Is Our God Beautiful for Situation?

Psalms 48:2(KJV)

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Over decades and centuries, when God is eulogized amongst Christians, he is often described as being "beautiful for situation(s)."

This phrase is culled from the book of Psalms above.

Let's examine this. Is this actually referring to God?

I'm afraid not.

"Situation" there is derived from the Hebrew word nôph, which means "elevation; height." This basically describes a physical location and a step further, loftiness (having great height).

A fair example is: "My house is SITUATED at the base of the popular mango tree."

So, situation here is NOT in the context of circumstances and problems, but in the context of LOCATION and more accurately, LOFTINESS.

Psalms 48:1-3(KJV)

[1]Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised IN THE CITY OF OUR GOD, IN THE MOUNTAIN of his holiness.

[2]BEAUTIFUL FOR SITUATION, the joy of the whole earth, IS MOUNT ZION, ON THE SIDES OF THE NORTH, the city of the great King.

[3]God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

So this is actually talking about the location of Mount Zion—the city in Israel (in Jerusalem) that David took for himself and lived, setting his palace there during his 40 years reign; it was a mountainous area.

Read verse 1–3 again.

2 Samuel 5:7(KJV)

Nevertheless David took the strong hold of ZION: the same is the city of David.

1 Kings 8:1(KJV)

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is ZION.

Mount Zion was the most conspicuous (noticeable) part of Jerusalem primarily because of its elevation (height). It was the place where the ark of the covenant reposed until the temple was built by Solomon on Mount Moriah.

So Psalm 48:2 actually talks about the LOCATION of Mount Zion—ON THE SIDES OF THE NORTH.

Psalm 48:2(NIV)

BEAUTIFUL IN ITS LOFTINESS, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.

Psalm 48:2(NLT)

IT IS HIGH AND MAGNIFICENT; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King!

Beautiful for situation means having a pleasant and lofty location, and this is with reference to Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

So, is our God beautiful in every situation—the good and the bad times? YES.

But is that what Psalm 48:2 is talking about? NO.

Blessings.

Victor Ibosiola © 2021