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GOD’S SOVEREIGN REIGN OVER THE NATIONS

Psalm 47:1-9

Q.1. Why were God’s people to express their joy? How did God reveal His special love for Israel? Who was Israel’s true king? How are we to understand this enthronement Psalm? – (Ps.47:1-9)

The sons of Korah composed this song, urging Israel to express their joy over God’s reign. The theme will be – For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth (Ps.47:2). He proved His greatness by subduing the nations under Israel’s feet (Ps.47:3). They were especially favoured by God, Who chose their inheritance for – 8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel. 9 For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance (Deut.32:8-9 c.f. Ps.47:4). Like so many prophetic writings, this Psalm has a double application, being first written for the coronation of the king, expressing his triumph. Beyond that, it also foreshadowed the ultimate fulfilment of the reign of Christ, as it pictured a time when – 5 God has ascended with a shout, the Lord, with the sound of a trumpet … 7 For God is the King of all the earth … 8 God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne (Ps.47:5 7-8). In line with the Old Testament prophets, Jesus revealed concerning His return, that – He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, and from one end of the sky to the other (Mt.24:31 c.f. Isa.27:6, 9, 12-13; Joel 2:1-2). He will reign over all the nations, and the princes of His people will acknowledge His supremacy for – He is highly exalted (Ps.47:9).