NOTES for Psa 47

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

²For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

⁹The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

The words of the psalm are addressed not only to the Israelites but to all peoples. This alone speaks of its prophetic character, for at the time it was composed it was difficult to imagine that the Gentiles would accept the one God. But the Lord is the great King over all the earth. He reigns not over one people alone, but over the nations. Therefore, all peoples are called to sing His praise, for the Lord wishes to reveal Himself to everyone.

The call to rejoice does not contradict the Lord's being called awesome. Of course, fear makes rejoicing impossible, but the reason for joy is union with God. He brings many gifts to His faithful, but the chief gift is He Himself, revealed to humankind. The joy of communion with Him is not thoughtless frivolity. Those who follow the Lord are called to sing with understanding. Therefore, reason is necessary for knowing God and living with Him, and there is no contradiction between faith and reason.

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