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PSALMS 47

Old Testament Studies
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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.

  1. First paragraph
  2. Second paragraph
  3. Third paragraph, etc.

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 (i.e., monotheism [see
      SPECIAL
      TOPIC: MONOTHEISM      ], He always has and always will reign)

     

  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.)

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 applied them to Israel’s God. The second book of Psalms used Elohim
predominately.

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES
FOR DEITY

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; Jos. 6:20; Isa. 42:13; 2 Chr. 13:15
    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 (see SPECIAL
TOPIC: MONOTHEISM)!

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; see
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH’S ETERNAL
REDEMPTIVE PLAN).

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

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!

▣ “Selah” See note at Ps. 3:2 and Introduction to Psalms, VII.

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

47:7
NASB   ”skillful psalm”
NKJV   ”with understanding”
NRSV   ”with a psalm”
JPSOA   ”a hymn”
REB   ”with all your skill”

This term (BDB 968) is used in the MT titles of thirteen Psalms, but only
here in the text of a Psalm. BDB says it means “contemplative poem”;
KB gives

  1. “cult song” (Kittel)
  2. “wisdom song performed to music” (Mowinckel)

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.

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. Ps. 46:8-11).

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?

 

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Lessons International

 

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