"His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion [see Zionism], in the far north, the city of the great King" (Psalm 48:2 RSV) will be fulfilled by Jesus Christ, as plainly described in many prophecies, including one of the most well-known passages of the Holy Scriptures: "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of The Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of The Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob [see The God Of The Old Testament to understand Who that was, and is]; that He may teach us His ways and we may walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the Word [see The Logos] of The Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Micah 4:1-3 RSV; see also the Fact Finder question below)
"A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Great is The Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has shown Himself a sure defense [see Where Is It Safe?].Psalm Chapter 49
For lo, 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 travail [see also The Beginning Of The Birth Pangs]. By the east wind thou didst shatter the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of The Lord of hosts, in the city of our God [see The City To Come], which God establishes for ever. [Selah]
We have thought on Thy steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Thy temple. As Thy Name, O God, so Thy praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Thy right hand is filled with victory; let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah [see Daughter of Zion] rejoice because of Thy judgments!
Walk about Zion, go round about her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels; that you may tell the next generation [see Bulwarks Of The Truth] that this is God, our God for ever and ever. He will be our guide for ever." (Psalm 48:1-14 RSV)
The Lord is a firm believer in property rights; everything belongs to the Creator (see Christ The Creator) and He has the absolute right to do, with everything, anything that He wishes (see also Eminent Domain).
"To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together! [see No Class Struggles In Christianity] My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the Lyre.Psalm Chapter 50
Why should I fear in times of trouble [see Trials and Tribulations], when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, men who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can Ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice, that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit [see Sheol and Hades].
Yea, he shall see that even the wise die, the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes for ever [i.e. the body that is buried is not the new body that will be resurrected - "But some one will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain" 1 Corinthians 15:35-37; see also Resurrections], their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish [see also Do Animals Have A Soul?]. This is the fate of those who have foolish confidence, the end of those who are pleased with their portion. [Selah]
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home. But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. [Selah]
Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. Though, while he lives, he counts himself happy, and though a man gets praise when he does well for himself, he will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never more see the light [see Awaken To The Light]. Man cannot abide in his pomp, he is like the beasts that perish." (Psalm 49:1-20 RSV)
Asaph was a Levite (see Levites to understand how the Levites and priests were organized) who served as one of the lead singers in the time of King David. A dozen Psalms (Psalm 50 and Psalms 73-83) are credited to him.
"A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God The Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth [see The Light Shines On Everyone]. Our God comes, He does not keep silence, before Him is a devouring fire, round about Him a mighty tempest. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that He may judge His people [see When Will You Be Judged?]: "Gather to Me My faithful ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!" The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is judge! [Selah]
Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. I do not reprove you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are continually before Me. I will accept no bull from your house, nor he-goat from your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the air [see The First Scientist], and all that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world and all that is in it is Mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."
But to the wicked [see Reprobate] God says: "What right have you to recite My statutes, or take My covenant on your lips? [see Thou shalt not take The Lord's Name in vain] For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you. If you see a thief, you are a friend of his; and you keep company with adulterers. You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.
Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I rend, and there be none to deliver! He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors Me; to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God!" (Psalm 50:1-23 RSV)
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