December 19
Reading: Psalm 47
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!
Psalm 47 is a call to worship and an expression of pure worship unto God, the King. From beginning to end, this psalm communicates joy and excitement that God is our King. It celebrates the reign of God the King over all the earth.
Commands dominate the beginning of each stanza. “Clap,” “Shout,” “Sing praises!” Why? Because God is King and we all ought to say so loudly. Quiet praise is good, and we ought to praise God quietly in every place. But there is a time for loud praising and shouting and clapping to God and to honor God. Loud praises do something in our hearts. Loud praising brings joy to our whole being. You should try it if you haven’t.
We learn in this psalm that God is king over all the earth. (vss. 2 and 7) We also learn that God is King over all peoples and nations. (vss. 3, 8-9) By God’s decree He has chosen Israel as His special people. (vss. 4 and 9)
That God is King over all is both a great blessing and a threat. It is wonderful for those who love Him and follow Him. It is a terrifying threat for those who don’t like Him or choose to oppose Him. Kings don’t deal kindly with those who undermine their reigns.
What does it mean for you that God is King? Have you acknowledged Him as your King? That is the first sensible step. If He is King, it is time for you to say so, and loudly. He reigns over everything. What would He think about you if you were not happy and excited about that? Someday everyone will recognize Him as King and bow the knee. Why not begin doing so now? Be forward-looking, wise, progressive even.
To accept God as your King also means accepting His word as truth, whether you like it or not, and then striving to understand and obey it. What part of what God says are you inclined to resist? You might begin there.