Psalm 47
Israel Calls On the Nations to Praise God
Israel Calls On the Nations to Praise God
Psalm 47. This Psalm, also of the sons of Korah, gives us the invitation of restored Israel to the nations to praise God. This introduces us to the Millennium formally, as the Millennial name of God is used; “the Most High”.
PSALM 47
To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.
1 All ye peoples, clap your hands; shout unto God with the voice of triumph!
2 For Jehovah, the Most High, is terrible, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdueth the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.
4 He hath chosen our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
vv.1-4 Praise for God’s Deliverance of Israel. All the peoples of the earth are called upon to clap their hands and shout to God in praise. As already mentioned, the millennial name of God is used here; “the Most High God”, or “El-Elyon”. God is said to be a “great king over all the earth”. It speaks of the universal dominion of God through the reign of Christ. Praise is given for God’s deliverance of Israel; “He subdueth the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet”. Israel will be given their rightful place at the head of all nations according to prophecy (Deut. 28:13). Israel also will be established in their land, their inheritance. All of this is according to God’s love for Jacob.
5 God is gone up amid shouting, Jehovah amid the sound of the trumpet.
6 Sing psalms of God, sing psalms; sing psalms unto our King, sing psalms!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing psalms with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the nations; God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
9 The willing-hearted of the peoples have gathered together, with the people of the God of Abraham. For unto God belong the shields of the earth: he is greatly exalted.
vv.5-9 Praise for God’s Exaltation Over All the Earth. The praise continues with a deeper theme. It is not so much God’s deliverance of Israel that is the theme now, but His own exaltation among the nations. God is proclaimed as “king”, and not only king but “king of all the earth”. God is pictured as reigning over the nations, and sitting up on His holy throne. In v.9 we find that “the willing-hearted of the peoples”, which would be the believers among the Gentiles who are converted, are gathered together along with believing Israel, “the people of the God of Abraham”, to praise God together. The theme of this praise is the exaltation of God in the Millennium!