Psalm 47: Praying Our Praise
FOR MEDITATION
Many of the Psalms we’ve looked at this summer have focused on the deep places in our life where we need God’s comfort, his forgiveness, his assurance, and where we long for his grace. But there’s many Psalms that we haven’t yet looked at this summer that reflect a spirit of pure joy. Some of these Psalms are called Kingship Psalms, and they celebrate and rejoice in the fact that God is the king over all the earth.
This Sunday we’re looking at Psalm 47, one of the great Kingship Psalms, It’s full of jubilation, celebrating that God is the powerful king of all the earth, and he subdues the nation under his rule. It says that in God's kingship we have something to celebrate: that we were made to be ruled by the great king. That he is the fuel that our souls were made to run on.
Once we know this true king and know he reigns over heaven and earth, we can feel incredible joy knowing that we are held strong under his rule. And even though it feels like the world is often spinning out of control, the nations are still held under his supreme reign.
Furthermore, this Psalm is also recognized as one of the great mission Psalms. In verses 8-9, it references how the people of the earth will be gathered as the people of Abraham. It’s a fulfillment of God’s promise in Genesis 12, to bless the nations through Abraham. So when we pray this Psalm we are also praying that the nations will come to know him as their Lord and King.
So as we prepare for worship this week, try reading some of the kingship Psalms — Psalm 45, 46, 47. In doing so, meditate on the fact that God is our king and in that we can rejoice and take great comfort.
Our weekly worship guide can be downloaded here.
PSALM 47
Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,
the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.
