Psalms 47 and 48 — King of Heaven and Earth
Introduction: I combined these two Psalms to give more emphasis to the praise and honor the Sons of Korah provided for believers of every age. My desire was to review with the same spirit of steadfast trust in our God and our King, that had motivated the written content of the two Psalms about the Savior of our soul.
NOTE: Bible passages are from the World English Bible.
A — Yahweh Most High Is King over All the Earth
Psalm 47 “1 Oh clap your hands, all you nations. Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 2 For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He subdues nations under us, and peoples under our feet. 4 He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. 5 God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praise to God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted!”
Comments: This Psalm pictures a jubilant celebration with musical instruments, the joyful clapping of hands of people of all nations, and gleeful shouts to God with the voice of triumph! Even non-Jews can be part of the glory of Jacob: chosen and loved by Yahweh, and will receive an everlasting inheritance at the time appointed by the majestic and eternal King. The phrase “God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet” could describe the highest point of praise, and since Christ was lifted up on the cross this phrase can have special meaning for Christians — his resurrection defeated the sting of death, and he triumphantly returned to heaven to the right hand of the Father. John the Baptist warned the religious Jews not to depend upon their heritage. Matthew 3:9 “God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” Jesus told some religious leaders the devil was their father even though they were born in the line of Abraham. Galatians 3:6–9 “Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham… those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.” Romans 1:16–17 “For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.”
B — Yahweh Is Great and Greatly to Be Praised
Psalm 48 “1 Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in his holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the north sides, the city of the great King. 3 God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge. 4 For, behold, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together. 5 They saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed. They hurried away. 6 Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail. 7 With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish. 8 As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of Yahweh of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.”
Comments: The first three verses of Psalm 48 relate best to the splendor of the temple built by Solomon. Christians today have the explanation from additional scriptures of how we can apply glory and praise to our everlasting God from memories of that marvelous temple in Jerusalem, and the reality of the sure promise in Christ of the eternal kingdom. Hebrews 9:11–14 “But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands… nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.” Ephesians 2:19–22 “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints… in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” King Hezekiah led Judah back to worship Yahweh, and the miraculous way Yahweh destroyed the threat from Sennacherib king of Assyria may be an indirect connection to verses 4 through 6. Verse 8 of Psalm 48 reminds Christians that the magnificent temple of God only foreshadowed the truly everlasting temple of God. God will establish it forever. Selah.
C — Yahweh Is Our God Forever and Ever
Psalm 48 “9 We have thought about your loving kindness, God, in the midst of your temple. 10 As is your name, God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of your judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, and go around her. Number its towers. 13 Mark well her bulwarks. Consider her palaces, that you may tell it to the next generation. 14 For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.”
Comments: Because the Word of God has been spread all around the world over many centuries: the written Word enables all Christians to believe that as is the name of God, so is His praise to the ends of the earth. Yahweh, Your right hand is full of righteousness. The beauty within this Psalm represents the attributes of Yahweh God that can be passed on to each new generation of believers, because those things are much more than a physical temple. Jesus warned his disciples: Matthew 24:2 “There will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.” But he spoke of rebuilding the temple of his body in three days (John 2:19–21). Hebrews 12:22–24 “You have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.” This God is the God of those who have saving faith. Yahweh is our God even unto death, and then forever and ever.
Reflections in Prayer
Yahweh, my God, I thank you that because of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus I have access to your royal throne in heaven to bring my praise and petitions before you. It is no longer necessary to bring specified sacrifices to an earthly alter and temple to be presented to an appointed priest. I want to keep in mind that the riches and glory of this world can become deceptive, and represent temptation away from worship of the only true God who has an everlasting kingdom prepared for those who have accepted your saving grace. Over the centuries you showed miraculous signs and wonders to verify your power to provide for your chosen people in times of great need, or to protect them from violent threats from godless people. I especially want to have the joy that is a key element of the Psalms attributed to the Sons of Korah, knowing that they gave full honor and praise to Yahweh, unlike the rebellious nature of their ancestral father who opposed Moses in the wilderness. Hallelujah to the Eternal King! Amen.
Published 30 June 2020