Psalm Forty Seven
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
Psalm 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
clap your hands. In modern usage, hand-clapping has come to mean simply applause for a performance. In Biblical usage, on the other hand, it was symbolic of triumph. The various Hebrew words for “clap” are also translated “smite,” “strike,” “thrust,” etc.
Psalm 47:2 For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
King over all the earth. The fulfillment of the promises of this psalm applies primarily to the future, when Christ will indeed reign physically over all the earth and Israel will finally occupy her place as the center of His kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 14:9).
Psalm 47:3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
Psalm 47:4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah
Psalm 47:5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Psalm 47:6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
Psalm 47:7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
Psalm 47:8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
over the heathen. The promise of God the Father to God the Son (Psalm 2:7-9) will be fulfilled in this coming age of Christ's kingdom rule on this earth. See notes on Revelation 20:2-4.