The City of God
They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror. Psalm 48:5 · Berean Standard Bible
The moment those armies got close enough to see what was actually happening, they were so shocked they ran away in fear.
According to historical accounts, the Assyrian army suddenly broke camp and fled—some accounts say an angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 soldiers in a single night. The sight of God's intervention was so clear and terrifying that the enemies' courage completely evaporated.
The worship leader, describing the turning point where fear gripped the attackers instead of the defenders.
This is a stunning example of what happens when human power meets divine power. It demonstrates what the Bible repeatedly teaches: God can reverse any situation in a moment, and His presence is more formidable than any earthly army.
Upon seeing the city, the invading kings were seized with terror and fled in panic.
The verb וַיִּרְאוּ (wayirʾu—'they saw') employs the language of theophanic encounter; in Israelite tradition, seeing the divine presence induces fear (as in Isaiah 6 or the Damascus road encounter). This suggests the psalmist interprets the historical military retreat as visible manifestation of God's protective power. Delitzsch and Matthew Henry both interpret this as divine intervention made visible through circumstances—whether through angelic appearance, supernatural occurrence, or simply the overwhelming recognition of God's garrison.
The narrator continues, now depicting the enemy's perception and consequent flight.
This embodies the Scripture's recurring assertion that God fights for his people—from Joshua at Jericho to the early church's experience of supernatural protection—demonstrating that faith's vindication manifests in historical, observable reality.
3God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be a fortress.
4For behold, the kings assembled; they all advanced together.
5They saw and were astounded; they fled in terror.
6Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
7With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.
Read all of Psalm 48 — Mount Zion, beautiful in elevation — the joy of the whole earth. A love letter to the city where God chose to dwell.
This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.
Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFree on iPhone & iPad