Psalms

Psalms 47: God reigns over all the earth

Begin in prayer

Before we join the call to sing, let us remember the King whose throne stands above all nations. Pray that He would turn our resistance into faith in Jesus and teach us joyful praise with understanding.

Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one.

Zechariah 14:9

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the LORD is the great King over all the earth and deserves joyful praise. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The sons of Korah call all peoples to clap their hands and shout to God with joy. The LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdues nations and chooses the inheritance of Jacob, whom He loves. The song celebrates God going up with a shout and the sound of a trumpet. Repeated calls to sing praise lead into His reign over the nations from His holy throne. The rulers of the peoples gather with the people of Abraham's God, for the earth's shields belong to Him and He is greatly exalted.

As you read Psalms 47, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God is the great King over all the earth, and every nation is called to praise Him.

The call reaches all peoples because the LORD's kingship reaches the whole earth. Clapping, shouting and trumpets express public joy before the awesome Most High God. His rule includes subduing nations, so praise acknowledges His power as well as His kindness. Israel's inheritance is chosen by Him and comes from His love for Jacob. The ascent with shouting and trumpet sound celebrates the King's triumph over the nations He rules. Repeated commands to sing require praise with understanding, joining the mind's attention to the voice's joy. His holy throne stands above the nations, whose rulers gather before the God worshipped by Abraham's people. The earth's shields picture its protecting powers, and all of them belong to God. No ruler can stand outside the reach of the greatly exalted King.

How does Psalm 47 show us that God is the great King over all the earth, and every nation is called to praise Him?

The LORD is King over all peoples.

The song calls every nation to rejoice before the Most High. He rules beyond Israel and subdues peoples by His power. The inheritance He chooses for Jacob also displays His love.

The reigning God deserves praise with understanding.

Shouts and trumpets celebrate the King, and repeated commands call the singers to praise. Their minds are to attend to the God they honour. The rulers and protecting powers of the earth all belong to Him.

Memorise

For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding.

Psalm 47:7

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where am I withholding praise because I am treating Jesus as less than King?

The singers declare, “God reigns over the nations.” Their joy rises toward the holy throne, and the call to praise reaches every people. Earth's rulers all belong to the King they are summoned to honour.

We have used His gifts while resisting His rule. At the cross Jesus answered His people's rebellion by bearing its punishment in their place. He rose victorious from the grave. Everything needed for their forgiveness has been accomplished, and His saving work is complete.

Turn from sin and bow to Jesus in faith. At His feet, sinners who turn and trust receive the forgiveness His saving work has secured. Ask Him to change the pride that makes you slow to praise, and give your mind to what His Word teaches. Those who belong to Him may rejoice under the King whose reign reaches every nation.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD is the great King over all the earth and deserves joyful praise. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His holy reign over every nation. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”

John 18:36

Most High God, You reign over all the nations from Your holy throne. Please forgive our proud resistance and bring us to trust Jesus. Give us understanding as we sing Your praise. Teach rulers to honour You, and bring people from every nation to rejoice in the salvation Your Son has finished. Amen.