Psalm 48 reminds us that there is more to reality than what we can see and touch. In the way that the sons of Korah see the world, there can be more than meets the eye even for those things that we can see and touch.

I think we all want this to be true, but it’s hard to believe. We don’t want to deny the reality of the tangible world, but we want to believe that there is more. Look with me at a couple key lines in Psalm 48.

The Far North

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. (Psalm 48:1/2)

I love this description: The sons of Korah describe Mount Zion, Jerusalem, as “in the far north” (יַרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן). These words paint a picture of Jerusalem that is more than what you can see with your eyes or see on a map. Isaiah 14:13 uses the same “far north” phrase to speak about heaven, the realm “above the stars of God.” Passages like these show that the biblical authors can use the concept of “the far north” with Lewis and Tolkien-like meaning — the “north” as an other worldly realm.

The sons of Korah want us to know that there are places on this earth where heaven and earth overlap in a real way. The legendary “far north” is, in reality, the place where Yahweh is present in a special way. In the days of Psalm 48, it was in Jerusalem, but ultimately Yahweh resides in the body of Christ. Through him and his Spirit we experience the “far north” presence of God. It’s not too good to be true. It’s not mythologizing. It’s not hyperbole or mere metaphor. God created this world to dwell with us, and he has never given up on that plan. It was true for the sons of Korah. It’s true now, and it will be true forever.

In Psalm 48, there is a voice pointing beyond the veil and saying to us: “There is more. Dare to hope for more because it is true.”

He will guide forever, beyond death

The last lines of Psalm 48 emphasizes the personal nature of the hope that lies beyond the veil.

Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever (עֹלָמוֹת) / beyond death (עַל־מוּת). (Psalm 48:14/15)

In the closing lines of the psalm, we are asked to walk around Jerusalem and recognize that the city itself points to God’s presence. Jerusalem is “the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2/3). David might sit on the throne, but “God has made himself known as a fortress” (Psalm 48:3/4).

I find the very last sentence particularly comforting. My tendency is to fear that when God helps and guides me, the second shoe will soon drop. Even when God provides, I fear he will back away, maybe even strike, so that I’ll stay needy and dependent. Is this who God has revealed himself to be? I don’t think it is, but my fears and anxiety don’t listen to my statements of faith. The last sentence speaks directly to this fear, but there’s two possible ways to read the last line. Both are true and worth meditating on.

The last line says God will guide his people עלמות. Those five letters can be read in at least two different, complementary ways. The Greek Old Testament and some Hebrew manusciripts read them as עֹלָמוֹת, “into the ages” (εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας). The ESV follows this reading, translating it “he will guide us forever.” But the ESV footnote points to an another way to read the same five letters: עַל־מוּת, “He will guide us beyond death.”

Both statements are true. Jesus promises to go before his people and lead them forever (ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος, Matt 28:20; ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν πορεύεται καὶ τὰ πρόβατα αὐτῷ ἀκολουθεῖ, John 10:4). “He will guide us forever” (עֹלָמוֹת). We don’t have to fear that he will abandon us once we start to follow him.

Regarding the fear of death haunts us all, Psalm 48:14/15 points to the truth stated explicitly in so many other passages of Scripture (e.g. Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:1–3): His guidance extends beyond death (עַל־מוּת).

This isn’t a textual criticism post. I’m not drawing a conclusion about which reading is better. I’m just glad that both statements are true. He promises to guide us forever, and his guidance extends up to and through death.

There is indeed more. May we see the world like the sons of Korah and take refuge is the Son who goes before us.