Psalm 47

November 18, 2015

Yahweh rules (Ps 93:1-93:2)

“Yahweh is the ruler king.

He is robed in majesty.

Yahweh is robed.

He is girded with strength.

He has established the world.

It shall never be moved.

Your throne is established from of old.

You are from everlasting.”

Psalm 93 is a very short psalm with no title as it praises God the King. This psalm is closely related to Psalm 47, as this is part of a few psalms where Yahweh is the ruler. This might have been a song sung on the vigil of the Sabbath. Yahweh is the ruler king robed in majesty. He has the strength that established the whole unmovable world. His throne was and is established forever.

September 30, 2015

God is king of the world (Ps 47:7-47:9)

“God is king of all the earth.

Sing praises with a psalm!

God is the king over the nations.

God sits on his holy throne.

The princes of the peoples gather

As the people of the God of Abraham.

The shields of the earth

Belong to God.

He is highly exalted!”

This short psalm comes to an end where it began, proclaiming that God is king of the world, not just Israel, as in the first verses. He is the king of everyone. He sits on his throne. The princes of the world gather together with the people of the God of Abraham. All the protections or shields of the world belong to God. This might be a reference to the shields of the various rulers with their gang sign symbols. Once again we end with the idea that God is highly exalted in this psalm of worship.

September 30, 2015

Sing praises to Yahweh (Ps 47:5-47:6)

“God has gone up with a shout.

Yahweh has gone up

With the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God!

Sing praises!

Sing praises to our King!

Sing praises!”

In case you missed the point, “sing praises to God.” This refrain is repeated 4 times. There must be noise. There were shouts and at least a trumpet. They were to sing praises to God, the King, Yahweh. This psalm may have been used in the transport of the Ark of the Covenant.

September 30, 2015

Yahweh is king (Ps 47:1-47:4)

To the choirmaster leader, a psalm of the Korahites

“Clap your hands!

All you peoples!

Shout to God!

Shout with loud songs of joy!

Yahweh!

The Most High is awesome!

He is a great king over all the earth.

He subdued peoples under us.

He subdued nations under our feet.

He chose our heritage for us.

We are the pride of Jacob.

He loves us.”

Selah

Psalm 47 is another in the string of Korahite choral songs that proclaims Yahweh as king. They were to clap their hands and shout for joy because Yahweh was awesome. He was and is the king of the earth. He has subdued peoples and nations under the pride of Jacob, the Israelites. Yahweh has chosen Jacob and his descendants as his heritage because he loves them. This section ends with the musical interlude pause of the Selah.