and her testimony (9- 14). Whenever he looked at Zion, as the city of God, the psalmist lifted his eyes to the church of the new covenant that embraces the nations and peoples with the spirit of joy and exaltation in the Lord, to say: “She is the joy of the whole earth”; and addresses the Lord saying: “Your praise to the end of the earth: Your right hand is full of righteousness” (10) ; and as it is written in Isaiah: “Many people shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks’” (Isaiah 2: 3, 4). https://coptic-treasures.com/ Its occasion: It is probably the same for psalms 46 and 47; there are common features between it and psalm 46, at least concerning its atmosphere full of gladness following a great salvation. The three psalms (46 – 48) concentrate on “trust in God”, being “our refuge” (46), and “our King” (47, 48). According to some, this psalm probably refers to the siege carried out by Sennacherib, in the year 701 B.C. (4 – 8); Whereas according to others, it presents the experience of a pilgrim to Jerusalem, expressing his admiration of her greatness, and listening to a report about her endurance, after going through so many wars, and being subjected to so many adverse cultures, looking at every place in it as a living testimony to God’s dealings with His people, and His exalted care for His believers. Then returning to his household, he tells them about all he saw, heard, and felt. The general frame: 1- The city of the Great King 1 -- 3 2- The unconquerable city 4 -- 8 3- A worshipping, exultant city 9 -- 11 4- A city that testifies to her God 12 – 14 The title: A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. And according to the Septuagint version, it came as: A psalm of the sons of Korah. Of the day second to the Sabbath. 1- According to St. Gregory, the whole psalm speaks on the tongue of those returning from the Babylonian captivity; For “the Sabbath” refers to the (rest); and they have come back to their rest, to praise God and to give Him thanks. That https://coptic-treasures.com/ would be the meaning of the title of this psalm: (of the day, second to the Sabbath); he probably refers to (the second return). 2- According to St. Augustine, “Of the day second to the Sabbath” refers to the second day of creation, when God said: “Let there be a firmament, … and He called the firmament ‘sky’” (Genesis 1: 6 – 8). He says that the first day of the Sabbath, is the day of the Lord, whereas the second day of the Sabbath is the day of the church of Christ: Therefore, the children of the church are the children of the firmament, or the children of heaven, who do not submit to temptations. [They are worthy of the name “firmament”; Therefore the church of Christ is in those “strong” about whom the apostle says: “We then who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak” (Romans 15: 1) 1- THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING: (1 – 3) “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. In the joy of our God, in the holy mountain” (1) According to some, this psalm is a (mine) which includes precious titles of the church: [The city of our God; His holy mountain; the mountains of Zion; On the sides of the north; the city of the Great King; the city of the Lord of hosts, etc.]. Every one of these titles reveals an aspect of its living sides: The city of our God: Namely, the city where we encounter God, being our God referred to us; through personal relationship; by entering with Him into a covenant. The church is, therefore, an encounter of God with His own people, to sign by the last drop of His precious blood on the covenant of love, He proclaimed on the cross. His holy mountain: Being the city of the Holy God, she rises up as a mountain, testifies before all to His holiness, through practicing the holy life and her https://coptic-treasures.com/ fellowship with Him. She is like a mountain unshakable by any storm of temptation. The mountains of Zion: (Zion means a stronghold). She is like the mountains, where we find a refuge by God, our Stronghold and High Wall]. On the sides of the north: According to some this refers to the clouds coming to Jerusalem from the North, to provide her with fertility and fruition. Whereas, according to others, this refers to the Assyrian enemies on the north of Jerusalem, who perpetually attacked her, yet she always prevailed. The city of the Great King: Where the King of kings dwells, to make her people kings and priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1: 6) The city of the Lord of hosts: “Awesome as an army with banners” (Song 6: 4, 10), under the leadership of God Himself, Grantor of conquest. It is obvious that the beauty, holiness, and conquest of the city is set upon her belonging to God dwelling in her as a King. The Heavenly One came down to earth to establish a glorious church without blemish, and to qualify her for the heavenly life. Hence the psalmist sings: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, … in His holy mountain” (1). + Great is the Lord in His Essence, might, and work; hence He is praised by His rational creation; … While in His church, His majesty became known to all.. And because He, by Himself, ordained His incarnation, it is said that she is His city and the mountain of His sanctuary. It is also said “His city” about those who righteously walk before Him. And “His holy city” because there He dwells. And “the mountain of His Sanctuary”, because of the exalted honor of the divine doctrines; as though set for edification on a high mountain, seen by everyone with insight, to take it as a program for his salvation. (Father Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) https://coptic-treasures.com/ She is called “a city” because she embraces the congregation of believers; not being set upon a certain individual or individuals, She is the dwelling place of God with all believers, since Adam and until the end of time. Everyone enjoys a personal encounter, and personal dealings with God, yet not isolated from the holy congregation…. Being isolated from the congregation of believers, would turn man’s heart from being the city of God, to a wilderness. A city with one inhabitant is closer to desolation whatever are its possibilities According to father (Mar) Isaac the Syrian: [In him who encounters God through the circle of love, God would set His kingdom, and transfigures; and there he would also encounter God’s angels and saints]. She is also called “His Holy Mountain”, on account of her being well established in faith, which no temptation could shake. It refers, as well, to her exalted doctrines and life. Seen by the prophet Daniel as a great mountain filling the earth, set forth through preaching the Lord Christ -- the Cornerstone, cut without hands -- faith that grew all over the world . + A certain rejected Cornerstone was found, by which the Jews stumbled, cut without hands from a certain mountain; Namely, came from the Jewish kingdom without hand, on account of that Christ’s birth from St. Mary has been without human seed… According to the prophecy of Daniel, this Rock grew to become a great mountain that filled the whole earth; and reached us; … Why then, would we seek the mountain, as though it is far from us, while it is present within us, to ascend?! … Let the Lord in us be Great, and greatly praised. (St. Augustine) “Beautiful in elevation; the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north; the city of the Great King” (2) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Seeing the church of the new covenant as “the city” where God encounters His people, and as “the mountain that filled the whole earth”; bearing God’s holiness and righteousness; the psalmist proclaims her splendor and beauty, and her role as the joy of the earth. She may be rejected, humiliated, and persecuted by the world, seeking to get rid of her; but she, like her Groom, by her spiritual beauty, proclaims her love of the world, ministers as a giving servant, to draw the oppressors to the joy and gladness of the Lord. Preaching the evangelic life, the good news that realize our salvation in the worthiness of the cross, and revealing the divine love, shown by the given precious blood; she attempts to bring all, as children of God the Father, and to grant them the gift of the Holy Spirit, Grantor of life and holiness. She brings the nations forth to the divine throne; to the eternal joy as wise virgins, yet not spoiled or slothful, but as mighty mountains, hence called “Mountains of Zion”. + Zion is one mountain; Why then does he say: “Mountains”? … Because Zion belongs, as well, to those who come from all directions, to meet together at the Cornerstone, to become two walls, two mountains: one from the circumcision, and the other from the un-circumcision; one from the Jews, and the other from the Gentiles; And despite the diversity, there is no difference; on account of the fact that, although they come from different directions, they are now bound together by the Cornerstone. (St. Augustine) The whole church gather together, with a diversity of gifts, capabilities and possibilities, unite together at the Cornerstone – our Lord Jesus, https://coptic-treasures.com/ who sends to her His Holy Spirit as golden clouds, pour on her the living water to turn her into gardens bearing the fruits of the Spirit. + Golden clouds come from the North. Great is the glory and honor of the Almighty! Great is the glory of the Physician who heals the patient, overcome by despair.!. Golden clouds come from the North, not dark or lowly, but golden, for being enlightened by Christ, coming from “the sides of the North”, from “the city of the Great King”. (St. Augustine) As long as the church is still on earth, she will be attacked as though from the North; like what the Assyrians did, who came from the North to put Jerusalem under siege, and to captivate her…. Yet she will remain the church, the unconquerable“ the city of the Great King”. … The “North” has many other meanings as we shall see: + The prophet calls her “The sides of the North”, on account of her smallness, and being hidden by the huge mountains. And also because the Assyrians who used to fight against the Jews, came from the North; … Yet, although attacked from people of the North, yet she remained “the city of the Great King”. The prophet also call the Gentiles “People of the North”; meaning that, by receiving faith in Christ, they were going to become, as well, “the city of the Great King”, and His dwelling place. And also because, according to the old law, the lamb of the sacrifice had to be slain at the northern side of the altar; which was a symbol of the Lamb of God -- https://coptic-treasures.com/ our Lord Jesus Christ, who was slain for the sake of the forgiveness of the sins of the world; He who cares for the Gentiles and makes them His own, and His stronghold, surrounded by huge mountains; namely, by the saintly apostles, and the guardian angels. (Father Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) The church appears as “the city of the Great King”; And the believers appear as the (palaces) through which the king, with all His amazing works, will appear, particularly His covenant with His church, and even with every one of her members; … caring for her as a holy congregation, and for her members; as one city, with several (palaces). ; …. He cares for all by His word, promises, and salvation work on the cross, and He cares, as well, for those who have no one to care for them … He is the Father of the fatherless, Judge of the widows, and who gives justice to the oppressed. “Within its palaces, God has shown Himself as her refuge” (3) 2- THE UNCONQUERABLE CITY: After presenting to us the church as: a collective life, practicing the personal relationship with God – her God, … abiding as a mountain, unmoved by temptations, holy by the Holy One who dwells in her; … wide enough to accommodate the nations and peoples, by the spirit of joy and exultation; … enjoying the clouds of the North, raining on her the water of free divine grace; …. testifying to her Groom by her members as palaces dwelt by the Great King; Now He presents her as a persecuted church; For this persecution or tribulation is a fundamental feature of the bride of the Crucified Groom. https://coptic-treasures.com/ As soon as man practices the true evangelic church life, and as soon as his heart gets wide enough with love for God and men, the world will stir up against him; he will be fought from those inside and outside; by those close to him, and even by his own body; hence the psalmist says: “For behold, the kings assembled; they passed by together; they saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, they hastened away. Fear took hold of them there, and pain as a woman in travail; As when you break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind” (4 – 7) … + The kings and rulers assembled together and came to fight against Jerusalem; but seeing the power of God against them, they marveled, were troubled, and had pain as a woman in travail. That is how it also is with those who fight against the church of Christ. The psalmist mentions ‘Tarshish’, the richest of the cities on the sea; and says, as the east wind breaks the ships on the sea shores, God will destroy the enemies, crush them, and grind their strength. (Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) The enemies used to assemble together around Jerusalem to counsel one another how to attack it. But, troubled by its amazing appearance, their counsel got nowhere, and they departed in marvel and confusion. The psalmist presents two analogies of the terror that dwelt upon those kings: 1- A woman in travail; referring to the sudden and strong terror that dwelt upon them. According to St. Augustine:… [They are conceived by the fear of Christ, and through believing in Him whom they fear, they labor and give birth to https://coptic-treasures.com/ salvation, “Fear took hold of them, and pain as a woman in travail”. Hearing of travail, you expect birth. … The old man goes into travail, and the new one is born]. 2- The ships of Tarshish, famed for their greatness, size, and power. According to some, the word ‘Tarshish’, meaning (ocean) or (sea); It is as though he means (the ships of the oceans or of the seas). And the way the east wind destroys the ships of Tarshish, the Spirit of our Christ, when the sinners receive the work of God’s grace in them. will destroy the kingdom of darkness established in their hearts, Whereas those who reject the grace, the Spirit will destroy them by the same troubles they brought upon the churches of Christ. By these two analogies, he showed that oppression against the church will definitely end in failure; Yet, in case the oppressors receive the fear of God, and believe, their evil will perish, and they will enjoy the birth of the new man in them; while if they reject, their souls will perish by their evil. + In truth, the psalmist talks about both the future sorrow and joy: Sorrow because of the judgment, and joy because of the forgiveness. (St. Ambrose) According to St. Ambrose, the woman in travail is the soul who gets conceived through the work of the Word; As long as she is still in travail, she suffers pains; but, once she gives birth to a child, she rejoices. The ships of Tarshish are the spiritual ships loaded with Solomon’s gold and silver; Namely, our bodies which, according to the words of the apostles, carry a treasure in earthen vessels. It is as though he, who believes in the Lord Christ, instead of resisting His work, would enjoy the birth of the new man in him (in the water of baptism); and would bear the true treasure in him, in peace. The psalmist ends his talk about the unconquerable church, saying: https://coptic-treasures.com/ “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” (8) Along the history, the psalmist heard about the amazing works of God in His holy city; And through his own experience, and by his own eyes, he saw what he heard. History and experience are both great instructors, presenting one and the same lesson, namely, God’s exalted care for His church. + What we have heard, we see in the actual experience; Namely, God’s amazing conquest, victories, and care. (St. John Chrysostom) + What a blessed church! Hearing at times, and seeing at other times! … Hearing promises, and seeing their realization!; …. Hearing prophesies, and seeing the gospel! ….For everything realized now, has been previously prophesied! Where do you hear; and Where do you see? In the city of the Lord of hosts; in the city of our God; that God has established forever! (St. Augustine). + I mean that we heard on the tongues of men, and read in books, about the works He has done in old in Egypt, in the wilderness of Sinai, and in the land of Canaan; But now, we see it actually happening in Jerusalem, the city, You have established forever! But if someone says: If God has established Jerusalem forever, Why then, have the Romans destroyed her? … We shall answer him that “forever” here, does not mean eternity; the same way the prophecy says about King Hezekiah: “He asked life from You, and You gave it to Him, length of days forever and ever” (Psalm 21: https://coptic-treasures.com/ 4) … Here, as well, the prophet says about Jerusalem: “God will establish it forever”; namely, for a certain time. This statement is also a prophecy concerning the rational Jerusalem, the church of Christ, established by God upon the Rock of faith; against which, as the Lord of glory says, “the gates of hell shall not prevail” . (Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) 3- A WORSHIPPING EXULTANT CITY: (9 – 11) If the church, being the holy city of God, is perpetually at war, yet she remains unconquerable and unshakable; Hence, in her thanksgiving, she remains worshipping God, perpetually praising Him with the spirit of joy and exultation; as though the tribulation would never cause her to lose her peace; but, on the contrary, motivate her to practice the heavenly thanksgiving and exultant life. “We have thought, O God, on Your loving kindness, in the midst of Your temple. According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the end of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice; Let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Your judgments” (9 – 11) He previously said: “We heard, … and we saw”; Now he says “We have thought”. He heard about God’s dealings with His church in the past; Now, seeing by his own eyes how they are living and perpetual dealings; he testifies before the people, to confirm that the Lord Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever; He who worked in the past, works in the present, and will remain working forever. This is our concept of the living tradition which is founded on the past, to proclaim its activity in the present, and to deliver it to the generations to come, a deposit of living and active faith. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Such a tradition, deep rooted in the past, working in the present, and remain working in the future, brings forth to the church the spirit of joy and exultation because of God’s judgments, whether in the time of comfort or in that of tribulation. + We have experienced, O God, Your goodness to Your people; yet not for the sake of virtues on their part, but for Your tender mercy and compassion. According to Your name, so it is to Your work, for the sake of which You are praised by peoples all over the earth. Your goodness is not something earned, but is of Your Essence. As it is with the sun that, by nature, gives light and burns; So it is with Your Divinity, It gives light to the godly, and punishes the wicked … The right hand of God, namely His only begotten Son is full of righteousness; for He loosens the shackled, and sets them free, gives light to those in darkness, and lifts up the contrite. The prophet calls men and women to rejoice and be glad for the sake of God’s loving kindness, gifts, and goodness. Mount Zion is the well-established church; … whose building are the souls of the believers, and the rest of God’s temples all over the world; that rejoice for the sake of the rich gifts granted to them by God. (Onesimus, bishop of Jerusalem) + O Mount Zion, O daughters of Judah, Now you labor among tares, chaff , and thorns; But, rejoice for the sake of God’s judgments; For He would never err in His judgment. Do not think of the “daughter of Judah”, as the Jews, For “Judah” means (confession); Namely, all the children of confession are the children of Judah. (t. Augustine) https://coptic-treasures.com/ The psalmist sees the church as a worshipping congregation, exultant in God, for the sake of His works and judgments…. Abraham would never forget Mount Moriah and Jacob would never forget Bethel. 4- A CITY THAT TESTIFIES TO HER GOD: (12 – 14) Experiencing the salvation work of God, and enjoying Conquest, Mount Zion or the daughter of Judah set forth as though in a procession to testify to God’s work with them; As it happened when Nehemiah finished building the wall, he let two groups go around the wall with the spirit of joy and exultation, to testify to God’s work with them; “They rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off” (Nehemiah 12: 43). “Walk about Zion, and go all around her; Count her towers; Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces, that you may tell it to the generation following. For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide, even to death” (12 – 14). It is befitting of those who enjoy the blessings of salvation, which exalt them as the high Zion, to walk around the land, … to tell about the amazing divine work; … to talk about the high bulwarks set by the Spirit of God, where the believers would take refuge against the attacks of the enemy; … to put their trust in the power of the church, namely, “the life in Christ Jesus”; … and to enjoy her palaces, namely, God’s gifts through His church. That is God, who loves His church, and cares for her, forever and ever, until He comes on the clouds to take her with Him. This is our testimony for the generation to follow; This is the deposit of faith, namely the living delivery, or the experienced tradition, that we present by our life, as well as by our words. For, how could we talk about the bulwarks and palaces of the church, namely, about her strongholds and riches, unless we, ourselves, are bulwarks, and in spiritual riches. Hence St. Clement of Alexandria says: [I believe he hints here to those who embraced https://coptic-treasures.com/ the Word (the Logos in an exalted way, to become high bulwarks, and to become wellestablished in faith and knowledge] ---------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 48 THE CITY OF THE LORD OF HOSTS + How amazing You are, O Lord; Out of Your people You have set Your own city; And out of them, You made a holy mountain in which You proclaim Your holiness. + You came down to us as the rejected Cornerstone; You collected us from all nations and peoples, to set out of us, Your holy city; You filled the whole earth with joy; When You set Your kingdom inside us. + Let the whole world gather together against Your church; For she will remain the city of the Great King; As they see Your amazing hand; I wish they would receive and fear You. + How amazing You are, O Lord of hosts! You proclaim Your tender mercy among Your people; Out of them You set high Bulwarks; And out of them You set magnificent palaces. + We heard from the previous generations about You; And here we see by our own eyes, Your work with us; Let Your Holy Spirit sanctify us, to tell, by our own life, the next generation. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + Draw us from all the nations, as a holy church for Yourself; Set Your temple in every soul; And carry us all to Your heavenly temple; To the high city of Jerusalem; The dwelling place of God with men.
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