Bible Commentaries
Psalms 47

Verse 1

PSALM XLVII

The Gentiles are invited to celebrate the praises of God as the

Sovereign of the world, 1, 2.

The Jews exalt in his kindness to them, 3, 4.

All then join to celebrate his Majesty, as reigning over the

heathen, and gathering the dispersed Jews and Gentiles together

into one Church, 5-9.

NOTES ON PSALM XLVII

The title, "A Psalm for the sons of Korah," has nothing remarkable in it. The Psalm was probably written about the same time with the preceding, and relates to the happy state of the Jews when returned to their own land. They renewed their praises and promises of obedience, and celebrate him for the deliverance they had received. See the introduction to the preceding Psalm. Psalms 46:1 In a spiritual sense, it appears to relate to the calling of the Gentiles to be made partakers of the blessings of the Gospel with the converted Jews.

Verse Psalms 47:1. O clap your hands, all ye people — Let both Jews and Gentiles magnify the Lord: the Jews, for being delivered from the Babylonish captivity; the Gentiles, for being called to enter into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Verse 2

Verse Psalms 47:2. For the Lord most high is terrible — He has insufferable majesty, and is a great King-the mightiest of all emperors, for he is Sovereign over the whole earth.

Verse 3

Verse Psalms 47:3. He shall subdue the people under us — He shall do again for us what he had done for our forefathers-give us dominion over our enemies, and establish us in our own land. I would rather read this in the past tense, relative to what God did for their fathers in destroying the Canaanites, and giving them the promised land for their possession, and taking the people for his own inheritance. This is also applied to the conversion of the Gentiles, who, on the rejection of the Jews, have become his inheritance; and whom he has chosen to inherit all those spiritual blessings typified by the sacrifices and other significant rites and ceremonies of the Jewish Church.

Verse 5

Verse Psalms 47:5. God is gone up with a shout — Primarily, this may refer to the rejoicing and sounding of trumpets, when the ark was lifted up to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites. But it is generally understood as a prophetic declaration of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ; and the shout may refer to the exultation of the evangelists and apostles in preaching Christ crucified, buried, risen from the dead, and ascended to heaven, ever to appear in the presence of God for us. This was the triumph of the apostles; and the conversion of multitudes of souls by this preaching was the triumph of the cross of Christ.

Verse 6

Verse Psalms 47:6. Sing praises — זמרו zammeru: this word is four times repeated in this short verse, and shows at once the earnestness and happiness of the people. They are the words of exultation and triumph. Feel your obligation to God; express it in thanksgiving: be thankful, be eternally thankful, to God your King.

Verse 7

Verse Psalms 47:7. For God is the King of all the earth — He is not your King only, but the King of the universe. He has no limited power, no confined dominion.

Sing ye praises with understanding — זמרו משכיל zammeru maskil, sing an instructive song. Let sense and sound go together. Let your hearts and heads go with your voices. Understand what you sing; and feel what you understand; and let the song be what will give instruction in righteousness to them that hear it. [Anglo-Saxon], Sing wisely. - Anglo-Saxon. Multitudes sing foolishly.

Verse 8

Verse Psalms 47:8. God reigneth over the heathen — Though this is literally true in God's universal dominion, yet more is here meant. God reigns over the heathen when, by the preaching of the Gospel, they are brought into the Church of Christ.

God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. — He is a holy God; he proclaims holiness. His laws are holy, he requires holiness, and his genuine people are all holy. The throne of his holiness is the heaven of heavens; also the temple at Jerusalem; and, lastly, the hearts of the faithful.

Verse 9

Verse Psalms 47:9. The princes of the people are gathered together — נדיבי עמים nedibey ammim. The voluntary people - the princely, noble, or free-willed people; those who gladly receive the word of life; those who, like the Bereans, were of a noble or liberal disposition; and, when they heard the Gospel, searched the Scriptures to see whether these things were so. It is a similar word which is used Psalms 110:3; and I believe both texts speak of the same people - the Gentiles who gladly come unto his light, and present themselves a free-will offering to the Lord.

The people of the God of Abraham — Who were Abraham's people? Not the Jews; the covenant was made with him while yet in urcircumcision. Properly speaking, the Gentiles are those whom he represented; for the covenant was made with him while yet a Gentile; and in his seed all the nations-the Gentiles, of the earth were to be blessed. The people of the God of Abraham are the Gentiles, who, receiving the Gospel, are made partakers of the faith of Abraham, and are his spiritual children. The God of Abraham has Abraham's spiritual posterity, the believing Gentiles, for his own people.

The shields of the earth belong unto God. — The Septuagint translate this οἱ κραταιοι, the strong ones of the earth. The Vulgate reads, Quoniam dii fortes terrae vehementer elevati sunt; "Because the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted." These are supposed to mean kings and rulers of provinces which were present at the dedication of the temple; (for some suppose the Psalm to have been composed for this solemnity;) and that they are said here to be greatly exalted, because they exercised a very high degree of power over their respective districts. The words refer to something by which the inhabitants of the earth are defended; God's providence, guardian angels, c., c.

He is greatly exalted. — Great as secular rulers are, God is greater, and is above all King of kings and Lord of lords and the hearts of kings and governors are in his hand; and he turns them whithersoever he pleases.

ANALYSIS OF THE FORTY-SEVENTH PSALM

This Psalm, under the figure of the ark being brought into the temple, foretells the ascension of Christ to heaven; who was the true ark of the covenant, and the propitiatory or mercy-seat. It contains a prophecy of Christ's kingdom, and has two especial parts: -

First, An invitation to sing praises to Christ.

Secondly, The reasons why we should do it.

1. The ascension of Christ is typified under the ark's ascension, Psalms 47:1: "God is gone up with a shout; the Lord with the sound of a trumpet."

2. On which he invites the people to do now what was then done, "that we clap our hands, and sing praises." This should be done, 1. Cheerfully: "Clap your hands;" for this is a sign of inward joy, Nahum 3:19. 2. Universally: "O clap your hands, all ye people." 3. Vocally: "Shout unto God with the voice of triumph." 4. Frequently: "Sing praises - sing praises - sing praises - sing praises," Psalms 47:6, and again "sing praises," Psalms 47:7. It cannot be done too frequently. 5. Knowingly and discreetly: "Sing ye praises with understanding;" know the reason why ye are to praise him.

3. Now these reasons are drawn from his greatness and from his goodness.

1. He is GREAT. 1. He is the Lord Most High; 2. He is terrible; 3. He is a great King over all the earth. All power, at his ascension, was given unto him in heaven and earth.

2. He is GOOD. 1. In collecting his Church by subduing the nations, not by the sword, but by his word and Spirit, by which he would subdue their iniquities, the iniquity of the Jew first, and then of the Gentile; for the law was to come out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. To the discipline of that religion both were to submit; and therefore both might well be said "to be subdued to us, and brought under our feet."

2. In honouring and rewarding his Church: "He shall choose out our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved."

1. His Church was his choice: "It is a chosen generation, a peculiar people."

2. His heritage; for he will dwell among them, and provide an inheritance for them; blessings on earth and glory in heaven.

3. This is "the excellency of Jacob;" of Jacob after the Spirit; the kingdom, priesthood, and all the promises made unto Jacob and the fathers being theirs.

4. The cause: "His love only - he chose - the excellency of Jacob whom he loved."

3. In the increase and amplification of his Church: "God is now the king of all the earth;" not of the Jews only, for he "reigns over the heathen" also. He "sits upon a throne of holiness;" rules by his holy word and Spirit. 1. Making them holy who were unholy. 2. They are "a willing people" also. For the princes - the volunteers, among the people, are gathered together; even the people of the God of Abraham - the Gentiles, converted and reconciled to God.

4. In protecting his Church; whether by himself, or by the princes he raises up; by his providence, or his angels, or all together. For the "shields of the earth belong unto God." Secular rulers, and ecclesiastical governors, are shields of the Church. But God is the Head of it, and the Chief: "He is greatly exalted."