Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 47
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 47
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 47
"Oh clap your hands, all ye peoples; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For Jehovah Most High is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. He subdueth peoples under us, And nations under our feet. He chooseth our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah" — Psalms 47:1-4 (ASV)
The God with whom we have to do is a God of awful majesty. The universal and absolute sovereignty of a holy God would be too terrible for us even to think of, were it not exercised by His Son from a mercy-seat; but now it is only terrible to the workers of iniquity. While His people express confidence and joy, and encourage each other in serving Him, let sinners submit to His authority and accept His salvation.
Jesus Christ will subdue the Gentiles; He will bring them as sheep into the fold, not for slaughter, but for preservation. He will subdue their affections and make them a willing people in the day of His power. This also speaks of His giving them rest and settlement.
Apply this spiritually; the Lord Himself has undertaken to be the inheritance of His people. This shows the faith and submission of the saints. This is the language of every gracious soul: "The Lord shall choose my inheritance for me; He knows what is good for me better than I do."
"God is gone up with a shout, Jehovah with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praise to God, sing praises: Sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: Sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the nations: God sitteth upon his holy throne. The princes of the peoples are gathered together [To be] the people of the God of Abraham: For the shields of the earth belong unto God; He is greatly exalted. " — Psalms 47:5-9 (ASV)
Praise is a duty in which we ought to be frequent and abundant. But here is a necessary rule: Sing praises with understanding, as those who understand why and for what reasons they praise God, and what is the meaning of the service. It is not an acceptable service if it is not a reasonable service.
We are never to forget the purpose of Messiah's exaltation, for the prophets so continually dwell upon the conversion of the nations to the gospel of Christ. Why do we vainly imagine that we belong to him, unless the Spirit reigns in our hearts by faith? Lord, is it not your glory and delight to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins, now that you are exalted as a Prince and a Saviour?
Set up your kingdom in our hearts. Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And so sweetly constrain all the powers and faculties of the souls of your redeemed into holy love, fear, and delight in you, that praise with understanding may rise from every heart, both here and forever, to You, our God.
Jump to: