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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:2

For the Lord most high is terrible - He has insufferable majesty, and is a great King - the mightiest of all emperors, for he is Sovereign over the whole earth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:3

He shall subdue the people under us - He shall do again for us what he had done for our forefathers - give us dominion over our enemies, and establish us in our own land. I would rather read this in the past tense, relative to what God did for their fathers in destroying the Canaanites, and giving them the promised land for their possession, and taking the people for his own inheritance. This is also applied to the conversion of the Gentiles who, on the rejection of the Jews, have become his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:5

God is gone up with a shout - Primarily, this may refer to the rejoicing and sounding of trumpets, when the ark was lifted up to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites. But it is generally understood as a prophetic declaration of the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ; and the shout may refer to the exultation of the evangelists and apostles in preaching Christ crucified, buried, risen from the dead, and ascended to heaven, ever to appear in the presence of God for us. This was the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:6

Sing praises - זמרו zammeru : this word is four times repeated in this short verse, and shows at once the earnestness and happiness of the people. They are the words of exultation and triumph. Feel your obligation to God; express it in thanksgiving: be thankful, be eternally thankful, to God your King. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:7

For God is the King of all the earth - He is not your King only, but the King of the universe. He has no limited power, no confined dominion. Sing ye praises with understanding - משכיל זמרו zammeru maskil , sing an instructive song. Let sense and sound go together. Let your hearts and heads go with your voices. Understand what you sing; and feel what you understand; and let the song be what will give instruction in righteousness to them that hear it. Sing wisely - Anglo-Saxon.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:8

God reigneth over the heathen - Though this is literally true in God's universal dominion, yet more is here meant. God reigns over the heathen when, by the preaching of the Gospel, they are brought into the Church of Christ. God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness - He is a holy God; he proclaims holiness. His laws are holy, he requires holiness, and his genuine people are all holy. The throne of his holiness is the heaven of heavens; also the temple at Jerusalem; and, lastly, the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:9

The princes of the people are gathered together - עמים נדיבי nedibey ammim . The voluntary people - the princely, noble, or free-willed people; those who gladly receive the word of life; those who, like the Bereans, were of a noble or liberal disposition; and, when they heard the Gospel, searched the Scriptures to see whether these things were so. It is a similar word which is used Psalm 100:3 ; and I believe both texts speak of the same people - the Gentiles who gladly come unto his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:2

Verse 2 Since, then, no servitude is happy and desirable but that by which God subdues and brings under the standard and authority of Christ his Son those who before were rebels, it follows that this language is applicable only to the kingdom of Christ, who is called a high and terrible King, (verse 2;) not that he makes the wretched beings over whom he reigns to tremble by the tyranny and violence of his sway, but because his majesty, which before had been held in contempt, will suffice to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:3

Verse 3 3.He hath set in order the people under us Some translate the verb he hath subjected; and this agrees with the translation which I have given. Others translate it he hath led, which is somewhat more remote from the meaning. But to understand the verb ידבר, yadebber, as meaning to destroy, as is done by others, is altogether at variance with the mind of the prophet; for it is doubtless an advantageous, joyful, and desirable subjection which is here meant. In the Hebrew, the verb is in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 47:4

Verse 4 4.He hath chosen our inheritance for us. The inspired poet here celebrates more distinctly the special grace which God, in his goodness, had bestowed upon the chosen and holy seed of Abraham. As he passed by all the rest of the word, and adopted to himself a people who were few in number and contemptible; so it was proper that such a signal pledge of his fatherly love should be distinguished from his common beneficence, which is extended to all mankind without distinction. The word... read more

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