Psalm 48 (47):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, it is declared elsewhere, “But I have been established by Him to reign in His holy hill Zion.” Then, word spread of a king enthroned in Zion, to Him were granted dominion over the furthest reaches of the earth. Rulers trembled, afraid of losing their reign, fearing the kingdom would be taken from them. Such was the terror of the unfortunate Herod, who, out of dread for the child, ordered the massacre of the innocents (Matthew 2:16). Yet, while anxious to secure his throne, he remained ignorant of the true King. Had he sought to honor the King along with the Magi, rather than maliciously pursue dominion, he would not have harmed the innocent and would not have perished in guilt. He caused the death of the innocent, yet in doing so, it was Christ, even in infancy, who triumphed. Consequently, rulers had reason to tremble upon hearing, “Indeed, I have been made king by Him upon His holy mountain Zion, and He will assign an inheritance to the furthest corners of the earth to Him who has been made king...” Thus, it is also conveyed, “Therefore take heed, O kings; be instructed, O judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence, and delight in Him with trembling.” What was their response? Suffering like that of a woman in childbirth. What do the labor pains of a woman signify if not the anguish of one in repentance? Isaiah expresses this sentiment: “In Your terror we conceived; by the Spirit of salvation we have been birthed” (Isaiah 26:17-18). The kings were stirred by the fear of Christ, as they labored to secure their salvation through faith in Him whom they revered. Such pains resemble those of childbirth; when labor is proclaimed, expect the travail. The old self suffers, but from it, a new creation emerges.

Their gathering was less about a physical location and more about a shared intention and unity of thought. To the one who has endured trials, it is proclaimed, "Come, sit down at the table" (Luke 17:7). Only a person of great integrity can transition from an unworthy life to one of honor, moving from the temporal to the eternal, transforming a carnal existence, relinquishing all that was characteristic of it, embracing new virtues, and reexamining their entire former life and associations. It is no accident that such an individual hears, "If you cross over the water, I am with you" (Isaiah 43:2). The Lord remains present with those who bravely confront challenges, not with those who retreat. The rulers who once held differing views found unity, achieving peace through Him who reconciled both groups into one (Eph. 2:14), abolishing hostility through His own body and removing the barriers that separated them. Their awe stemmed either from acknowledging Him who visits their thresholds or marveling at how individuals, once servants of sin, became transformed to embrace the righteous service of the Lord Jesus and took on the role of His disciples. As rulers of their own beings, they gained wisdom in self-awareness, for it is no small feat to conquer the soul, quell passions, tame the excesses of the flesh, and forgo indulgences. Paul contended against becoming enslaved to the law of sin. The kings admired the grace shown to those who achieved moral excellence while fearing the potential downfall of others from such heights of virtue back into vice. Human nature is indeed fickle and susceptible to faltering, constantly swaying towards either virtue or the allure of sin. Consequently, they were struck with fear and trepidation as they reflected on the words from the Psalm, "In the places of the wicked the righteous groan" (Proverbs 28:28). Consider the depth of Peter's sorrow, for he was caught off guard by sin, and the weakness of his body led to the degradation of his virtuous spirit. Christ rightfully reproached him, for Peter had relied on his own steadfastness without recognizing his vulnerable human nature. Peter found redemption through grace, while Judas remained entrenched in his guilt, lamenting without end. Once deemed righteous among the apostles, Judas was outsmarted by the devil, and now in the company of the wicked, he weeps in agony for having fallen from grace into punishment. The fall of prominent figures like Judas or Saul, whom the Lord has summoned into His kingdom, evokes fear even in the strongest of believers.

Regardless, the Prophet succinctly affirms that the Jewish people unmistakably recognized God’s defense and preservation of His city, as He countered the might of their adversaries with His unparalleled power. Thus, it becomes clear that the conflict was not a product of human ingenuity; rather, it was orchestrated by God, who dismantled the wisdom of the foes, instilled them with terror, afflicted them with ailments, and infused within them an extraordinary astonishment.