PSALM 47

Ps 47:1-9. Praise is given to God for victory, perhaps that recorded (2Ch 20:20-30); and His dominions over all people, Jews and Gentiles, is asserted.

1. clap . hands . people-literally, "peoples," or "nations" (compare De 32:43; Ps 18:49; 98:9).

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

2, 3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.

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

3. under us-that is, His saints; Israel's temporal victories were types of the spiritual conquests of the true Church.

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

4. He shall . inheritance-the heathen to be possessed by His Church (Ps 2:8), as Canaan by the Jews.

excellency of Jacob-literally, "pride," or, that in which he glories (not necessarily, though often, in a bad sense), the privileges of the chosen people-

whom he loved-His love being the sole cause of granting them.

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

5-7. God, victorious over His enemies, reascends to heaven, amid the triumphant praises of His people, who celebrate His sovereign dominion. This sovereignty is what the Psalm teaches; hence he adds,

sing . praises with understanding-literally, "sing and play an instructive (Psalm)." The whole typifies Christ's ascension (compare Ps 68:18).

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

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

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

8, 9. The instruction continued.

throne of . holiness-or, "holy throne" (see on [593]Ps 2:6; [594]Ps 23:4).

9 The 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.

9. princes-who represent peoples. For-

even-supply, "as," or, "to"-that is, they all become united under covenant with Abraham's God.

shields-as in Ho 4:18, "rulers" [Margin].