Psalms 47 - Printer Friendly

Many psalms appear to have been divinely inspired for more than one layer of meaning. Some refer to events which are immediate to the writer while also providing insights into the work of the Messiah. Psalm 47 might have been composed to celebrate a victory over Israel's enemies. A strong candidate for this is the rescue of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:22–26). A multi-nation army intended to attack Israel, but was defeated without God's people needing to fight at all. Language from that account closely resembles some phrases in this psalm (2 Chronicles 20:6–7, 21, 24–30). Another possibility is the defeat of Sennacherib during the rule of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19).

The song opens with a call for all people to praise God with applause and loud singing. The writer makes note of the Lord's victory over "peoples" and "nations," which are often used in the Bible as a reference to Gentiles (Leviticus 26:33; 1 Samuel 8:5; Psalm 2:1; 79:6; Isaiah 52:10). In the end times, the Messiah will defeat every enemy (Revelation 19:11–15) and overcome evil forever (Revelation 22:5). Those who enjoy this kingdom are the adopted people of His kingdom (1 Peter 1:3–4; Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:16–17; Revelation 21:7) (Psalm 47:1–4).

The end of this short song continues to extol God's place as the sovereign King of the entire earth. His position is not merely that of a deity concerned with one people. He is the Master of the entire world. Here, again, imagery suggests all the people and cultures of the world coming to loyal worship of the God of Abraham (Revelation 7:9). In the end times, the entire world will be united under the rule of the Messiah (Psalm 47:5–9).

Psalm 47:5–9 expands on God's absolute rule over the entire earth. The psalmist depicts the Lord on His heavenly throne. This psalm may have been written in response to a real-world event where God demonstrated His power over all people (2 Kings 19; 2 Chronicles 20). Someday, the Lord's appointed heir, Jesus Christ, will establish His kingdom on earth, and Gentiles will join the Jews in praising Him.

Psalms 45, 46, and 47 seem to share common themes. This song begins with an appeal for praise. God is depicted as the sovereign Ruler of the entire earth, not merely the nation of Israel. This psalm may refer to literal historical events (2 Kings 19; 2 Chronicles 20) or it might be purely prophetic. In either case, it depicts the eventual state of the world in the end times: ruled under the God of Abraham.

If this is inspired by real-world events, two possibilities stand out. One is the defeat of Sennacherib during the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19). The other is the miraculous defeat of a multi-nation attack on Israel during Jehoshaphat's rule (2 Chronicles 20). Phrasing in this psalm closely resembles the account of Jehoshaphat's rescue. The descriptions given in this passage are also seen as prophecies of the Messiah's eventual rule over the entire earth.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.