Psalm 48 (47):1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This psalm carries the title, "A Song of Praise to the Children of Kore on the Second Day of the Week." The blessings the Lord chooses to grant should be embraced as children of the heavenly realm. The second day of the week, following the first—known as the Lord's Day—marks the creation of the heavens. (Gen. 1:6-8) Therefore, this day should be recognized as representing the Church of Christ, specifically embodied in the saints, those whose names are inscribed in Heaven and who resist worldly temptations. They rightfully bear the title of the firmament. Consequently, the Church of Christ among the strong is referred to as the firmament, as the Apostle states, "We that are strong must bear the infirmities of the weak." (Rom. 15:1) This is celebrated in the psalm. Let us listen, acknowledge, share, praise, and reign. For she is referred to as the firmament, resonating with the description in the apostolic letters as the pillar and foundation of truth. (1 Tim. 3:15)

This psalm is sung in honor of the holy Apostles, who recount the suffering endured for the sake of proclamation and the triumph achieved through it.

The piece is titled "Psalm of Song to the Children of Kore." On the day after the Sabbath (Psalms 47:1), the sons of Kore are described as beautiful, with prior psalms celebrating them because they embodied the right sentiments and aspirations for virtue. They created a spiritual hymnal within themselves, remaining vigilant in their understanding of divine truths. By delving deeply into the heavenly mysteries, they steadfastly maintained their post as guardians of the spirit. Thus, when they were given the sacred task of singing psalms daily before the ark of the Lord, they were selected to perform a special psalm on the day following the Sabbath.

Song of Praise by the sons of Korah. Observance of the Second Sabbath. The significance of the Song of Praise was addressed previously in the introduction to this book. We also discussed the phrase “To the sons of Korah.” The designation of the Second Sabbath refers to the day when this psalm was sung, as the Jews consider the Sabbath to encompass the entire week. This psalm expresses gratitude on behalf of the Jews for their liberation from Babylonian exile and their return to their homeland, Jerusalem. It is also appropriate for Christians who, having been freed from idolatry, have returned to the understanding of God. Athanasius remarks that this psalm is likewise offered in honor of the apostles as they recount the trials endured for their preaching and the triumphs achieved.

This is a psalm from the sons of Korah, celebrating the second Sabbath. The content of this psalm mirrors that of Psalm 45, expressing gratitude to God for the rescue of Jerusalem from a significant disaster. The prophet uses this opportunity to portray the magnificence and glory of the city, reflecting on the splendor of the church. Note that the phrase regarding the second Sabbath is not found in the original Hebrew text; it has been included by Greek scholars. Jerome and Augustine refer to the second Sabbath as the day after the Resurrection, meaning Monday, when they suggest this psalm was sung.

This Psalm, a melody of worship, captures the essence of praise. The annotation regarding the second Sabbath is absent in the Hebrew texts, and it remains unclear when this designation was added to the Septuagint. It is plausible that this psalm was chanted in Greek synagogues on the second day of the week. It may have been composed during the same time as Psalm 46, though the latter was sung during a time of conflict, while Psalm 47 was celebrated following the return to the temple in Jerusalem (v.10).

Refer to Psalm 29. This psalm, authored by David, was designated to be sung by the sons of Korah, intended for the second day of the Seven Days, as an act of praise and veneration for God regarding the creation of the expanse of the heavens on that day: God declared, "Let there be a firmament," and it was so: this marks the second day (Genesis 1:6-8). The second Sabbath is interpreted as the foundation of the Holy Church, which was established following the week of Christ’s Resurrection, through the apostles disseminating the Gospel throughout the entire world.

The second antiphon comprises verses 2 through 5 of Psalm 47, wherein the Psalmist extols God for rescuing Jerusalem from the allied kings who posed a threat during Jehoshaphat's reign (2 Chronicles 20), while also marveling at the breathtaking sight of the holy city. The themes presented in this psalm, when connected to the celebration of the Ascension, direct the believer's reflections toward the Church of Christ, this New Testament Jerusalem, resplendent in that the Lord Jesus Christ, despite His bodily ascension to heaven, vowed to remain present and will continuously do so until the culmination of time - and toward the heavenly Jerusalem, representing the victorious Church in paradise, whose entry has been unveiled to us through Christ's ascension (Hebrews 10:20).