Psalms 47

This Psalm may seem to have been Composed upon the occasion of that great Solemnity, of carrying the Ark from the House of Obed-Edom, into the City of Zion; of which s... e 2 Sam. 6. and 1 Chro. 13. and 16. But as Zion was a Type of the Church, and the Ark a Type of Christ,... o this has a further reference, even to Christ's... scension into Heaven, and as Consequent thereunto, to the spreading of his Kingdom, in all the Parts and Nations of the World. Which is the chief Scope and Design of the Psalmist, or at least of the Holy Ghost, in this Psalm; as will plainly appear from the Words and Matter of it.

O Clap your hands, all ye people Either, 1. All the Tribes of Israel: For the several Tribes are sometimes called several People. See Iudg. 5. 14. Ezek. 2. 3. Act. 4. 27. Or, 2. All Nations, not only Iews, but Gentiles: for all of them either had, or might have Benefit by the Ark, upon their Addresses to God there, and especially by Christ and his Ascension., shout unto God In the Worship, and unto the Glory, of the God of Israel. with the voyce of triumph.

For the LORD most high is terrible Or, is most high (in himself above all God's) (which Conjunction is oft understood) Te... rible, to all his Enemies., be is a great King over all the earth The universal Monarch of the whole World, and not of only Israel..

He shall subdue Or, l... ad like Sheep; Or,... ring into the Fold, as divers render the Word, by Comparing Isa. 5. 17. Mich. 2. 12. He seems to speak of such a Subjugation of them, as was for the good of the People subdued, because this is Matter of Rejoy... ing to them, v. 1. Which is true both of those People whom David subdued, who thereby had Opportunities, Obligations and Encouragements, to own and Worship the true God, which was the only way to their true and lasting Happiness; and especially of those Gentiles, who were subdued to Christ, by the preaching of the Gospel. the people under us The Gentile-Converts were in some sort brought under the Iews, because they were subjected to Christ, and to his Apostles, and to the primitive Church, which were Iews. Or, the Psalmist may speak this in the Name of the whole Church, which then were Israelites only, but afterwards were made up of Iews and Gentiles, unto which all particular Believers, were to submit themselves in and for the Lord., and the nations under our feet.

He shall choose (i. e.) He will appoint and bestow upon us. This Verb of the future Tense may seem to agree well with the Gentiles, because this Blessing was not now present, but future, and so the Sense designed by the Holy Ghost may be this, though at present we are wicked and wretched Creatures, and Strangers to the Common wealth of Israel, yet there is a time coming wherein God will choose or take us into the Number of his Children by gracious Adoption. But futures are Variously rendred; and accordingly the Vulgar Latin, Syriack and Arabick render this Word, He has chosen. The Ch... dee ren... ers this and the following Words, He will take Pleasure in us, so as to give us our Inheritance. our inheritance Either the Land of Canaan: Or Heaven; which was typified by that Land: Or rather, God himself who is called his peoples Portion or I... heritance, as Psal. 16. 5. and 73. 26. and elsewhere, or the Presence and Worship, and Blessing of God. This God had chosen for the Israelites, and resolved to choose or set apart for the Gentiles. for us, the excellency Or, Glory; wherein Iacob gloryed and excelled all other People. See Ezek. 24. 21. A... os 6. 8. and 8. 7. of Jacob Either, 1. Of the Person of Iacob; Who, though he never had the Possession of the Land of Canaan, yet had the Lord and his Presence, and Blessing for his Inheritance. Or rather, 2. Of the People of Iacob or Israel, who are frequently called Iacob, as Numb. 23. 7. 10. 23. Psal. 14. 7. and 44. 4, &c. for these did actually enjoy the promised Inheritance of, and the Presence of God in his Sanctuary. whom he loved This he addes; Partly, as the reason why he chose such a noble Inheritance for them, not for any peculiar worth in them, more than in other People, but only for his free Love to them, as he declareth,. 7. 7. 8 and 9. 5. and Partly, as an Evidence of the excellency of this Inheritance, because it was chosen for beloved People., Selah.

God is gone up This is meant litterally of the Ark, wherein God was present, which went, or was carried up to the... ll of, where the Tabernacle was erected for it, and afterwards to the Hill of Moriah into the Temple; which Solemnity was accompanied with the shouts and Acclam... ions of the People, and with the sound of Trump... ts: but Myst... ally it respects Christ's ascension in Heaven, as ma... be gathered by Comparing this with Eph. 4. 8. where the like Words uttered concerning the Ark upon the same Occasion, Psal. 6.... 18. are directly applied to Christ's a... cension. with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises These words are repeated four times in this Verse, to show how Veheme... tly desirous the Psalmist was, that God might have his due Praise and Glory; and of how great necessity and importance it was to Men, to perform this great, though much neglected, Duty. to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King For so he is in a... pecial manner. sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth Not only ours, as I now said, but also of all the Nations of the World; and therefore he may well require, and does highly deserve all our Praises., sing ye praises with understanding Not rashly, o...... ormally and Carel... sly, but seriously considering the greatness of this King whom you praise, and what abundant Cause you have to praise and admire him. Which is an intimation that the Matter of this Psalm is more sublime, and important than ordinary..

God reigneth over the heathen (i. e.) Over all heathen Nations, as being the King of all the Earth, v. 7. Which was not true in Davids time, but was fulfilled by Christ.: God sitteth upon the throne To wit, as Judge and King, exercising Dominion, or Reigning as he now said; this being only another Expression of the same thing. And this Holy Torone is either, 1. The Ark, upon which God was said to sit to govern the Israelites. Or rather, 2. Heaven; which is oft called Gods Throne, Psal 11. 4. Isa. 66. 1. whence God is said to behold and to rule all Nations; of which general Dominion of God he here speaks. And here Christ at his Fathers right Hand, for that purpose. of his holiness.

The princes of the people Either, 1. The heads of the Tribes of Israel who were gathered together to the Tabernacle, or Temple upon solemn Feasts. Or rather, 2. The Princes (or, the or willing ones, as this Word is rendred, P... al. 110 3) of the Gentiles, who are here known by the Name of the People, v. 1. 3. who were divided in their Principles, and Interests, and Religions, but are now united and gathered together unto Christ, laying their Scepters at his Feet, and joyntly owning and promoting his Worship and Service. So he speaks of the Conversion of the Gentiles; although he mentions only their Princes, because their Conversion might seem to be most difficult in sundry Respects, and therefore that being affirmed, the Conversion of their People, with or after them, might very reasonably be supposed., are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham So he explains the former Clause, and shows what People he spake of, and it is observable, he does not say the People of Abraham, lest this should be appropriated to the I... raelites, but, the People of the God of Abraham; (i. e.) which Worship the God of Abraham, whether they be Iews or Gentiles. So this is a Prophecy of the Conversion of the Gentiles; which also is intimated by the Name here used, which is not his Old and first Name, Abram, but his new Name, Abraham, given to him to signifie, that he should be the Father of many Nations, Gen. 17. 5. Or these Words with the former, may be, and are by divers learned Interpreters rendred thus: The Princes of the People, (i. e. Of the Gen... iles) are (i. e. Shall be, as is usual in Prophetick style) unto (which Particle is sometimes understood, as. 5. 8.. 26. 10. Hose. 2. 14.) the People of the God of Abraham, (i. e.) Unto the Iews, and so both Iews and Gentiles shall... e united in one Religion; and so God shall reign, and be King of all the, as is here said, v. 7, 8. and all shall their H... s for joy, as it is v. 1.: for the shields of the earth Either, 1. The protection of the People of all the Earth. Or rather, 2. Their Princes or Rulers, who are fitly called Shields, H... se. 4. 18. because by their Office they are or should be the common Parents and Protectors of all their People, to defend them from all Oppression and Injuries. These, says he, are the... rds, (i. e.) At his disposal or subject to his Dominion, both as to their Hearts and Kingdom.... And so this is here Conveniently added, as the Reason of that great and improbable Event, sor... told in the foregoing Words, that the Princes of the People (which of all others were most lofty and wilful, and incorrigible) should joyn and subject themselves to the Lord, and to his Church. belong unto God: he is greatly exalted By this means God shall be greatly Glorified, and appear to be far above all the Princes of the World, and above all other Gods..