Psalms 47:1-9 - Homilies By C. Short

The universal sovereignty of God.

The occasion of the psalm was, according to Psalms 47:3 , an overthrow of many heathen peoples by the visible interposition of God, who had leagued themselves against Israel, and who, according to Psalms 47:4 , had set out with the purpose of expelling Israel from her land. Another interpretation is that the psalm was composed for the dedication of the temple on the return from captivity. The main thought is the universal sovereignty of God. "God is the King of all the earth." Three thoughts are suggested.

I. GOD CONSTRAINS HIS ENEMIES TO FULFIL HIS PURPOSE . ( Psalms 47:3-8 .)

1 . The almighty wisdom and goodness of God bring good out of evil. "Maketh the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder of wrath he restrains."

2 . This should be aground of truth and joy to the whole world. ( Psalms 47:6 , Psalms 47:7 .) Evil, therefore, is not absolute and eternal, and cannot be finally victorious over him to whom "the shields of the earth belong." This is the psalmist's thought.

II. GOD HAS CHOSEN AND SECURED THE INHERITANCE OF HIS PEOPLE , ( Psalms 47:4 .) The reference here is to the Holy Land. God would not allow the heathen to wrest it from them.

1 . Generally, God has given us a grand destiny in Christ and heaven. Rest is our inheritance.

2 . He wall secure this to all who accept his promises , and faithfully seek for it. He restored the Jews, who for a time had been disinherited, when they became penitent and forsook their idolatry. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

III. THE GREATEST MEN , KINGS AND LEADERS , SHALL AT LENGTH YIELD THEMSELVES TO GOD . ( Psalms 47:9 .)

1 . The kings of thought shall at length bow to Christ as the highest Wisdom.

2 . The kings of action will acknowledge him as the inspiration of the grandest conduct. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, to whom every knee shall bow.—S.