“Clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!”(v. 1)

Psalm 47 opens not with a whisper, but with a shout. It is a psalm that explodes into a celebrative praise. The people are called to clap, to shout, to sing, and to sound the trumpet! This is not reserved or routine worship—it is the kind of praise that recognises and responds to the enthronement of a King. Not just any king—this is praise directed to the King over all the earth.

From the start, the psalmist invites all peoples, not only Israel, to join in this worship (v.1). This invitation is also a command. Why should all nations praise? Because, as verse 2 declares, God is the Most High—He is supreme over every ruler, every idol, and every power. He is to be feared and revered, because His authority extends over the entire earth.

Verses 3 and 4 take us back in history. The psalmist recalls God’s victorious acts: how He subdued nations under His people, and how He gave Israel the land—“the pride of Jacob.” In a time when the battles between nations were not simply a fight between two armies, it was the fight between the gods behind the nations. To subdue nations are evidence of God’s kingship and might over other gods. Yahweh God power was not abstract, but seen in real deliverance, conquest, and covenant faithfulness. God rules with both power and purpose, establishing His people and securing their future.

Then, the scene rises even higher in verse 5:

“God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.”

The imagery is rich and dramatic—God ascending to His throne amidst joyful cries and trumpets praises, like a victorious king returning to take His rightful place. In response, verse 6 gives us a fourfold call: “Sing praises… sing praises… sing praises… sing praises!” The repetition is no accident. It reflects the overflowing joy and undeniable worthiness of the King. Worship here is not a ritual, but the natural response of hearts who know their King that reign.

Verse 8 declares the psalm’s central truth:

“God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.”

This verse anchors the entire psalm. God is not a local deity. He is not merely Israel’s King. He is King over all nations. He rules from His holy throne, sovereign and secure.

As Christians, we now see the full light of Psalm 47 through the lens of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus has also “gone up with a shout” (v.5)—not after a military victory, but after conquering sin, death, and the grave. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He now reigns (Ephesians 1:20–22). He is not wringing His hands, uncertain about the world. He is seated, reigning in majesty, ruling all things according to the counsel of His will. There will come a day when his reign will be fully revealed and seen by all. Revelation 11:15 tells us about the day when the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!

Dear brothers and sisters, Psalms 47 invites us to live with a renewed awareness of the kingship of God! As we look forward to the victorious King Jesus returning, we can worship with joy and bold expression. We must submit every part of our lives to His rule and we look forward in hope for the day His reign is fully revealed on earth. Let us not forget—our King reigns now. And one day, all the earth will know it.

Prayer:

Sovereign King, we rejoice in Your reign! You are not only the King of Israel, but the King of all nations, the King over all the earth. Thank You for reigning in power, justice, and love. Help us to live today with the confidence that You are seated on the throne, and to worship You with joyful hearts and loud praise. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.