Psalm 47 – Our Victory Song
Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry. For the Lord, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over the whole earth. (Psalm 47:1-2)
The Psalms were written for all seasons of life. That’s what makes them so applicable and loved by many. But what happens when that psalm doesn’t connect with my current season of life? Can you just flip over the page to another one? What if you’re in a time of a pandemic and economic fallout like right now, and you come across a celebratory psalm like Psalm 47, can you just turn to a different one? I don’t think it’s wrong to look for a psalm that relates to your current situation, but if you make a habit of it, you’ll miss the gems these psalmists have stored up for us.
Psalm 47 is a song you’d sing after winning the war. It’s a triumphant song that’s meant to be sung together by God’s people. Today’s version would be singing during corporate worship (even online streaming), coming together during midweek community groups, prayer times, Bible studies, etc. This is how God’s people come together to “shout to God with a jubilant cry!” These times stir and remind us that the entire reason we won the war, the entire reason we’re celebrating is because our souls are locked-in to the “great King over the whole earth” (47:2). We can sing songs of victory in times of crisis like today, because our “awe-inspiring” and “great King” is at work on our behalf. He’s not done yet. He’s going before us. Matter of fact, he’s just getting started! God’s power is perfected in weakness. God’s light outshines the thickest and most impenetrable darkness! That’s the reason God’s people can come together and sing Psalm 47 during this global calamity.