Psa 47-48 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 47:1-9: Ps 47 This psalm celebrates God’s kingship over all the earth; it tells of God’s victory in dealing with Israel and the nations. Both Israel (47:3-4 ) and the nations (47:9 ) participate in God’s kingdom. Summary for Ps 47:1-2: 47:1-2 As the sovereign king over the nations, God requires praise. 47:1 People clap their hands in praise and recognition of marvelous deeds (47:3-4 ; see 98:8 ; Isa 55:12 ; cp. Nah 3:19 ).

Summary for Ps 47:1-9: Ps 47 ^a This psalm celebrates God’s kingship over all the earth; it tells of God’s victory in dealing with Israel and the nations. Both Israel (47:3-4 ^b) and the nations (47:9 ^c) participate in God’s kingdom.
Summary for Ps 47:1-2: 47:1-2 ^d As the sovereign king over the nations, God requires praise. 47:1 ^e People clap their hands in praise and recognition of marvelous deeds (47:3-4 ^f; see 98:8 ^g; Isa 55:12 ^h; cp. Nah 3:19 ⁱ).
Summary for Ps 47:3-4: 47:3-4 ^j The Lord made Israel victorious, especially under David (see 18:40-50 ^k). God’s mighty deeds of redemption manifest his love for Israel.
47:4 ^l Jacob’s descendants: Jacob was the father of all Israelites (Gen 32:28 ^m); the name Jacob often represents the nation of Israel.

• God loves and commits himself to Jacob (see Pss 78:68 ⁿ; 127:2 ^o; see Rom 11:28 ^p).
Summary for Ps 47:5-6: 47:5-6 ^q The psalmist portrays the Lord as returning to heaven, having accomplished his victories. For a portrayal of his descent, see 18:9-16 ^r. 47:5 ^s trumpets: Or rams’ horns (see 81:3 ^t). At times, rams’ horns were sounded in celebration (98:5-6 ^u; 2 Kgs 11:14 ^v; 1 Chr 15:28 ^w).
47:7 ^x People from all the earth (see 96:1-3 ^y) will worship God.

‏ Psalms 48

Summary for Ps 48:1-14: Ps 48 ^z This song of Zion (see also Pss 46 ^aa, 76 ^ab, 87 ^ac, 122 ^ad) explicitly views Jerusalem (Zion) as the city of the Great King where the godly find protection (48:1-3 ^ae). God rules from Zion in faithfulness, righteousness, and justice, and he inspires his subjects with confidence and joy (48:9-11 ^af). They commit themselves to seeing the glory of Zion for themselves so that they can tell the next generation about it (48:8 ^ag, 12-14 ^ah).
48:3 ^ai God dwells in Zion to protect it from all enemies (see 46:5 ^aj).
48:7 ^ak The ships of Tarshish, built for long voyages, represent human accomplishment (see also 2 Chr 9:21 ^al; Isa 2:16 ^am). Their destruction might be the event mentioned in 1 Kgs 22:48 ^an.
Summary for Ps 48:9-11: 48:9-11 ^ao The psalmist joyfully celebrates the Lord’s presence in the midst of the community, reflecting on the faithfulness, righteousness, and justice of God’s rule.
Summary for Ps 48:12-13: 48:12-13 ^ap towers ... fortified walls ... citadels: These structures provide a visual tour of Zion’s strength.
48:14 ^aq No one is like God (35:10 ^ar; 71:19 ^as; 86:8 ^at; 89:6 ^au, 8 ^av; 113:5 ^aw; see Isa 40:18 ^ax, 25 ^ay). He is the shepherd King (Ps 95:7 ^az) who will guide (see 5:8 ^ba; 23:2 ^bb) the sheep of his flock (77:20 ^bc).