|  Home  |  Old Testament Studies  |  Psalms Table of Contents  |  Previous Section  |  Next Section  |

PSALM 47

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
God the King of the Earth
  MT Intro
A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. 		Praise to God, the Ruler of the Earth A Hymn Celebrating God's Enthronement as King of All Nations The Supreme Ruler Yahweh, King of Israel, King of the World
4:1-4 47:1-4 47:1-4 47:1-4 47:1
        47:2-3
        47:4
47:5-9 47:5-7 47:5-7 47:5-7 47:5
        47:6
      47:7-8
  47:8-9 47:8-9 47:8-9  
        47:9

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

  1. This Psalm focuses on the universal exaltation of the Creator/Redeemer God. God reigns (cf. Ps. 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1; Isa. 52:7)!

  2. The how and when of this kingly affirmation is uncertain.
    1. represented in a Davidic King of Israel's annual coronation
    2. the end-time consummation of all things (cf. 1 Cor. 15:25-27)
    3. the proper theology of God's place in creation (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM. He always has and always will reign, cf. Ps. 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1; 146:10; Isa. 24:23; 52:7).

  3. The universal elements of the Psalm are powerful pointers to God as Creator and King of the Universe.
    1. all peoples, Ps. 47:1
    2. a great King over all the earth, Ps. 47:2b
    3. subdues peoples. . .nations, Ps. 47:3
    4. God reigns over the nations, Ps. 47:8 (cf. Ps. 22:28; 1 Chr. 16:31)
    5. the princes (nobles) of the people (i.e., not Israel, but Gentiles) have assembled themselves, Ps. 47:9
    6. the shields of the earth belong to God, Ps. 47:9
    7. also possibly the use of Elyon, which is a common designation for the high god of the ANE, implies YHWH's dominance of all other gods (idols, elohims, angels, etc.)

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 47:1-4
 1O clap your hands, all peoples;
 Shout to God with the voice of joy.
 2For the Lord Most High is to be feared,
 A great King over all the earth.
 3He subdues peoples under us
 And nations under our feet.
 4He chooses our inheritance for us,
 The glory of Jacob whom He loves.  Selah.

47:1-2 Notice the names for Deity.

  1. God – Elohim, Ps. 47:1, 5, 6, 8 (twice), 9
  2. Lord – YHWH, Ps. 47:2
  3. Most High – Elyon, Ps. 47:2 (common name for high god in ANE, cf. Gen. 14:18-20,22; Num. 24:16; Deut. 32:8)
  4. King – Ps. 47:2, 6, 7 ("reigns," cf. Zech. 14:9; Mal. 1:14)
  5. God of Abraham – Ps. 47:9 (i.e., SINGULAR form of Elohim, cf. Deut. 32:15,17; Ps. 18:21)

Poetry often uses multiple names for Israel's Deity. Often it took titles and descriptions from other cultures and religions and applied them to Israel's God. The second book of Psalms used Elohim predominately.

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D.

47:1 This Psalm begins with two IMPERATIVES admonishing the earth (i.e., "all peoples") to loudly rejoice.

  1. "clap your hands" – BDB 1075, KB 1785, Qal IMPERATIVE
  2. shout to God – BDB 929, KB 1206, Hiphil IMPERATIVE
    1. war cry – Num. 10:9; Josh. 6:20; Isa. 42:13; 2 Chr. 13:15; Ps. 46:6
    2. assembly – Num. 10:7
    3. victory – Jer. 50:15; Zeph. 3:14
    4. affirmation – 1 Sam.10:24; Ps. 47:1; 66:1; 81:1; 95:1-2; 98:4; 100:1; Zech. 9:9
    5. religious joy – 1 Sam. 4:5; Ezra 3:11,13
    6. distress – Isa. 15:4; Micah 4:9

47:2 "feared" This VERB (BDB 431, KB 432, Niphal PARTICIPLE,  see SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR [OT]) denotes

  1. the wilderness that Israel passed through in the exodus, cf. Deut. 1:19; 8:15
  2. causing astonishment – Ps. 47:2; 68:35; 76:8
  3. inspiring reverence – Deut. 7:21; 10:17; Neh. 1:5; 9:32; Dan. 9:4

Numbers 2 and 3 are very similar in meaning. He is the holy One, the only One and we are sinful creatures! But He has chosen to fellowship with us!

▣ "over all the earth" There seems to be a recurrent worldwide emphasis in Psalms 45-50 (cf. Ps. 47:1, 7-9; Ps. 45:16; 46:10; 47:2; 48:2,10; 49:1; 50:1,4,12). This theme "may be" why these Psalms are placed together. See also Psalms 96-99.

The earth is the Lord's (cf. Exod. 9:29; 19:5). He is the creator, sustainer (i.e., Elohim, Genesis 1), savior, and covenant God (i.e., YHWH, Gen. 2:4). There is no other!

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C., D.

47:3-4 These verses emphasize the choice of Israel as YHWH's special covenant people (cf. Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:5-6). Israel was meant to be a light to the nations, but she failed (cf. Ezek. 36:22-23).

Israel's military victories were YHWH's victories (i.e., holy war).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

47:4 "inheritance" In the division of the Promised Land (i.e., Joshua 12-19) the Levites were not given land (i.e., but 48 cities, cf. Joshua 20-21). It was said, "YHWH was their inheritance." This wonderful promise was extended as a promise to all Israel and in 1 Pet. 1:4 to all believers!

It is also possible to see this as referring to Canaan (i.e., the Promised Land, Gen. 12:7; 15:12-21; 17:8; Exod. 3:8; Deut. 1:8). It seems that "inheritance" and "glory (BDB 144) of Jacob" are parallel. My reluctance to affirm this is the universal emphasis of the Psalm. The earth, not just Canaan, is the Lord's!

▣ "whom He loves" In the OT, Israel has a central place, but in the NT the gospel of Jesus Christ has a central place (cf. John 3:16; 4:42; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; 1 John 2:1-2; 4:14). Christians must view/interpret the OT through the eyes of the NT, not vice versa! Jesus is the ultimate revelation of Israel's unseen God.

▣ "Selah" See note at Ps. 3:2 and Introduction to Psalms, VII., B. #1.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 47:5-9
 5God has ascended with a shout,
 The Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.
  6Sing praises to God, sing praises;
 Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
 7For God is the King of all the earth;
 Sing praises with a skillful psalm.
 8God reigns over the nations,
 God sits on His holy throne.
 9The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham,
 For the shields of the earth belong to God;
 He is highly exalted.

47:5-9 This strophe focuses on praise to God. Notice the words for vocal affirmation.

  1. with a shout, Ps. 47:5
  2. with the sound of a trumpet, Ps. 47:5
  3. (#3-7) sing praises, Ps. 47:6-7 – BDB 274, KB 273, Piel IMPERATIVE, 5 times

Many scholars see Ps. 47:5-8 depicting an annual event, where the Israeli king ascended the throne as a symbolic representative of YHWH's universal reign (i.e., ark brought back to the temple after a procession, cf. 2 Sam. 6:15). However attractive this theory, there is little historical evidence.

47:5 "trumpet" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL

47:6-7 Notice that the VERB "sing" (BDB 274, KB 273, Piel IMPERATIVE) is used five times. YHWH deserves "praise." This singing may refer to

  1. antiphonal phrases by the people and priests
  2. psalms (like book 1, "of David")
  3. spontaneous praise
47:7
NASB  "skillful psalm"
NKJV  "with understanding"
NRSV  "with a psalm"
JPSOA  "a hymn"
REB  "with all your skill"

This term maskil (BDB 968) is used in the MT titles of thirteen Psalms, but only here in the text of a Psalm.

  1. BDB says it means "contemplative poem"
  2. KB gives
    1. "cult song" (Kittel)
    2. "wisdom song performed to music" (Mowinckel)
    3. Derek Kidner, Tyndale OT Commentaries, vol. 15, p. 195, links this word (i.e., Maskil) to Paul's statement in 1 Cor. 14:15. This is interesting but inconclusive. It is often very difficult to identify OT allusions in NT writings.
    4. See Introduction to the Psalms, VII. A. #3

47:8 "God reigns over the nations" This imagery reflects YHWH as "the King of all the earth" (v. 7). The rabbis call Him, "King of the Universe." This theme is repeated many times (i.e., Ps. 93:1; 96:10; 97; 99:1; 146:10; Isa. 24:23; 52:7).

▣ "God sits on His holy throne" There are two ways to view this phrase.

  1. God's throne room in heaven, (cf. Revelation 4-5); see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN
  2. YHWH dwelling with His covenant people in the Holy of Holies, between the wings of the Cherubim on top of lthe Mercy Seat. This place is often called "His footstool." This is where heaven and earth meet.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM

SPECIAL TOPIC: MERCY SEAT

47:9 This verse implies that all the leaders (i.e., representing their people groups) gather together with Israel (i.e., the people of the God of Abraham, cf. Gen. 12:3; 22:18; Romans 4; Gal. 3:6-9).

The phrase "the shields" is a military imagery for the universal victory of YHWH (cf. 2 Sam. 8:7; 1 Kgs. 10:17; 14:26-27; 2 Kgs. 11:10; Ezek. 27:11).

YHWH's reign over all the earth is accomplished by His own acts ("highly exalted" – BDB 748, KB 828, Niphal  PERFECT, cf. Ps. 46:10; Isa. 2:11,17; also note John 3:14-15, where the word "lifted up" also means "highly exalted").

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

  1. What do Psalms 45-50 have in common?
  2. List the titles for Deity and explain the meaning of each.
  3. Of whom is Ps. 47:9 speaking?
  4. List the universal elements of the Psalm. What do these imply?

 

|  Home  |  Old Testament Studies  |  Psalms Table of Contents  |  Previous Section  |  Next Section  |

Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International