Psalms 47
PATmonument left to posterity, whereby they might be encouraged to hope in God, and not suffer themselves to be dismayed at the sight of the most numerous armies that might be gathered against them, if they adhered faithfully to their duty. And therefore this Psalm was delivered to tho master of music, to be sung in the tabernacle upon Alamoth; of which mention is made,l Chron. xv. 20. and is thought to be either some tune then in common use, or some kind of musical instrument unknown to us, in which young virgins, as some fancy, took a peculiar delight, and were wont to learn to play upon it; which they make the reason and original of its name. Vcr. 1. fjTOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’] God is the most powerful protector, in whom we may safely confide: he inspires us with courage, and gives us strength to meet our enemies; we were in #reat danger, but found him exceeding ready to send us help, and give us a safe deliverance when w r e were sorely distressed. To the chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons ofKorah. This Psalm is thought by some to have been composed by David (though his name be not in the title), when he. translated the ark (which was the token of the Divine presence with them) cither from Kirjath-jearim, with the most solemn pomp and all sorts of music, (2Sam..vi. 5.) or from the house of Obcd-Edom unto Mount Zion, (ver. 14, lf>.) Others think it was composed by some of the sons of Korah, when the ark was again translated by Solomon, with the like rejoicing, (2 Chron. v. 2.12, 13.) from Mount Zion to the house which he had built for it upon the neighbouring mountain. And there may be a third conjecture allowed, that it was made after some great victory which God had given them over their enemies; and sung as they followed the ark back to its dwelling-place, from whence it had been carried before them to the battle. There is no doubt but one or other of these triumphs gave occasion to it: and the ark being a figure of Christ, as that mountain was of the heavens, the translation or carrying baek of the ark thither may be looked upon as a figure of Christ’s ascension (after he had dwelt here awhile in a meaner place, and conquered death) unto the high and holy place, where he is now at God’s right ha£id in the heavens. And with relation to this alone, the ancient fathers expound the Psalm; which may easily be applied, in the mystical sense, unto that business.
Psalms 47:1
\J CLAP your hands, all ye people; shout unto God tvith the voice of triumph. O be joyful all ye people, who are now assembled at this festival; let your hearts overflow with joy, and express how exceeding glad they are, by clapping your hands, and lifting up your voices, and shouting after a triumphant manner, in honour of the great God who dwells among us.
Psalms 47:2
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. For which cause we will never hereafter be dismayed, but steadfastly hope in God in the midst of the greatest tumults and dangerous commotions: though we should see the most dreadful confusions (such as there are in an earthquake), and all things tumbled upside down, as if the earth and sea were blended together, we will still immoveably trust in him. For the Lord most High is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.] For his majesty is most sublime, his dominion absolute, his power dreadful; being the sovereign Lord of the whole world, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords:
Psalms 47:3
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the sivelling thereof Selah. Though the times should prove very tempestuous, and our enemies should storm like the troubled sea; though they should threaten utter destruction to us, and rush upon us with such a violence as its raging waves do (when it is sw r ollen to the greatest height) against the shore; the mountainous cliffs shall sooner shake than we be disturbed. Vcr. 4. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.] Our hearts shall be quiet and still; like the river that runs through our city, from whence the inhabitants draw, by trenches, delightful streams to water their gardens. The small forces that guard this place, which make no more noise than those waters, s(Isa. viii. 6.7.) shall, by the help of the most high God, who in a special manner dwelleth here, be too hard for the greatest armies, which, in their number and their boasts, imitate the waves of the roaring sea. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.’] By whom the people of these countries, though warlike and strong, were anciently subdued; and other nations since have been made our subjects.
Psalms 47:4
He shall choose our inheritance for ns, the excellency of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah. He, who is the supreme disposer of all things, hath of his mere good-will chosen this good land to be our inheritance, and therein chosen a place for his own dwelling; which is an honour wherein we excel all other people, and a most singular token of his love towards us.
Psalms 47:5
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and tluxt right early. Let them not think to prevail against him, who, by a singular token of his presence, is in the midst of this city; other mountains may be shaken, but Mount Zion is immoveable; because God, when there is any danger, will send us seasonable and speedy relief against those that invade us. Ver. G. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.’] So we have lately seen, that when many nations combined against us, (2 Sam. x. 6.) they only shewed their rage and fury, but could not hurt us; for they were remarkably overthrown by the power of God, who declared himself against them, and utterly discomfited them; as he did the Philistines, sometimes by thunder and lightning from heaven, 1 Sam. vii.10. (Sco Psal.xviii.I3, 14.) God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.] God is gone up, by the special token of his presence, into that holy place, with shouts of joy and praise: the Lord is gone up in a triumphant pomp, with the sound of the trumpet, and all other instruments of music, (2 Sam. vi. 5. 15.)
Psalms 47:6
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. Let us never cease to sing his praises, who hath chosen us to be his people; let it be our constant employment to praise our King, who hath subdued the nations to us: O sing praises to him, sing praises to him; it cannot be too oft repeated, that he alone is to be praised.
Psalms 47:7
The Lord of hosts is with as; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Why then should we be afraid, since it is apparent the Lord, who commands all the armies of heaven as well as earth, is on our side? That God who preserved our forefather Jacob in all his distresses, and hath made a gracious covenant with his posterity, defends us as in an impregnable fortress, where wc need never fear any danger. For God i$ the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.] For our King is the sovereign of all the nations upon earth; sing ye praises therefore skilfujly to his most excellent majesty: it is your wisdom to’praise him in the best manner you are able,.who alone is wise enough to govern all the world. Ver. 8; God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.] He hath made those heathens who dwelt in Zion to feel his power, and submit themselves unto him, (2 Sam. v. 7.) And there he hath seated himself upon the ark of his presence as on his holy throne.
Psalms 47:8
Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations lie hath made in the earth. Draw r near all ye that doubt of it, and consider seriously the wonderful victories, which it had been impossible for us to win without the help of God: mark, I beseech you, how many cities we have taken, and what desolations we have made by his assistance in the enemies’ country, who thought to have laid us waste, (2 Sam. viii. 1, 2. 1 Chron. xviii. 1.)
Psalms 47:9
He maketh wars to cease nnto the end of the earth; hebreaketh thebow, and cutteth the spear in sunder:hebnrneth the chariot in the fire. It is he that hath given us this peace, which.we now enjoy, by disenabling all the people of Canaan, and the. neighbouring nations, to make any wars upon us: he hath broken their bows, and cut their spears in pieces, and cast their chariots, wherein they trusted, into the fire, (2 Sam. vii. 4.) The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.] Before which the heads of the tribes, with all tho people that worship him, who promised to give this country unto Abraham, are assembled together at their solemn feasts; without any fear of invasion from their foreign neighbours: for God (when to attend his service they have left their own houses unguarded)hath undertaken their protection, (Exod. xxxiv. 23. 25.) and he is infinitely superior to all other gods, which pretend to be defenders of the earth.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Shewing them as plainly by these glorious victories, how vain it is to oppose him, as if he had called unto them by a voice from heaven, saying; Lay down your arms, and no longer molest my people; know that I am the supreme governor of all the world, who have defeated all your designs, and destroyed your forces: and my power is not confined to one country, but shall be magnified everywhere as well as here, by confounding all those that will not desist from their hostile opposition to my will and pleasure.
The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. This is our comfort and support; in this we continue still to glory, and say as we did before, We will not fear the most potent enemies, since the Lord, who commands all the host of heaven and earth, is on our side: he preserved our forefather Jacob in all his distresses, and made a gracious covenant with him to be the God of his posterity; in him we arc safe, as in an impregnable fortress, where no danger can approach us.