What does Psalm 47:4 mean?

The psalmist reminds his audience of another reason to praise the Lord joyfully (Psalm 47:1–3). This relates to God's sovereign choice to make Israel His chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6–11). It also resonates with the gospel, which allows sinful men to be "adopted" as children of God (John 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3–4; Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:16–17; Revelation 21:7).

As far back as the Lord's first call to Abraham to leave his homeland and relatives, He promised a new home (Genesis 12:1–4). This was, of course, the Promised Land, the land of Canaan. Later, the Lord announced that Abraham's descendants "will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs [Egypt] and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years" (Genesis 15:13). However, He promised to return them to their land in the fourth generation (Genesis 15:16). This prophecy was fulfilled when the Hebrew slaves were liberated from Egypt and 40 years later entered Canaan, where the Lord subdued the Canaanites and settled His people in the land, giving each tribe of Israel a share of the land.

This verse includes the somewhat obscure term se'lāh. The word is related to others inferring "pause," as well as those which imply "praise." This may suggest a break without instruments, a pause, or some other transition.