Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
Psalm 48:7 continues the account of Jehovah’s defense of Zion. Kings had assembled and passed by together against the city (v.4), but “They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away” (v.5). Fear seized them suddenly, with pain compared to a woman in travail (v.6). Verse 7 then turns directly to God and declares His power to break what men regard as strong. The psalm began, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised” (v.1); this verse supplies another reason for that praise. The God known in Zion for a refuge (v.3) can shatter great strength as easily as an east wind breaks ships upon the sea.
“Thou breakest.” The pronoun “Thou” turns attention away from the terrified kings and directly to God. The previous verses describe what the enemies did and felt: they assembled, passed by, saw, marvelled, were troubled, and fled (vv.4-6). Verse 7 identifies the power behind their overthrow: “Thou breakest.” Zion did not survive because her enemies were naturally timid or because her walls were greater than every army. God defended His city. This agrees with the earlier declaration, “God is known in her palaces for a refuge” (v.3). The verb “breakest” is strong. God does not only hinder what opposes Him; He can shatter its strength. Scripture often humbles confidence in human power this way: “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength” (Psalm 33:16). Men count soldiers, walls, ships, wealth, weapons, and alliances, but the psalm teaches the worshipper to count God first. The second person also makes the verse direct praise. The singers speak to Him: Thou breakest. God’s works should lead His people beyond speaking about Him to praising Him.
“The ships of Tarshish.” Ships of Tarshish were associated in Scripture with impressive seafaring power, commerce, and riches. Solomon had a navy of Tharshish that returned with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks (I Kings 10:22), while Isaiah included “all the ships of Tarshish” among the lofty things that would be brought low in the day of the LORD (Isaiah 2:12-16). Scripture also records God actually breaking such ships. “Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber” (I Kings 22:48). The reason was not chance. Eliezer told Jehoshaphat, “Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish” (II Chronicles 20:37). God broke the works connected with an unholy alliance with a wicked king. That history warns saints against joining themselves unequally with unbelievers, for the New Testament commands, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (II Corinthians 6:14). Wealth, commercial strength, political alliance, and careful preparation cannot protect what God determines to break. The kings of Psalm 48 appeared strong; ships of Tarshish appeared strong; neither strength could stand before Jehovah. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help” (Psalm 146:3).
“With an east wind.” God uses a created thing to accomplish His will. The wind is His servant. At the Red Sea, “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided” (Exodus 14:21). The same God who used an east wind to open a way for Israel could use one to break ships. Ezekiel later wrote of Tyre, “The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas” (Ezekiel 27:25-26). What merchants admired, the east wind could destroy.
The book of Jonah gives the same doctrine with striking clarity. Jonah fled toward Tarshish by ship (Jonah 1:3), “But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken” (Jonah 1:4). Later, God prepared a vehement east wind when the sun arose (Jonah 4:8), just as He had prepared the great fish (Jonah 1:17) and afterward a worm (Jonah 4:7). God rules the great and the small. Sea, wind, fish, worm, ship, and man act beneath His appointment. Nothing in creation escapes His dominion. “For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof” (Psalm 107:25). Psalm 48:7 therefore praises not the force of nature itself, but the God who commands it. Men boast in what they build; God commands His creation.
Jesus Christ showed this same dominion over wind and sea. When the disciples feared in the storm, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). The disciples recognized the wonder of His authority: “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:27). The wind that breaks the ships of Tarshish obeys Jesus Christ. The church therefore need not measure its safety by political favor, money, numbers, buildings, reputation, or human influence. Christ said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Its confidence is in Him, not in human strength.
Do not fear strength because it looks impressive. Remember the kings who fled and the ships an east wind could break, and praise the God whose power makes both armies and navies small before Him. “Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof” (v.12); remember what God has defended, and trust Him rather than the strength of men.
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
Psalm 48:7 continues the account of Jehovah’s defense of Zion. Kings had assembled and passed by together against the city (v.4), but “They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away” (v.5). Fear seized them suddenly, with pain compared to a woman in travail (v.6). Verse 7 then turns directly to God and declares His power to break what men regard as strong. The psalm began, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised” (v.1); this verse supplies another reason for that praise. The God known in Zion for a refuge (v.3) can shatter great strength as easily as an east wind breaks ships upon the sea.
“Thou breakest.” The pronoun “Thou” turns attention away from the terrified kings and directly to God. The previous verses describe what the enemies did and felt: they assembled, passed by, saw, marvelled, were troubled, and fled (vv.4-6). Verse 7 identifies the power behind their overthrow: “Thou breakest.” Zion did not survive because her enemies were naturally timid or because her walls were greater than every army. God defended His city. This agrees with the earlier declaration, “God is known in her palaces for a refuge” (v.3). The verb “breakest” is strong. God does not only hinder what opposes Him; He can shatter its strength. Scripture often humbles confidence in human power this way: “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength” (Psalm 33:16). Men count soldiers, walls, ships, wealth, weapons, and alliances, but the psalm teaches the worshipper to count God first. The second person also makes the verse direct praise. The singers speak to Him: Thou breakest. God’s works should lead His people beyond speaking about Him to praising Him.
“The ships of Tarshish.” Ships of Tarshish were associated in Scripture with impressive seafaring power, commerce, and riches. Solomon had a navy of Tharshish that returned with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks (I Kings 10:22), while Isaiah included “all the ships of Tarshish” among the lofty things that would be brought low in the day of the LORD (Isaiah 2:12-16). Scripture also records God actually breaking such ships. “Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber” (I Kings 22:48). The reason was not chance. Eliezer told Jehoshaphat, “Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish” (II Chronicles 20:37). God broke the works connected with an unholy alliance with a wicked king. That history warns saints against joining themselves unequally with unbelievers, for the New Testament commands, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (II Corinthians 6:14). Wealth, commercial strength, political alliance, and careful preparation cannot protect what God determines to break. The kings of Psalm 48 appeared strong; ships of Tarshish appeared strong; neither strength could stand before Jehovah. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help” (Psalm 146:3).
“With an east wind.” God uses a created thing to accomplish His will. The wind is His servant. At the Red Sea, “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided” (Exodus 14:21). The same God who used an east wind to open a way for Israel could use one to break ships. Ezekiel later wrote of Tyre, “The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas” (Ezekiel 27:25-26). What merchants admired, the east wind could destroy.
The book of Jonah gives the same doctrine with striking clarity. Jonah fled toward Tarshish by ship (Jonah 1:3), “But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken” (Jonah 1:4). Later, God prepared a vehement east wind when the sun arose (Jonah 4:8), just as He had prepared the great fish (Jonah 1:17) and afterward a worm (Jonah 4:7). God rules the great and the small. Sea, wind, fish, worm, ship, and man act beneath His appointment. Nothing in creation escapes His dominion. “For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof” (Psalm 107:25). Psalm 48:7 therefore praises not the force of nature itself, but the God who commands it. Men boast in what they build; God commands His creation.
Jesus Christ showed this same dominion over wind and sea. When the disciples feared in the storm, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). The disciples recognized the wonder of His authority: “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Matthew 8:27). The wind that breaks the ships of Tarshish obeys Jesus Christ. The church therefore need not measure its safety by political favor, money, numbers, buildings, reputation, or human influence. Christ said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Its confidence is in Him, not in human strength.
Do not fear strength because it looks impressive. Remember the kings who fled and the ships an east wind could break, and praise the God whose power makes both armies and navies small before Him. “Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof” (v.12); remember what God has defended, and trust Him rather than the strength of men.