Psa 47:5 | KingComments | STEP | still belongs to . There is a selah at the end of because is no longer about what He has done to the nations ( ), but about who He Himself is. In terms of content, still belongs to the previous verses because God “ascended with a shout” and the LORD “with the sound of a trumpet”, meaning that after defeating the nations, He returns to Jerusalem. The going to Jerusalem is called: ascending. Jerusalem is higher than the surrounding places, both literally and figuratively. Therefore, going to Jerusalem is an ascension. It is not clear to which occasion we should think here. It is comparable to the bringing up of the ark to Mount Zion by David. That was also done “with shouting and the sound of the trumpet” ( ). Shouting is common at an enthronement. It has to do with the proclamation of the kingship of God (cf. ). We can connect trumpeting with the day of atonement as the announcement of the year of jubilee ( ) which prophetically refers to the realm of peace. Then the “period of restoration of all things” has come ( ). We can also think of the glorification of the Lord Jesus after He finished the work on the cross ( ; ). As a reward for this, He is immediately glorified by God at His right hand in heaven ( ) and by Him “made both Lord and Christ” ( ). In , “sing praises” is repeated five times. First, it is repeated twice to sing praises “to God” ( ). God is the Almighty and Supreme. He is the Only One, the Truthful One. He alone is worthy of worship ( ; ). In the first stanza ( ), it has already been noted that God is the great King. In the second stanza, which begins in , His Kingship is given additional emphasis. Twice He is called King ( ) and His government and His throne are mentioned ( ). The call sounds to sing praises “to our King”, the great, sovereign God, the King, the Ruler of His people. A king has a people. God is King and has a people. The people that God has as their King are an exceedingly blessed people. This people is Israel. God is their King and dwells in their midst. That gives special cause to sing joyfully and to praise Him, especially after He has put an end to the time of tribulation ( ). It is also true for us that we have a special reason to praise God after a time of trial. In the tribulation we have sometimes felt as if He had forgotten us. Then when He brightens it for us, a deep joy and peace come into our heart, for which we honor Him with great gratitude. God is King! At an ascension to the throne, a call is made in Israel: Such and such is king! ( ; ). Here we are talking about the enthronement of God, which is the reason to sing praises. Since God is “King over all the earth”, the singing of praises for and about Him implies singing “a skillful psalm” literally “a maskil psalm” ( ). Maskil means instruction, understanding, wisdom. It is the word we encounter in the heading of several psalms. It is singing with understanding and insight, as is done in the Christian church ( ; cf. ). That this song is “a maskil” or “instruction” means that it is a song that brings insight and understanding. For example, in Psalm 32, the first maskil-psalm, we are instructed about and gain insight into the forgiveness of sin. In Psalm 45, we are instructed about and gain insight into the Person of Christ. Here, in Psalm 47, we are instructed about and given insight into the exaltedness of the great King. That God is King over all the earth means that His reign knows no boundaries. He is not a national God like the idols of the nations. If this comes through to us, we will let ourselves be ‘instructed’ by it with regard to our whole life, in all areas of it. The ‘instruction’ also extends into the future, when “God reigns over the nations” ( ). When He is King over all earth, it means that He governs everything publicly. We don’t see that now, but we see Him to Whom all authority has been given in heaven and on earth ( ; ). By this we know that He is in control of everything and directs it in such a way that it cooperates in the accomplishment of His plans. Although the dominion over the world was given away by man to satan at the Fall, that does not mean that God no longer rules. We see this in the book of Job. God “sits on His holy throne”. This means that He is holy and reigns in holiness. This is already seen by faith today. Soon it will be seen by all. Then it will be said: “The kingdom of the world has become [the kingdom] of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” ( ). In the realm of peace, Israel is the means through which God has blessing for all the earth and all nations, through which the nations will also worship the one true God. Also in is the call to the people to rejoice before the LORD. The call to sing praises may also be directed to the nations and not just the people of Israel. The nations will join God’s people by their “princes” to be blessed by them ( ). God’s people are here called “the people of the God of Abraham”. It is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that He would make him a father of a multitude of nations ( ). And in him all nations would be blessed ( ; ). By “the shields of the earth” is meant the “princes of the people” from the first line of this . “Shields” indicate that they are responsible for the protection of the people. These ‘protectors’ “belong to God” (cf. ). He is their Owner; they are accountable to Him. They are completely in His power and cannot do anything without Him. They cannot be compared to Him. He alone “is highly exalted” (cf. ).

‏ Psalms 47:5

God Is Exalted

Psa 47:5 still belongs to Psa 47:1b-4. There is a selah at the end of Psa 47:4 because Psa 47:5 is no longer about what He has done to the nations (Psa 47:3 ; 4), but about who He Himself is. In terms of content, Psa 47:5 still belongs to the previous verses because God “ascended with a shout” and the LORD “with the sound of a trumpet”, meaning that after defeating the nations, He returns to Jerusalem. The going to Jerusalem is called: ascending. Jerusalem is higher than the surrounding places, both literally and figuratively. Therefore, going to Jerusalem is an ascension.

It is not clear to which occasion we should think here. It is comparable to the bringing up of the ark to Mount Zion by David. That was also done “with shouting and the sound of the trumpet” (2Sam 6:15). Shouting is common at an enthronement. It has to do with the proclamation of the kingship of God (cf. Num 23:21). We can connect trumpeting with the day of atonement as the announcement of the year of jubilee (Lev 25:9 ; 10) which prophetically refers to the realm of peace. Then the “period of restoration of all things” has come (Acts 3:20-21).

We can also think of the glorification of the Lord Jesus after He finished the work on the cross (Psa 68:18; Eph 4:8-10). As a reward for this, He is immediately glorified by God at His right hand in heaven (Jn 13:32) and by Him “made both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

In Psa 47:6-7, “sing praises” is repeated five times. First, it is repeated twice to sing praises “to God” (Psa 47:6). God is the Almighty and Supreme. He is the Only One, the Truthful One. He alone is worthy of worship (Mt 4:10; Rev 14:6-7).

In the first stanza (Psa 47:1b-5), it has already been noted that God is the great King. In the second stanza, which begins in Psa 47:5, His Kingship is given additional emphasis. Twice He is called King (Psa 47:6 ; 7) and His government and His throne are mentioned (Psa 47:8). The call sounds to sing praises “to our King”, the great, sovereign God, the King, the Ruler of His people.

A king has a people. God is King and has a people. The people that God has as their King are an exceedingly blessed people. This people is Israel. God is their King and dwells in their midst. That gives special cause to sing joyfully and to praise Him, especially after He has put an end to the time of tribulation (Zep 3:14-15).

It is also true for us that we have a special reason to praise God after a time of trial. In the tribulation we have sometimes felt as if He had forgotten us. Then when He brightens it for us, a deep joy and peace come into our heart, for which we honor Him with great gratitude.

God is King! At an ascension to the throne, a call is made in Israel: Such and such is king! (2Sam 15:10; 2Kgs 9:13). Here we are talking about the enthronement of God, which is the reason to sing praises. Since God is “King over all the earth”, the singing of praises for and about Him implies singing “a skillful psalm” literally “a maskil psalm” (Psa 47:7). Maskil means instruction, understanding, wisdom. It is the word we encounter in the heading of several psalms. It is singing with understanding and insight, as is done in the Christian church (1Cor 14:15; cf. Col 3:15).

That this song is “a maskil” or “instruction” means that it is a song that brings insight and understanding. For example, in Psalm 32, the first maskil-psalm, we are instructed about and gain insight into the forgiveness of sin. In Psalm 45, we are instructed about and gain insight into the Person of Christ. Here, in Psalm 47, we are instructed about and given insight into the exaltedness of the great King.

That God is King over all the earth means that His reign knows no boundaries. He is not a national God like the idols of the nations. If this comes through to us, we will let ourselves be ‘instructed’ by it with regard to our whole life, in all areas of it.

The ‘instruction’ also extends into the future, when “God reigns over the nations” (Psa 47:8). When He is King over all earth, it means that He governs everything publicly. We don’t see that now, but we see Him to Whom all authority has been given in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18; Heb 2:8-9). By this we know that He is in control of everything and directs it in such a way that it cooperates in the accomplishment of His plans. Although the dominion over the world was given away by man to satan at the Fall, that does not mean that God no longer rules. We see this in the book of Job.

God “sits on His holy throne”. This means that He is holy and reigns in holiness. This is already seen by faith today. Soon it will be seen by all. Then it will be said: “The kingdom of the world has become [the kingdom] of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15).

In the realm of peace, Israel is the means through which God has blessing for all the earth and all nations, through which the nations will also worship the one true God. Also in Psa 47:1b is the call to the people to rejoice before the LORD. The call to sing praises may also be directed to the nations and not just the people of Israel. The nations will join God’s people by their “princes” to be blessed by them (Psa 47:9).

God’s people are here called “the people of the God of Abraham”. It is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that He would make him a father of a multitude of nations (Gen 17:5-6). And in him all nations would be blessed (Gen 12:3b; Gal 3:8).

By “the shields of the earth” is meant the “princes of the people” from the first line of this Psa 47:9. “Shields” indicate that they are responsible for the protection of the people. These ‘protectors’ “belong to God” (cf. Pro 8:15). He is their Owner; they are accountable to Him. They are completely in His power and cannot do anything without Him. They cannot be compared to Him. He alone “is highly exalted” (cf. Zec 14:9).