Psalms 47 – Great King Over All the Earth
By Bunni Pounds
*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.
What a proclamation of praise and exuberance we see in Psalm 47 as the King of the whole earth is exalted and lifted up as the supreme ruler. This song of thanksgiving should raise our eyes again to see joy, fulfillment, and victory even in a hostile world that does not believe in the Coming of the Lord.
Matthew Henry in his Bible commentary lays out that this Psalm could have been written about the ark ascending (going up) into Jerusalem (Zion) or it is a picture of the heavenly ruler or Messiah being lifted up as the King over the people of the earth. In essence – it could be both.
“Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For the Lord Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
He will subdue the peoples under us,
And the nations under our feet.
He will choose our inheritance for us,
The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.” (Verses 1-4)
We clap our hands when we want to celebrate someone’s talent or success or their stirring remarks. Clapping draws attention to something – usually as an outward expression of inner joy. It might feel awkward sometimes to clap – but it can also stir up emotions in our hearts.
Shouting is even harder if we are not feeling the emotion behind it, but it is a command to “all you peoples!” in this passage to celebrate the Lord and His power. Shouting is a very biblical expression of praise.
The same people who want to condemn shouting at church – will shout all day long at a football game. It is not the act of shouting that they condemn – they just look down on the environment.
Throughout the Old Testament – the people shouted when something was fulfilled, or victory was won. In this case – we are to shout because the “Lord Most High is awesome”. There is no proof given of this fact because none is needed. He is the great King and worthy of clapping, shouts, and our total praise.
The New Testament even talks about the reaction of the Lord as He is coming back for His bride – He will shout – Himself.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
God is the King over all the earth. The people are under His authority and all the nations are under His feet. This statement shows us how much He thinks about us and the love He feels for us – “He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves.”
He is not just subduing the nations – He wants to reward us and bless us. He gives us an inheritance and takes care of us. This is what has always been in the heart of God since the fall of man – to redeem us and bless us. I love this picture of Him handing us our inheritance that He Himself purchased for us.
“God has gone up with a shout,
The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with understanding.” (Verses 5-7)
Here is God shouting again. It sounds like a trumpet as He goes up and is crowned King over everything.
Notice here that the Psalmist says, “Sing praises to God” four times then repeats it again “Sing praises with understanding.”
He is emphasizing that this should be a strong reaction from us to this ascension of the King into this place of glory.
“God reigns over the nations;
God sits on His holy throne.
The princes of the people have gathered together,
The people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
He is greatly exalted.” (Verses 8-9)
This is the celebration of the plan of God all coming together. He is sitting down on His throne in rest. The promise to Abraham has been fulfilled as all the leaders of the earth worship Him. Abraham’s seed and reward as the father of many nations is there to worship God (Genesis 12) and Jews and Gentiles are now One New Man (Ephesians 2:15). Everyone has been redeemed and “belongs to God” as He is being exalted.
What a Psalm of celebration and thanksgiving. It should raise up our eyes to see Jesus, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, high and lifted up and give us hope that He ultimately is in control of this world and our circumstances.
The command of the New Testament is to incorporate patience into our hearts as we wait for the Lord to return. Psalm 47 gives another picture to set in our minds as we wait patiently for everything to be made right and Jesus to give us our full inheritance as the Bride of Christ.
“Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” – James 5:7-8
Jesus is coming back soon. Get ready to clap and shout.
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