Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

PSALM 47: CLAP YOUR HANDS FOR JOY The Ascension of Christ

This is a celebration of one of the Kings of Judah as he returns to Jerusalem after securing a vic- tory over a foreign army. It ranks among the most enthusiastic praise songs in the Book of Psalms! In a greater way it is about the ascension of Christ to his throne in heaven and the clamorous worship that accompanied that event. Because of the ‘trumpets sounding’ in verse 5, the Jews traditionally sing this psalm at their New Years celebration. The Christian church has sung the psalm for centuries to com- memorate Ascension Day 1 . If we assume that psalms 46, 47 and 48 are a trio, then the setting for this psalm would be the same as 46; Jehoshaphat’s victory over the Ammonite/ Moab Confederacy or Hezekiah’s victory over Sen- nacherib of Assyria. The victory celebration of Jehoshaphat parallels the excitement of this song. “ Then they returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, full of joy that the Lord had given them vic- tory over their enemies. They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets and proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.”(2 Chron. 20:27,28) It is divided almost in half by a Selah/Inter- lude; perhaps an exuberant instrumental break to clap, shout and hilariously celebrate the recent mili- tary triumph!

I THE KING ACCLAIMED - 1-4 Selah/Interlude II THE KING ASCENDS - 5-9

INTRODUCTION:

“ For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.” (See Psalm 42 for an explanation of the Sons of Korah; Psalm 46 for the background setting.)

I THE KING ACCLAIMED - 1-4

“ Come everyone, and clap your hands for joy! Shout to God with joyful praise!” (1)

This is the first and only directive in the Bible for us to clap our hands in celebration of his pres- ence! The other mentions of clapping our hands are figurative: “ Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!” (Ps. 98:8) “ …the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isa. 55:12) Clapping is a natural response when the King ‘descends’ or enters the assembly and when he ‘ascends’ or leaves the gathering of his people. Spurgeon calls clapping a ‘universal language 2 ’. It is an expression of extreme joy and appre- ciation. Shouting is much more common as a directive of worship. The descendants of Korah, the authors of this psalm, shouted in response to the encouraging prophecy of Jehaziel when Israel was being at- tacked by Ammon/Moab: “ Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.”(2 Chron. 20:19) This psalm was birthed in ultra-exuberant praise warfare.

“ For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth. He subdues the nations before us, putting our enemies beneath our feet.”(2,3)

In the first section of the psalm, God is among his people subduing the nations beneath their feet. “ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Rom. 16:20) The prayer of Jesus, ‘Your Kingdom come,’ will be fulfilled in an atmosphere of aggressive, celebrative praise. There is never a di- rective in the psalms to ‘tone-down’ the enthusiasm for praising, it is always and encouragement to turn up the intensity.

“ He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance, the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves. Interlude” (4)

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