June 14, 2017 (Wednesday)
This Psalm continues the praises found in Psalm 46, when Sennacherib’s army was suddenly destroyed outside Jerusalem. God had ‘come down’ to fight for His people (Isaiah 31:4), and had ‘ascended up’ in triumph to heaven (Psalm 47:5).
Psalm 47 is rightly regarded as a Messianic Psalm, inasmuch as it looks forward to the submission of all the nations of the world to Jehovah as their King; and it has naturally, on account of Psalm 47:5, been used from ancient times as a special Psalm for Ascension Day. Not that Psalm 47:5 is a prophecy of the Ascension; the context makes it plain that it cannot be so regarded. But the words originally spoken of Jehovah’s return to His throne in heaven (as we speak) after His triumph over the deadly enemies of His people, may be legitimately applied to the return of Christ to heaven after His triumph over sin and death, to take His seat upon His throne of glory at the right hand of God.” (Cambridge Bible Commentary).
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
God the King of the Earth.
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah
I. PRAISE GOD AS KING OF ALL THE EARTH (1-4)
1 O clap your hands, all peoples;
Shout to God with the voice of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared,
A great King over all the earth.
3 He subdues peoples under us
And nations under our feet.
4 He chooses our inheritance for us,
The glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.
II. PRAISE GOD AS OUR UNDISPUTED SOVEREIGN (5-7)
5 God has ascended with a shout,
The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing praises with a skillful psalm.
III. PRAISE GOD AS KING OF ALL EARTHLY RULERS (8-9)
8 God reigns over the nations,
God sits on His holy throne.
9 The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham,
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
He is highly exalted.