Yes, my dear friend, I believe that I can. Actually, I believe that Psalms 48 in its entirety is prophetic, and that it describes a time in the future (and perhaps not so very far in the future) shortly after the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth in judgment (Acts 17:30-31; Zechariah 14:1-3; Joel 1:15, 2:1; Malachi 3:1-3, 4:1-3; Revelation 1:7, and many other verses). This “Day of the Lord” will begin with the judgment of the wicked of the earth, when the Lord will put down all His enemies, and then soon after that, He will establish His millennial reign in Zion, seated upon David’s throne, ruling the earth in righteousness. Indeed, Jerusalem will be the center of Christ’s government for the world. This will be a time of peace and great blessing for Israel, and the glory of the temple in Jerusalem is described in this psalm.

In his book on the Psalms, Hamilton Smith describes Psalms 48 very well: “This psalm completes the series of psalms commencing with Psalm 44. In that psalm the faith of the godly, having heard from the fathers of God’s deliverances in days of old, looks to God to arise for their help and redeem Israel from the power of the enemy. Psalm 45 presents Christ as the answer to their cry to God for help. He is the One through whom deliverance will come. Psalm 46 expressed the confidence in God gained by the actual experience of God’s mercy in the present, and not simply the report of what God has done in the past. Psalm 47 celebrates the intervention of God on behalf of His people, establishing Christ as “King over all the earth,” exalting Israel over the nations, and calling upon the nations to join with Israel in praise to Jehovah. Psalm 48 presents the King established in Zion the center of government for the whole earth. Thus the godly say, “As we have heard,” referring to Psalm 44, “so have we seen.” (vv. 11-14) The psalm closes with a call to mount Zion to rejoice, and to the cities of Judah to be glad. In peace the inhabitants can contemplate the beauty of Zion as they survey her bulwarks and palaces, and thus be able to tell of this great deliverance to future generations, recognizing that the God who has wrought the deliverance is their God for ever and ever. Never again will the nation turn aside to idolatry. Henceforth through life God will be their God and their guide.”

My dear friend, Psalms 48 is a beautiful psalm as it speaks of the day when the faithful remnant of Israel will enjoy that very happy fulfillment of God’s perfect plan for blessing on the earth for His people who have been faithful through the great tribulation period. But now, you and I, if we are true believers on the Lord Jesus Christ have an even more beautiful promise, not on the earth, but in heaven, being with the Lord forever where He is.  In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, you can read about the believers being “caught up” to be with the Lord to ever be with the Lord—heavenly glory!  In John 14:1-3, you can read more about this sure heavenly hope of born-again Christians. And so, I ask you, are you one of the saved? I pray that you are but if not, you certainly can be, and that even while you read my response to your question (John 3:16; Romans 10:9; John 5:24). It is my prayer that any who are yet unsaved will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 16:31).  (SF)  (620.4)