Psalm 47
God is on the Throne
I remember being at a prayer meeting where we heard communication from one of our mission partners abroad. A politician who had frequently stoked antagonism and persecution against the church had just been elected to the highest office in that land.
Our mission partner wrote to us, “I have not heard of any elections in heaven. Jesus Christ is still ruling on his throne!”
It is this same confidence that inspires this Psalm of jubilant praise.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.2 For the LORD Most High is awesome,
the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
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 to him a psalm of praise.8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.
Here is a call to all the world. To every tribe, tongue and nation. To all the peoples across the globe. A call to all to bow before the Almighty. Give him the praise. Worship him in the splendour of his holiness.
For the LORD, YHWH, is alone God, and he alone rules. There is just one true God. There is only one King. It is the Holy One of Israel, the God of Jacob. The God who promised himself to Abraham and his descendants of faith is the the fearsome and awesome God of Heaven.
There are many little idols and empty deities, but there is just one Sovereign Lord. He is the one who is over and above all else.
And the promise is that all who are bound to God in Christ share in his rule and reign. God is bringing all under his authority and power.
His victory is our victory.
His conquest is our conquest.
His triumph is our triumph.
We will win because he has won.
The powers of this world and the heavenly realms are under the feet of Jesus (Eph 1.22) and will be under the feet of those who surrender to the God of Peace (Romans 16.20).
And so this is a call to all. Whatever country or people group we are from. Whether Yoruba or Macedonian, Welsh or Samoan, Inuit or Chinese, Turkish or Kurd, this is a call to praise the One who is worthy.
God is seated on his throne as King. His victory is certain. His triumph assured. The one who went to the very depths of death is raised up. The one humiliated on the cross has been exalted to the name above every other name. And every tongue will one day confess him to be the Lord of lords (Philippians 2.10-11).
So the call in this Psalm is, don’t wait! Join in now. Sing his praises!