The command to praise
Psalm 47 is one of the Psalms that invites the heart into a question with its very first words,
“O clap your hands, all peoples . . .”
Well, why?
Why should we clap our hands? Why should “all peoples” express such praise with such exuberance? The construction of the song’s first lines invites any reader to ask the question. So that’s what I did.
In nine verses, I found eight reasons why it is a wise thing for “all peoples” everywhere to praise God.
Too often, I am self-conscious in public worship. It’s a flaw in my character. I should be thinking of the greatness of God, of the wonder of a God made flesh, of a holy God who chooses to love an unholy people, a God who lays down His human life as an atoning sacrifice for sin, my sin, a God-King becoming a servant.
That is what I should be thinking of, and yet, too often, I’m thinking about singing on key or “what would people think if I raised my hands in worship?” It’s silly. I should be lost in the moment of worship. I should be completely unself-conscious and focused on worshipping my King. I should be exuberant in my praise of the God of the universe.
The Sons of Korah know. And in Psalm 47, they exhort all the worshipers of YHWH to “cut loose” with praise that is a whole heart-mind-soul-and-strength experience (Cf. Deut. 6:5; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). But it is more than that. They want all people of every nation praise Him.
Read Psalm 47 (ESV)
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
He is highly exalted!
An Offering for the Poetry Project
Exuberant Joy for the King
A cacophony of movement and sound
Expressing exuberant joy in a glorious King
clapping hands, joyful shouting,
and probably celebrative dancing are all included.
Yahweh Himself announces His ascendency
with a triumphal trumpet,
a King worthy of the universe’s praise,
Galaxies singing with majesty
moons lighting the night on a million planets
choirs of star systems declaring,
that a fearsome God is sitting on His throne.And on this tiny rock,
third planet from a relatively small star,
in the midst of a system we call the Milky Way,
the people He has designated as His own
the patriarch Abraham’s son, Isaac, Jacob’s seed, Israel’s hope,
and all the nations surrounding the chosen people,
are called to exuberance in their knowledge of the King.
Each in the Kingdom of Israel,
and everyone in the kingdoms of men,
all together are called to bow to the Holy One on His throne.So, Majestic One, make my heart trill to Your will.
Make my spirit bow in awe of your glory.
Instead, make my mind unconscious of itself,
and only aware of You.
Make me aware of Your lovingkindness and truth
in ways that overwhelm me,
So that I am free, finally free
to praise Your name,
and join the chorus of angels
singing “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.”
Selah and Amen.Go to Psalm 48
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