The next three psalms are songs of praise to God, but they also equate his greatness with the strength of the Jewish nation. It's important to keep in mind that in the ancient world, Gods pertained to particular nations or ethnic groups. The Hebrew Bible was largely compiled during the Babylonian exile, mostly from earlier material, but as Ezrah/Nehemiah and other works show, some of it was added after the return and construction of the Second Temple. I'm not sure whether these were written before or after the exile, and therefore which incarnation of Zion they refer to. Psalm 46 seems to refer to an earthquake, but we don't know when that might have happened.
Mount Zion at the time referred to the Temple Mount, which is not really a mountain, obviously, or to the city as a whole, as it evidently does in Psalm 48. Today, it refers to a hill north of the city.
In any event there seems to have been a gradual evolution from thinking of Yahweh as one God among many, the one who championed the Israelites and contended with the protector Gods of other peoples; to a universal God who happened to have a particular interest in the people now known as the Jews, as is clear in Psalm 47.
Again, we don't know who the Sons of Korah are, but my guess is they're a clan of musicians and songwriters (kind of like the Carter Family) who these songs are written for. Alamoth is thought to mean the soprano register, in other words this is to be sung by a woman or women, in which case the Sons of Korah must also include the daughters. The Sons of Korah might also just be songwriters, since the choirmaster seems to be a separate office.
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
46 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present[a] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.Selah4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God will help her right early.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.[b]Selah8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
he burns the chariots with fire!
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.[c]SelahTo the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
47 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is terrible,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.Selah5 God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm![a]8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!48 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
3 Within her citadels God
has shown himself a sure defense.4 For lo, the kings assembled,
they came on together.
5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded,
they were in panic, they took to flight;
6 trembling took hold of them there,
anguish as of a woman in travail.
7 By the east wind thou didst shatter
the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God establishes for ever.Selah9 We have thought on thy steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of thy temple.
10 As thy name, O God,
so thy praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Thy right hand is filled with victory;
11 let Mount Zion be glad!
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice
because of thy judgments!12 Walk about Zion, go round about her,
number her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
go through her citadels;
that you may tell the next generation
14 that this is God,
our God for ever and ever.
He will be our guide for ever.
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