Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · Psalms Chapter 47

Ps 47:1-9.

Praise is given to God for victory, perhaps that recorded

(2Ch 20:20-30);

and His dominions over all people, Jews and Gentiles, is asserted.

1. clap . . . hands . . . people--literally, "peoples," or "nations" (compare

De 32:43; Ps 18:49; 98:9).

2, 3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.

3. under us--that is, His saints; Israel's temporal victories were types of the spiritual conquests of the true Church.

4. He shall . . . inheritance--the heathen to be possessed by His Church

(Ps 2:8),

as Canaan by the Jews.

excellency of Jacob--literally, "pride," or, that in which he glories (not necessarily, though often, in a bad sense), the privileges of the chosen people--

whom he loved--His love being the sole cause of granting them.

5-7. God, victorious over His enemies, reascends to heaven, amid the triumphant praises of His people, who celebrate His sovereign dominion. This sovereignty is what the Psalm teaches; hence he adds,

sing . . . praises with understanding--literally, "sing and play an instructive (Psalm)." The whole typifies Christ's ascension (compare

Ps 68:18).

8, 9. The instruction continued.

throne of . . . holiness--or, "holy throne" (see on

Ps 2:6;

Ps 23:4).

9. princes--who represent peoples. For--

even--supply, "as," or, "to"--that is, they all become united under covenant with Abraham's God.

shields--as in

Ho 4:18,

"rulers" [Margin].