talmud-torah

[talmud-torah]

Psalms 47:1

Oh, clap your hands, all you people! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! Psalms 47:1 Note and Biblical Scripter References on Psalms 47:1 - In the activities of the true God there is great cause for joy for all the peoples of earth. One reason for this joy is in the next verse. For the LORD Most High is awe-inspiring. He is a great King over all the earth. Psalms 47:2 Note and Biblical Scripter References on Psalms 47:2 47:2 The God of Israel (Yahweh Rapha) is not a mere tribal god or national god. He is the only God there is, the Creator of the universe (Isa 45:21-22). Above all nations and governments He sits enthroned. That is, He who is perfect in holiness, justice, grace, and love reigns over mankind. Is this not cause for joy (vs 6-9)? “Great king”– see Ps 5:2; 24:8; 95:3; Isa 6:5; 33:22; 43:15; Jer 10:6-7, 10; Dan 4:34-37; Mal 1:14; 1 Tim 1:17; 6:15; Rev 15:3; 17:14; 19:16. Some people question the manner of Godʼs rule over the earth and ask: “If God is the great king why are conditions on earth so terrible? Why does evil prevail? Why do the innocent suffer? Why are the poor and weak crushed under the feet of the rich and strong? Why do disasters strike – drought and starvation, cyclones, earthquakes and floods? Why do devastating wars, persecutions of whole people, or genocides take place?” Asking such questions some people dare to deny that God exists. They insist that if there were a God things could not be as they are. This is poor reasoning and poor philosophy. In facing such questions none of us should leave out of our reasoning some very important Bible facts. According to the Bible the world is in its present condition not because God fails in His rule, but because mankind in general does not accept His rule. People are sinners and rebel against the great King of the universe. It is they who ruin the world, not God. Compare Gen 6:5-7, 11, 12; 8:21; Ps 14:2-3; Isa 24:5; Rom 1:18-32; Rev 11:18. Mankind deserves nothing good from God, but actually receives much good – which the majority of people take and misuse without gratitude to the heavenly Giver. The only times many people mention God is to take His name in vain or to curse or in complaint against Him. The general practice of mankind is to blame God for anything they consider bad, but never to thank Him for any good He does. God, as the righteous Ruler of the world must send punishment on the wicked. He must use methods to restrain the restless, greedy, rebellious nature in man. And He is perfectly justified in using at times very severe methods (see Rev 16:5-7; 2 Thess 1:6; Gen 6:5-8). Actually Godʼs judgments are always at work in the world and those judgments are perfectly just. He is always just in His dealing with individuals and with mankind as a whole - Ps 33:5; 89:14. See also the note at Gen 15:16. Accepting this is, of course, a matter of faith. We can rejoice in Godʼs reign over the earth (as we are told to do in v 1) if we believe His revelation in the Bible. Then we can understand that God cannot do, and does not do, any wrong or unjust thing to anyone, ever. We can understand that He knows what He is doing even if we do not, that He has ways and plans we do not know and which are far above us (Isa 55:8-9; Rom 11:33-36). God is “awe inspiring” in His nature and activities. He is worthy of the utmost of reverent fear and trust. He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. Psalms 47:3 He will choose our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom he loved. Selah Psalms 47:4 Note and Biblical Scripter References on Psalms 47:3-4 - A further cause for joy is the activities of God with His chosen people Israel. However much these verses might have been fulfilled in the past there surely will be a more complete fulfillment in the future (Isa 9:6-7; 11:1-10; Matt 19:28; Acts 1:6; Rev 20:4-6). All the earth will be brought under the sway of the Lord Jesus and with Him those who have trusted Him. He will choose our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom he loved. Selah Psalms 47:4 Note and Biblical Scripter References on Psalms 47:4 - “Inheritance”– if we entrust the choice of our inheritance to God we need not worry about the size or quality of it (Acts 20:32; 26:18; Eph 1:11, 14; Col 1:12; Heb 9:15; 1 Pet 1:4). God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Psalms 47:5 Note and Biblical Scripter References on Psalms 47:5 - " Yahweh" God is here described as ascending to His throne after winning a great victory. We are reminded of the day when Yahweh Rapha, incarnated in the Lord Jesus, after winning the fight against all the forces of Satan, ascended into glory (Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:9-11; Eph 4:7-10). Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! Psalms 47:6 For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding. Psalms 47:7 Note and Biblical Scripter References on Psalms 47:6-7 Note see ref on praise at Psalms 33:1 - 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous; for prais is fitting for the upright. Note and Biblical Scripter References on Psalms 33:1 “Praise”– See Ps 7:17; 8:2; 9:1; 16:7; 18:3; 42:5; 100:4; 150:6; Gen 24:27; Ex 15:2; Lev 19:24; Deut 8:10; 32:3; 1 Chron 16:4, 9, 25; Isa 12:1; Matt 5:16; 11:25; Luke 1:68; Rom 15:7, 11; 2 Cor 1:3; Eph 1:3, 6, 12, 14; Rev 5:12-13; 19:5. God does not command us to praise Him because He is hungry for praise. He is not like men who long to have everyone speak well of them. When God commands us to praise Him He is actually telling us to find our joy and delight in Him and express it. Praise is admiration expressed in words. Men praise what they think is good or beautiful or strong or meaningful. They express their delight in what they consider a worthy object. The highest good and beauty and strength and meaningfulness are found in God. Therefore among all things and persons and beings in the universe He is the most worthy of praise. He wants us to recognize this, not for His sake, but for ours. He wants us to be the kind of people who know and praise that which is most worthy of praise. To praise God means to see His worthiness, His excellence. It means we find our delight in the best and highest. It is fitting and right that we should do this (v 1). Men praise all kinds of objects and persons not worthy of their praise. Is it not fitting for those who know God to praise Him Who is worthy of it? The wicked, the discontented, the selfish, the unbelieving, the morally and spiritually blind cannot, will not, praise God in spirit and in truth. The humble, the righteous, the enlightened person can and will. Wicked people glory in their shame, and praise earthly things and delight in them (Phil 3:19). Righteous people glory in God and in Christ their Saviour (1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17; Gal 6:14; 1 Tim 1:17). Lack of thanksgiving and praise to God is blameworthy. It shows a defect in character and outlook, and God wants His people to be free of it. Giving thanks, singing, and praising God are fitting for them and should come naturally to them. These things are ways in which they can show their renewed nature. Those who know God best and who are the humblest and most enlightened will praise Him most. God reigns over the nations. God sits on the throne of his holiness. Psalms 47:8 The leaders of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted. Psalms 47:9 Note and Biblical Scripter References on Psalms 47:9 - “God of Abraham”– the writer clearly identifies the God of whom he is speaking. He is the righteous, reigning God of the Bible, the God who made a covenant with Abraham and called him to be His servant in the world. “Shields”– he may mean the leaders of nations who act as shields against aggression from other nations. See Ps 89:18. All such are under Godʼs sovereign control, and He uses them to fulfill His gracious plan towards mankind. All the authority exercised by kings actually belongs to God (See Rom 13:1-5). HalleluYah!...HalleluYah!!... High Abiding Fulfilling Praises To Our Almighty, Sovereign, Reigning, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, who is restoring the fulfilling of His Kingdom the New Jerusalem... Hallelujah!!...HalleluYah!! : -)) Shalom, Alecheim... Receive this Wonderful, Joyful, Enriched, Blessed Fulfilled Evening and Night Ahead in Spirit and Truth... : -)) With love in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Wonderful, dear, caring Saviour and Redeemer... PieTeR