John Calvin Commentary Psalms 47:8

"God reigneth over the nations: God sitteth upon his holy throne." — Psalms 47:8 (ASV)

He has obtained the kingdom over the heathen. Literally, it is, He has reigned; but as the verb מלך, malach, is in the past tense, which in Hebrew denotes a continued act, we have translated it, He has obtained the kingdom. The prophet repeatedly informs us that God reigns over the Gentiles, and from this it is easy to gather that he here discusses a new and unprecedented manner of reigning.

There is an implied contrast between the time of the Law, when God confined His empire, or kingdom, within the boundaries of Judea, and the coming of Christ, when He extended it far and wide, so as to occupy the whole world from one end to the other. The majesty of God sent forth some sparks of its brightness among the heathen nations when David made them tributary; but the prophet could not, on that account, have properly said that God reigned among them, since they both despised His worship and the true religion, and also wished to see the Church completely extinguished.

To find the fulfillment of this prophecy, we must, therefore, necessarily come to Christ. What is added in the second clause of the verse, God sits upon the throne of His holiness, may be interpreted in a twofold sense. This form of expression often refers to the tabernacle, or the temple; but it also sometimes signifies heaven.

If any are inclined to explain it as the temple, the meaning will be that while God reigned over the whole world and comprehended all nations under His dominion, He had established His chief seat at Jerusalem. It was from there that the doctrine of the gospel, by which He has brought all people under His dominion, flowed.

We may, however, very properly interpret this expression as referring to heaven; and thus the sense will be that God, in stretching forth His hand to subdue men and bring them to submit to His authority, evidently shows that, from His heavenly throne, He reigns over men. Unless He shows men His power and working by signs manifest and close at hand, He is not acknowledged as Governor of the world.