Psalm 47:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

NIV: For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.

NASB: For the Lord Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth.

CSB: For the Lord, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over the whole earth.

NLT: For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth.

KJV: For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

NKJV: For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.

In this verse the psalmist gives the reason for clapping hands and singing joyfully (Psalm 47:1). The immediate context of this psalm might have been a military victory, such as when God defeated armies coming against Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:22–26). Or, it may apply to the incident when Sennacherib was defeated during the era of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:35–37). Further meaning can be found in prophecy, depicting the rule of Jesus Christ over the entire earth (Revelation 5:11–14; 19:6–8).

The description of God as "the LORD, the Most High" comes from the Hebrew phrase YHWH 'Elyon. When predicting the birth of Jesus Christ, the angel indicated He would be called "the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32). God is the absolute sovereign ruler of the entire world—above and beyond all other powers or nations. The proper response to His power is to "fear" Him. In this context, the word does not refer to the emotion of panic or terror. Yet it is much more than simple respect. To properly honor God, one must understand the extent of His authority and power.

In the end times, when ungodly nations assemble to overthrow God, He will laugh and destroy them (Psalm 2; Revelation 19:11—20:15). Israel's history is full of accounts of the Most High's almighty power on her behalf. He delivered her from the Egyptians and subdued the warlike Canaanites. When barren Hannah prayed for a son, she addressed the Lord as "LORD of hosts" (1 Samuel 1:11). Zillions of angels attend His throne and rush to obey His commands (Psalm 103:20; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 7:11). He reigns supreme over all creation. Psalm 93:1 says, "The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty."

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.