Psalms 47:1-4

1-4. The first division of the psalm ends, (Psalms 47:4,) with a “selah;” but the theme is one throughout, namely, the universal dominion of Jehovah, of which Israel is the centre and glory.

Clap your hands The highest demonstrations of joy are called for on an occasion of unexampled mercy. Psalms 98:8; Isaiah 55:12.

Most high A descriptive title of Jehovah, as also great King, quoted by Malachi (Malachi 1:14) in the same relation to his dominion over the heathen as here.

Subdue the… nations under our feet This is not a description of the conversion of the nations, but of their forced and unwilling subjection, like that of captives in war, or tributary nations. So the word denotes. See notes on Psalms 66:3; Psalms 81:15; Psalms 18:44; compare, also, Deuteronomy 33:29.

He shall choose our inheritance for us This is a salient point in the psalm, and touches its historic occasion. The future tense is to be taken as the present, or as the continuance of a past act. God had chosen Israel for his peculiar people, and the land of Canaan for Israel’s possession. The ancient act of election, which was one of grace and not of merit, (Romans 9:11,) was for all time, and involved the place of their dwelling. Genesis 15:7. The enemy had intended nothing less than to cast out Israel from his land, (See 2 Chronicles 20:11;) but by defending their title through the recent miraculous deliverance, God had reaffirmed the ancient election, and maintained the right and dignity of his Church, through which the nations should yet make their submission to Him.

The excellency of Jacob The pride or excellency of Jacob was the good land to which he became heir, according to the rank of the first born.

Whom he loved See notes on Malachi 1:2; Romans 9:13. God sovereignly conferred on Jacob the birthright, with its high temporal and spiritual honours, for public ends, leaving his personal salvation on the same ground of free grace and free will as that of Esau, or any other man.