PSALM 47:5-7

This week we will look at another section of Psalm 47.  David’s theme in this Psalm has been one of public worship and thanksgiving.  Let us muse upon verses 5-7, which say, “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.”

            It is here that David gives us three great truths about worship.  Worship is a strange and mysterious practice in the local church when compared to Bible worship.  The word it self is made up of two words, ‘worth’ and ‘ship’.  It gives us the idea of setting sail toward the Lord, a ship laden with our thoughts of His worth to us.

            In verse 5 David shares with us some thoughts on ‘An Unquenchable Worship’.  It is in this verse we find the Messianic theme.  It is here the great doctrine of the ascension is taught in the words “God is gone up with a shout,” The Lord while ascending back to the Father made an open shame of Satan.  When I think of our Lord’s ascension and my being made to sit with Him in heavenly places, I am provoked to offer endless worship to Him. 

            I see in verse 5 not only His going up but also His coming back.  David speaks of the Lord and the sound of a trumpet.  Paul’s writing tells us our Lord will return with the sound of the trumpet.  My friend, we should not look to this time with shame and fear, but with anticipation and joy.  The thought of the trumpet sound and His return should provoke worship and a cry; ‘even so come quickly Lord Jesus’.  Sadly though, I fear it is for most of us that we would rather stay here for now than to go there forever.  Lord, deliver us from a shallow worship of you.  Let us see you as the King who went up and shall soon come down.

            In verse 6 we are shown ‘An Unfathomable Worship’.  I use the word ‘fathom’ because it is a term of measurement and understanding.  The prefix ‘un’ says you cannot measure or understand fully this subject.  The phrase ‘sing praises’ is used five times in verses 6 and 7.  The number five is the number for grace.  Grace is the fact that the Lord who was rich for our sake became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich.  The word ‘praises’ is a hymn of laudation.  David told us to sing them unto our God and King.  Sad to say most songs today are written for the people and sung to the people.  True worship is always for God and directed to Him alone.  There is no measurement to that worship.

            Last of all, in verse 7 we see ‘An Understanding Worship’.  David says to sing praises with ‘understanding’.  The word understanding tells us that if our worship is not understood by us the Lord will not understand it.  I spoke recently to an older songwriter and asked him what he thought of today’s songs of worship. He said, ‘I’m afraid that we are teaching folks how to holler and not to sing’.  The word understanding speaks of teaching.  Our worship must have within t teaching and learning.  Martin Luther said if we cannot preach the reformation down then we will sing it in.  May we find that true worship is when we seek to fathom the depths and learn more about who God is.  We will see that when we find Him we will be overwhelmed with His presence and true feelings of worship will be displayed.

.