Bible Commentaries
Psalms 47

Introduction

PSALM 47

:-. Praise is given to God for victory, perhaps that recorded (2 Chronicles 20:20-30); and His dominions over all people, Jews and Gentiles, is asserted.

Verse 1

1. clap . . . hands . . . people—literally, "peoples," or "nations" (compare Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalms 18:49; Psalms 98:9).

Verse 2

2, 3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.

Verse 3

3. under us—that is, His saints; Israel's temporal victories were types of the spiritual conquests of the true Church.

Verse 4

4. He shall . . . inheritance—the heathen to be possessed by His Church ( :-), as Canaan by the Jews.

excellency of Jacob—literally, "pride," or, that in which he glories (not necessarily, though often, in a bad sense), the privileges of the chosen people—

whom he loved—His love being the sole cause of granting them.

Verse 5

5-7. God, victorious over His enemies, reascends to heaven, amid the triumphant praises of His people, who celebrate His sovereign dominion. This sovereignty is what the Psalm teaches; hence he adds,

sing . . . praises with understanding—literally, "sing and play an instructive (Psalm)." The whole typifies Christ's ascension (compare :-).

Verse 8

8, 9. The instruction continued.

throne of . . . holiness—or, "holy throne" (see on :-; Psalms 47:2).

Verse 9

9. princes—who represent peoples. For—

even—supply, "as," or, "to"—that is, they all become united under covenant with Abraham's God.

shields—as in :-, "rulers" [Margin].