PSALM 47:1-4

Let us begin this week to ponder Psalm 47.  The Bible title is ‘To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah’.  The chief musician would be the public music director and the sons of Korah made up those who in a choir setting sung in public worship.  This Psalm is believed by many to be of a Messianic theme and millennial focus.  The song can be divided by the word ‘Selah’ into two stanzas.

            Let us turn our thoughts to the first four verses which says, “O Clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.”

            I see in verse one ‘An Admonishment To His Thanksgiving’.  The clapping hands were to be an outward expression of thanks and appreciation to the Lord.  Today it has become an expression of thanks to man.  If one were to give God a hand it would be in the lifting up the hands in worship to Him. This is one of the reasons I am so opposed to this giving Jesus a hand.  I was reminded in our text that David had to encourage thanksgiving.  What a sad state of affairs.  We are certainly living in an unthankful generation.  I am amazed at Christian folk who never acknowledge the reception of a gift.  May we never give a hint as God’s people that we are a part of this unthankful generation.  I am reminded in Romans 1:21 that the sin of homosexuality began with an unthankful heart.

            The second thought I would develop in verses 1-4 is ‘An Applause Of Thanksgiving’.  I find there are four things David gives the applause of thanks in behalf of.  Let us unpack each before our hearts today.  May they cause us to lift our hands upward in applause to our Great God.

            In verse 1 I find there is ‘An Applause For His Triumph’.  David encourages that the voices keep time with the hands by a long continual shout.  The word ‘triumph’ means the splendid victories won by a conquering King.  How can our praise ever find end if we were to begin to praise Him for past victories that He has won in our own lives?

            In verse 2 we find there is ‘An Applause For His Terror’.  David speaks of ‘…the LORD most high…’ The title ‘LORD’ is the word for Jehovah or the great I AM.  He is the one who is self-sufficient and depends upon nothing or no one for His existence. The title ‘most high’ tells us He is great in power, lofty in dominion, and elevated in all His glory.  This verse speaks of our God’s omnipotence that is His all powerfulness.  This power can be used to crush His enemies or to protect His people all at the same time.  Our God is not a local King over a small area of land and people but He is the King of Kings over all the heaven, earth, and that is under the earth.  Why, He is even in charge down in Hell.  Let us lift our hands in praise to the King.

            In verse 3 David asks us to give ‘An Applause To His Throne’.  We are reminded the battle is not ours.  We will not have to raise our hands to do anything but give Him praise and glory.  He shall subdue all people, nations, and His enemies and ours shall be under our feet.  No wonder Isaiah said, ‘I saw the Lord high and lifted up’.

            In verse 4 we are asked to give Him ‘An Applause To His Treasure’.  I am glad we can submit our will to His.  He will choose our inheritance and a grand one it will be.  He gives the example of His love for Jacob and the position He gave to His people to remind us of His ability to choose right for us.  My, how all of this makes you want to lift up holy hands in adoration to our great King.  It is fitting that the stanza would end with the word, ‘Selah’.  Well, what do your think about that?  Let us stop and look unto Him, for soon and very soon we are going to see the King.

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