Psalms in Poetic Form: Psalm 47

Click here to read PSALM 47 in poetic form.

Background

Some Bible teachers believe that Psalms 46, 47, and 48 were written by King Hezekiah regarding the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib (II Kings 18:13—19:37; II Chronicles 32:1-23; Isaiah 36:1—37:38). Some references relate to specific aspects of Jerusalem and its environs, as well as to conditions in a siege.

Like Psalm 46, this Psalm shows God’s majesty and power being greater than that of the Assyrians and Sennacherib their king. Psalm 47 shows God as the great King over all. That is why He could give royal authority and power to His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true “king of kings” and “lord of lords” under the authority of his Father.

Although Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:12) and Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 26:7; Daniel 2:37) called themselves “king of kings,” the title only really belongs to Jesus Christ (I Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16). Today, God has put all things under Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:27,28: “For he [God] hath put all things under his [Jesus Christ’s] feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” Yet Jesus Christ, as an obedient Son, is subject to his Father.

The title includes “for the sons of Korah.” Regarding the sons of Korah, I Chronicles 9:19 says: “And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of the entry.” They were responsible for service in the tabernacle and later the Temple.

This Psalm includes the Hebrew term “Selah,” which means to pause. Some Bible teachers say this connected the truths that come before and after the term. In this Psalm, the same points occur before and after “Selah” in verse 4.

Structure

(Verse 1) Give God praise

(Verse 2) God is King over the earth

(Verse 3) God will subdue the nations under us

(Verse 4) God will give an inheritance to His people

Pause

(Verses 5,6) Give God praise

(Verses 6,7) God is King over the earth

(Verse 8) God will subdue the nations under us

(Verse 9) God will give an inheritance to His people

Key Scriptures

Verse 4—“He shall choose our inheritance for us.” Today we are joint-heirs with Christ. We share in all he has accomplished for us. Romans 8:16,17: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Verse 8—“God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.” God is holy and His throne (seat of authority, power, and judgment) is holy. Psalms 11:4: “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” Jesus Christ is set at God’s right hand on the throne of majesty in the heavens. Matthew 25:31: “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.” Hebrews 8:1: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

FOR FURTHER STUDY

All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!

The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.