The Book of Psalms

Psalm 47

Psalm XLVII · Vol. II, p. 1017

The nations are exhorted cheerfully to entertain the kingdom of Christ.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

To the chief musician, A psalm for¹ the sons of Korah.

1 O clap^a your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

B.C. cir. 1054.

1 Or, of.

a Ps.96.11-13; 98.4-9. Is.55.12. Re.18.20; 19.1-3.

2 For the LORD most High is ^bterrible;² he is a great King over all the earth.

b De.28.58. Ps.65.5; 66.3,5; 68.35; 145.6; 76.12; ver.7. Mal.1.14. Mat.28.18. Phi.2.9-11.

2 Terrible. To be feared.—Boothroyd.

3 He^c shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

c 2 Sa.v.viii.x. 1 Ki.4.21. Ps.18.47; 22.27-29. Is.49.23. Da.7.27.

4 He^d shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.³

d Ps.60.6-8; 108.7-9. Je.3.19. 1 Pe.1.4. 1 Co.3.22,23. Phi.4.19. Ep.3.18,19.

3 See note on Ps. 3. 2.—C.

5 God^e is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

e 2 Sa.6.15. 1 Ch.15.16-28; 16.4-42. Ps.68.18-20,24,25,33. Ac.1.5-11. Da.7.10-14. Lu.24.51-53. Col.1.3,16. 1 Co.14.15.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

7 For^g God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with ⁴understanding.⁵

g Zec.14.9. Col.3.16.

4 Or, every one that hath understanding.

5 Knowing God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—speaking in a known tongue, and keeping the affections subordinate to the intellect.—C.

8 God^h reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

h Ps.93.1; 99.1; 22.27-29; 110.1-7. He.1.3; 8.1; 4.14.

9 Theⁱ princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham:⁶ for ^jthe shields⁷ of the earth belong unto God; he is greatly exalted.

i Ps.110.2,3; 22.27-31; 72.8-11. Is.60.4. Ga.3.28,29.

6 Or, The voluntary of the people are gathered unto the people of the God of Abraham, 2 Co.8.5.

j Pr.30.5. Ho.2.18. 1 Co.12.28. Ep.4.11-13.

A.M. cir. 2950. B.C. cir. 1054.

7 The defence of nations lies neither in the numbers, discipline, nor even courage of armies; their shield in battle is the arm of God.—C.

Notes

Ver. 1. This noble song of praise and joy was probably composed at the dedication of the temple and was intended to be sung during the solemn service. It is in every way adapted for such an event. P.—O clap your hands. There are feelings and sentiments which words cannot express, and then the aid of action is commanded, and specially the hands as the organs and emblems of all activity. See 2 Ki. 11. 12. C.

Ver. 3. He shall subdue, &c. Not by any earthly, but by a spiritual conquest; for the 'weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty (nevertheless) to the pulling down of strongholds,' 2 Co. 10. 4. C.

Ver. 5. This psalm when written was a prophecy, but is now a record of the ascension of Christ, Ep. 4. 8, and of that joy with which the heavenly powers hailed his triumph over sin and death. C.

Ver. 9. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham. This verse carries us beyond the ascension, to a period when Jew and Gentile shall be 'both one in Christ'—not merely in principle, as they are now, but in fact, according to the sure word of prophecy. C.

Reflections.—Behold, my soul, our exalted Lord Jesus, terrible to his enemies because of their rejection of him; but kind to believers in blessing them throughout all the world in himself—in choosing for them, when having faith, their portion in the new-covenant and in the heavenly state! Behold how, amidst surrounding troops of hymning angels, he ascended on high; had all power in heaven and earth given him: and by his gospel, word, and gracious influence, he gathers the nations to himself, that they may be blessed together with faithful Abraham; and even makes the rulers of nations submit to his yoke or helpful to his cause!