Psalm 47

Psa 47:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: "OF THE SONS OF KORAH. A PSALM". The triumph by a marvel of divine power over the brutal Assyrian aggression. Sennacherib's proclamation had been: "Thus saith the great king..." (Isa 36:4). And by attempting to conquer Jerusalem, he was asserting his claim to be "like the Most High" (v 4; Isa 14:13)! But this Psa responds to his challenge with: 'There is only one Great King!' -- Yahweh (vv 1,2,6,7,8). Psa 93, 97, 99 also belong to this majestic occasion. So also does Isa 52:7-10.

(NT) The more important theme is the assertion of the authority of God through His Messiah reigning in Zion. Now not only Israel but all the Gentiles ("nations" of vv 3,8, etc), and esp those who have been aggressively hostile to them, know that "God reigns".

CLAP YOUR HANDS: Singular: "Clap your hand" -- ie over your mouth: humility and silence (the same singular usage occurs in 2Ki 11:12 and Isa 55:12).

ALL YOU NATIONS: "All ye people" (AV). "Am" = the people of Israel, "all" twelve tribes -- since representatives of each had come to Hezekiah at Jerusalem.

Psa 47:2

AWESOME: "Terrible" (AV), "to be reverenced or feared" (2Ch 20:29).

THE LORD MOST HIGH: The Heb "Elyon" emphasizes, as in Psa 46:4, the Gentile context of the psalm.

Psa 47:3

PEOPLES: The "nations" (AV) are l'ummim. The plural term refers probably to the surrounding Arab nations, who willingly reinforced the Assyrian onslaught (Isa 5:26,30; 29:7; 30:28; Mic 4:11; Psa 79:6). Herodotus calls Sennacherib "the king of the Arabians".

(NT) "He shall subdue the people (all Arab enemies) under us (Israel)." This happens after there has been a period of Arab gloating that at last the hated people of Israel have not only been vanquished but are permanently (so they think!) reduced to inferiority: Psa 83:4; Eze 35:10; 36:2; Oba 1:15; etc.

UNDER OUR FEET: (NT) All of (spiritual) Israel will experience something of the victory won initially by Christ -- that is, his enemies being put under his feet (Psa 8:6, notes; Psa 110:1; 1Co 15:25).

Psa 47:4

HE CHOSE OUR INHERITANCE FOR US: "Inheritance" is "nachalah", suggesting the allotments of the Land to the twelve tribes and Levi. The LXX uses "his inheritance", suggesting that "Jacob" is the inheritance, or heritage, of the Lord. See, on both ideas, Psa 16:5. Also, as to Israel being God's special possession or heritage, see Exo 19:5 and Mal 3:16,17.

PRIDE: "Excellency" (AV). Heb "gaon": lit, "rising", or metaphorically "pride" (as RSV). The very best portion of Jacob's inheritance, in which he exults with grateful joy (cp Isa 35:6; 60:15).

JACOB, WHOM HE LOVED: Alludes to the unification of the remnant of Israel with Judah, under Hezekiah.

See Lesson, Selah.

Psa 47:5

GOD HAS ASCENDED: 'God coming down' = the beginning of a theophany (eg Exo 19:20). Likewise, 'God going up' describes the termination of a theophany -- in this case the final manifestation of divine might by which the Assyrian camp was decimated. That is, 'God is finished with them!' (cp Gen 17:22; Psa 68:18; Jdg 13:20 for similar usage; also see WS 204, for a more lengthy examination of these concepts).

THE SOUNDING OF TRUMPETS: Another feature of theophany: Exo 19:16,19; Jos 6:16,20. Also, it is a summons to God's people (Num 10:1-10; Isa 27:13).

(NT) "Trumpets" = "shofar". Trumpets are directly connected with the resurrection in 1Th 4:16; 1Co 15:51,52; and Rev 11:15,18. Trumpets signaled the "jubilee" of liberty to all captives, and the restoration of their inheritance (Lev 25:9-13,39-42,47-55; and cp Psa 47:4). And trumpets proclaimed the coronation or approach of a king (1Ki 1:34,39; 9:13; 11:12,14; Psa 98:6). This phrase also occurs in 2Sa 6:15, where the Ark of the Lord's presence comes to dwell in His holy city.

Psa 47:7

Vv 7,8: Echoed in Rev 19:4-6.

KING OF ALL THE EARTH: Used also in Zec 14:9, with reference to the manifestation of Jehovah in His Son.

SING TO HIM A PSALM OF PRAISE: "Sing ye praises with understanding" (maschil). Not just with an overflow of emotion. Not rashly, carelessly, or superficially, but with a proper insight into the words and works of a majestic God: "I will sing with the understanding also" (1Co 14:15,16; cp also Col 3:16).

Psa 47:9

THE NOBLES OF THE NATIONS: This phrase might describe the rulers of Israel. But these rulers, acting in the place of an ill Hezekiah, switched to a faithless policy of reliance on Egypt (Isa 30:1-17; 31:1-9). So it is more likely that here the word "princes" / "nadib" (ie willing or voluntary) may ref the men of Asher and Manasseh and Zebulun, who willingly "humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem" to keep Hezekiah's special Passover (2Ch 30:11,12). Alternatively, the word may refer to the Angel-warriors, who fought for Israel.

(NT) Princes = nadib, which sig "willing, or voluntary ones" (see AV mg). The sw describes those who are raised from the dead by Christ, when he asserts absolute dominion over the earth: "Thy people shall be willing (nadib) in the day of thy power... from the womb of the morning" (Psa 110:3). These "willing ones" are gathered together (ie Gen 49:10; Isa 11:10; Joh 12:32), to be with Christ.

THE PEOPLE OF THE GOD OF ABRAHAM: Abraham's true seed (even Gentiles!) share in the fulfillment of the Promises God made to him: Gen 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 17:5,15-19; 22:17,18; Gal 3:27-29; Exo 3:15; Isa 41:8-10; Mat 22:32; Rom 4:11,12.

THE GOD OF ABRAHAM: The One who cares for Abraham's seed, and who routs the enemies of Abraham: Gen. 14:14-16,20.

THE KINGS OF THE EARTH BELONG TO GOD: "Kings" = "shields" (NIV mg; AV). The great armaments from the plundered Assyrian camp, are now dedicated as trophies to the honor of the Lord. Or, perhaps, the golden shields of Solomon (1Ki 10:17), poss paid out by Hezekiah to Sennacherib as a bribe (2Ki 18:14-16), are now returned in triumph to their rightful owner.