Psalm 47 - A Victorious, Reigning King

We are going to continue on and are sermon series through the book of Psalms were looking at Psalm 47 this morning entitled praise the Gate of the great king and I'm going to do things a bit different this morning. There's going to be no introduction to the sermon. I usually do one we're going to get right to reading the scriptures. Look at the main idea. We're going to consider point one and two and I'm going to give you some application animal get 2.3 of the sermon. So let's get right to Psalm 47 encourage you to open up your bibles are turn on your devices and follow along.

Psalm 47:2 the choirmaster a Psalm of the sons of Korah clap your hands all people's shout to God with loud songs of joy for the Lord the most high is to be feared a great king over all the Earth. He subdued peoples under us and Nations under our feet. He chose Our Heritage for us the pride of Jacob who he loves. God has gone up with a show the Lord with the sound of a trumpet sing praises to God sing praises sing praises to our king sing praises for God is the king of all the Earth sing praises with a song God reigns over the nation God sits on his holy Throne the princes of the people gather as the people of the god of Abraham for the shields of the earth belong to God. He is highly exalted. This is God's word. Let's go to him in prayer father God. We thank you for your word. And we thank you for this song and for the admonition and exhortation it gives us to praise you and I would ask this morning that you by your Holy Spirit would help us to understand in our minds in a brace with our hearts what this song mean? The you would teach us from this song Father got in that as we with the help of your spirit have your word and planted in our minds in our hearts. We have confidence that it will not return void, but it will accomplish what you set it up to do. Father we know that one of the things you said it out to do is to conform us to the image of your son until we ask that you would do that this morning that we would leave this morning more like Jesus than when we came. And father God we would also ask about this song help us to see Christ help us to see him in a new and fresh way this morning. It's the same Christ father God that help us to see with. More clarity this morning who he is and and what he has done. We ask this in his precious name. Amen main idea from Psalm 42 847 I think can be stated like this because God Reigns and because God will rain we should praise him because God Reigns and will rain we should praise him. We're going to start by looking at verses 1 through 5. Praise the Victorious King know what you're going to see in this song is that there is an order in which the verses are laid out. First of all the song misgives an imperative or a command and then he has a rash and now for that command and that's and then is followed by an elaboration on the rationale. So we're going to consider that here is the imperative the song starts with an inverse one clap your hands all people's show to God with loud songs of Joy the call goes over from this song to all people not just the Israelites to literally clapping hands and give a ringing cry. Now this was probably standard practice. We can see this and second Kings chapter 11 verses verse 12 where the chief priests presents Joy to the people as the new king. There's a 2nd Kings 11:12 says then he that is the priest brought of the King's son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony and they Proclaim him King and anointed him and they clap their hands and said long live the king as this was likely a practice in regards to the monarch of recognizing who he was. to clapping in through loud shouts I think it's interesting as we read this in the ESV dsv in this first verse seems to indicate singing but I think that's not the case. I don't think it's problematic. But if you read the King James version it says oh clap your hands all ye people showed unto God with a voice of Triumph or The New American Standard Bible clap. Your hands all people showed to God with a voice of Joy. I think this is shouting. This is yelling cries of acclimation of who the king is and who the king was until the command goes out in this song in the first verse for people to make a loud enthusiastic recognition of God's Sovereign rain. Well the song Missing verse to give the rationale. Why why should we do that? Well, he tells us people are called to make a joyful enthusiastic show to buy Commission because God is the very Pinnacle of all beings. He is most high and his rain is not limited by geography but rather extend over all of the Earth. That we think about rulers and we think about Kings you could probably order the George V as a reigning monarch arguably rained over the largest land mass on the earth of any Empire in 1920. He ruled over 26% of the Earth. You compare that to the next highest Genghis Khan the the Mughal Empire and the 12s late 1200 here and approximately over 18% of the earth's land mass. So these are the two highest Kings in terms of what they ruled over when the psalmist tells us that God rules over the whole Earth. And he should be praised because of that. He should be a clean with loud shouts and and clapping because he is not God and he's not just that God. He's also were told a fearsome God. I read to you and the ESV it says. The Lord most high is to be feared that is certainly reverence but it's more than just reverence. We get a sense of that again going back to the King James version with says for the Lord most high is terrible. Now, I think that's a good change because of how we use terrible now. But this is a God who can instill fear and Terror in the people because of his greatness.

Another storm S2 vs. 325 goes an elaborate on that since he's given the instruction clap your hands and show because God is most high and he reigns of the earth and then verse 3 through 5. He elaborate elaborate on why the most high God should elicit from All Peoples clapping and showed some. Joyful Triumph from All Peoples. Samus points, once again to the conquest of Canaan and the ensuing allotment of land to the 12 tribes. These are reasons that explain why we should respond in such a manner God's delivering the promised land to his people is proof that he is sovereign. In Victorious, he won the battles decidedly and it was within his purview to give the land to whoever he wanted is that me guys making that sound it's the beard noise again. Further demonstrates, he is a faithful Covenant partner. He has promised to give this land to his people and so the Samus points to this.

Finally the Conquering ruling Monarch his picture to sending to his Heavenly Throne. I miss the joyful clapping and shouting of his subjects. So that's the first section of this song. What are we called to do? We're call to show into clap and to recognize that God is Sovereign and ruling and reigning. And then in verse 6 and part of her seven we get more imperatives are more commands. There is actually a five-fold repetition of the verb to sing praises and this adds emphasis and urgency to the song is exhortation to acknowledge the Victorious reigning king sing praises to God sing praises sing praises to our king sing praises sing praises with a song five times. Verb is used. What's interesting in the Old Testament is that verb is almost exclusive to the Book of Psalms through it occurs, 43 * 39 * that verbiage used. It is in the Book of Psalms and way back when we started the book of Psalms. We talked about the book of Psalms being the Old Testament Hymnal write to him the hymns for Israel. And this is why is because they talk about singing now that V reference of the verb to sing is interesting and that makes reference to singing in a particular way to sing a maskell another suggested. The psalmist is calling the people to praise with their voices in Singing in a wise and well thought away again the King James version singing praises with understanding of The New American Standard Bible sing praises with a skilful saw the command is given to urgently and emphatically and wisely sing our praises to God because of who he is. The rationale we see again and verse 7 and 8 the reason for this prudent and forceful sing your Praises. Why do we have to do that? Well, it's because God's ruling loaded lordship over all the Earth is why he should be praised. Versus 89 we got some elaboration again on this. Explain this while the sun is tells us that God sits on his holy Throne. It's his throne it and it's God's throne. And that means it's an eternal Throne. He has rained on that Throne from eternity past. He has always in all-time exercise Rule and judge and once things were created he rule and judged everything that was created and it's his strong, but it's a holy scroll. A holy God has a holy throne. His throne is just like him. It's separated from Earthly things. We read in Isaiah 66 verse one that says the Lord heaven is my throne and the Earth is my footstool. He sits on his throne and it's a holy throne and it's separated from Earthly things. And so we read that God is to be wisely and widely praised because of his holy Eternal reign. The verse 9 pictures as it says the princess of the Gentile Nations coming voluntarily and uniting with Jews as the people of Abraham. Now they're Warriors represented by their Shields have being subdued and subjected by God and this again according to the psalmist is reason for praise. It's a really in the song we have we have two distinct calls to worship God once roof clapping and Loud shouting and another through the singing of Our Praise. We are called to this because God is the Victorious reigning monarch whose Throne is in heaven. He is a champion king who has rained eternally and demonstrated his authority by subduing his enemies. He is a great king over all the Earth. This is what Psalm 47 calls us to So as I said before we get to our third Point, let's make some application now first. We should praise him with singing. We take you back to Psalm 33 verses 1 through 3, very similar show for joy in the Lord O U righteous praise befits the upright give thanks to the Lord with the Leer make Melody to him with the harp of ten strings sing to him a new song play skillfully on the strings in with loud shouts. We should praise him with singing in regards to praise. We should be people of Praise in anyway, and by any means we can John Calvin and his commented Terry speaks to that phrase praise befits the upright or on his time. It was praise is comely for the upright. Calvin says this but the real meaning of the Clause praise is comely for the upright is that there is no exercise in which they that is the upright can be better employed and a shirt since God by his daily benefits furnishes them with such matter for celebrating his glory and since his boundless goodness, as we have elsewhere scene is laid up as a peculiar treasure for them it were disgraceful and utterly unreasonable for them to be silent in the Praises of God. The amount of the matter is that the principal exercise in which it becomes the righteous to be employed is the publish among men the righteousness goodness and power of God the knowledge of which is implanted and their minds we should be people of praise. And we should praise God with singing this song is clear about that. No in regards to that. I need to tell you Church. Let's starting next Sunday. We are inviting the congregation to join the worship team and singing.

Some of you are like I've been singing for 4 weeks. Well no comment to that but the elders and the staff have availed ourselves of many discussions and much information and with the masked remaining on and at a level of volume level of talking we are going to invite the congregation to sing together as the Bible instructs us to do I will say that we believe the course we have taken is a wise one in regards to honoring our government and regards to loving your neighbor neighbor, but we feel as of August 2nd the first Sunday in August. We will start to sing as a congregation together. So we will follow this application particularly next Sunday. John Calvin went on to say and certainly when God a luers Believer so sweetly. It is proper that they employ themselves and celebrating his Praises with their whole hearts. That were called to do this whole heartedly. And before I move on to our second point of application with speaks to that wholeheartedness. I just want to briefly talk about clapping and shouting now, I grew up and was saved in a context in which it was rare for shouting not to occur. The opposite is the case here very occasionally. There will be a show but it is rare but I grew up in a contest and if some of you did as well wear that was normal not to mention the Clapping of hands which happens occasionally hear I want to say without going into too much detail detail. Both of those are biblical responses to who God is And we need to use them wisely, but I don't want to avoid them. I wanted to talk about singing primarily but in regards to shouting and clapping. I think what that speaking about is, my next point of application is that we should praise God enthusiastically wholeheartedly this shouldn't just be a routine we go through. I've begun rereading. Religious affections by Jonathan Edwards. It was interesting to read in the introduction this week Jonathan Edwards speaking about singing and speaking about the enthusiasm. That should go with seniors what Edward says And the duty of singing praises to God seems to be appointed holy to excite and express religious affections. No other reason can be assigned why we should express ourselves to God and verse rather than in prose and to do it with music, but only that such as our nature and frame that these things have a tendency to move our affections. Understand what religious affections are religious affections are biblically informed emotions that are exercised by the will for the glory of God. It's a what Edwards is saying? He's not in fact saying here. This is one of the reasons we sing. He says this is the only reason we ought to sing is that it will graciously inflamed or heart in regards to the Praises that we are giving to God as what actually encourages enthusiasm. Now I want to say compared to the church. I grew up in things at West on the lions are much more tempert. That's okay. We are who we are but as we sing perhaps in a more, I'll call it subdued fashion than what I grew up with let that not be an indication of your enthusiasm that's in our hearts. As we sing to God as we sing praises to God let's do it wholeheartedly and I suspect next Sunday when we are encouraged to all sing together there will be ample amounts of enthusiasm and it will be hard to keep the volume turned back as well ask you to do but every time we come to God's with praise and singing it ought to be enthusiastic because of who he is and all he's done in Psalm 7 speaks to that finally we should praise God wisely We should be wise in our praise to God our prey should be well thought out and it should be a give evidence of wisdom. I want to give an example here. There is a controversial song over the last couple years a song and which I realize this week. I have never actually heard. I don't think that's because I showed great discretion when I listen to I think it's because I'm a curmudgeon tonight didn't listen to the song maybe cuz it was new but I know many of you have heard this song and Ivar where the controversy the song is called Reckless Love. Let me let let me read the chorus of this song. To you. Oh the overwhelming never-ending Reckless Love of God chases me down fights till I'm found leaves the 99 I couldn't earn it. I don't deserve it. Still you give yourself away. Oh the overwhelming never-ending Reckless Love of God. Very few at Reckless means in the dictionary on early. I'm concerned about the consequences of some action. without caution careless characterized by or proceeding from carelessness Here's some synonyms right from the Soros audacious Brash Carefree daring foolhardy Hasty ill-advised imprudent negligent thoughtless. Now when we talk about praising wisely, I want to be clear about that. Is that what this song writer meant that we should be Brash or ill-advised or foolhardy when we talked about God's love? No, that's not what this I'm sure songwriter meant. This song writer meant is that God's love is so merciful that it seems Reckless to plus your comparison. I've drawn is to a title of book called the scandal of the cross. The cross is not a scandal but it seems scandalous because of the grace and mercy involved. But the question I have is is this praising God wisely? Is there not a better word that could have been used in this case one that didn't require an explanation before singing it one that didn't assume people would make the theological connections. They ought to me that it's speaking to what God seems to be doing in his love as opposed to what it really is. It is not a matter of consequence to me whether you like that song or not, whether you sing it or not. Enjoy it. I think you know what it means. You know, what the author that song meant. I bring that to your attention to say we are to praise God wisely the what are The Temptations in regards to praise? I would say particular in regards to singing is to not be wise to just sing wherever heartaches us. Whatever song we like the sound of that snot what Psalm 47 calls us to the cause us to sing with Wiz

So we are called to exercise Godly emotions. What we are to do so wisely. We are called to use our voices to sing but to do so wisely. We're called to be enthusiastic and even perhaps with clapping and a show but we ought to do so wisely. I think he's a very practical applications for us as a church from Psalm 47. I want to move to the final point of my sermon and I want you to see that we've throughout this tapestry of instruction on worship and praise to God is what I would call an eschatological thread a future looking thread that is weave through the song that isn't my parent necessarily at first glance. We need to understand that at the time of its writing Israel still had enemies. Another song the song talks about complete subjugation of God's enemies that wasn't a complete reality in the time of the writing of the song The finality of the reign of God and which this song is so had not be and has not being fully realized. Not all Gentile Nations have fallen on their knees and worship the god of Israel. There are some Nations who have attached themselves to Israel. And in that time had attached themselves and joined Israel in worship, but they had not all to come God's people as this song suggest. And so our last point in the sermon considers the not yet aspect of this song when it was written as well as the not yet aspect of the song as it applies to us know in this last point of entitled praise in Jesus. Psalm 47 calls us to worship and praise a Victorious raining King. Let me tell you this morning. Jesus is the Victorious King. Jesus is the reigning King and Jesus will be the Victorious King and Jesus will be the reigning King and that he is to be praised. I want to look this morning for just a few more moments at Ephesians chapter 1 verses 7 and 10 and 15 through 23 in which we see clearly a couple of things. We see clearly, I believe that Jesus is the Fulfillment of Psalm 47 that this raining King. In fact is Jesus and that his Victoria strain is both right now and still to come in all its fulfillment. We start off in verse 7. In him, we have Redemption through his blood there forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. And so take note as we look at this and consider this and compare it to Psalm 47 that Paul is anchoring these truths in the gospel. He's anchoring what he's about to say in the Redemption that came to the blood of Christ the Forgiveness of our trespasses that were in accordance with Grace. That's the foundation for everything that follows. According To Riches of Grace which he lavished upon us and all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will according to his purpose which he sent forth and Christ as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him things in heaven and things on earth. So that's what Paul is talking about hear what he's talking about. His is these things grow out of the Gospel. They are the very soil and Foundation of what he's talking about those we consider the reign of Christ as we consider the victory of Christ both right now and the one that's the calm when we experience the fullness of it that is grounded in the gospel. In the Life Death and Resurrection resurrection of Christ. So let's go to verse 15 for this reason because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints. I do not cease to give thanks for you remembering you in my prayers that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ. The father of Glory may give you the spirit of wisdom and of Revelation in the knowledge of him having the eyes of your heart and lighting that you may know what is the whole to which is called you. What are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints. And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward? I to believe according to the working of his great mites. Oh no here. What is the in measurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might know that Jesus is Great and Mighty and we talked about in Psalm 47 the praise of a grade King. Oh, Jesus is a great king immeasurable greatness of power at the working of his great might. Call goes on to say that he worked in Christ. So Christ is the working out of God's greatness when he raised him from the dead and see them in his right hand in the Heavenly places to Christ has been seated at God's right hand. He sits now on God's holy throne and that Throne we seeing verse 21 is far above all Rule and authority and power and Dominion that is above all who have been subdued under his feet. So I'm 47 says Paul says and above every name that is named Christ. In fact is the most high God above every name that is named and then Paul says not only in sh. but also in the one to come I think we have to recognize this when we talked about Christ Victorious rain. It is true now. And it will be fulfilled in all its fullness and a time to come when he returns. And I fullness of his Victorious rain now and the completion of that fullness when he comes a second time is why we should praise him. Paul goes on to say and he that is God put all things under his Jesus's feet again subduing people under him and Nations under him and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body the fullness of him who fills all in all So what if I understand this morning as we get this call from Psalm 47? The show and clap and sing praises to God and to do so enthusiastically. And to do so wisely. The distance fact is a call to praise King Jesus. I'm going to praise King Jesus because of his victory in the gospel in the ensuing rain that he has because of it. The gospel is why Jesus is raining in Victorious and the gospel is why Jesus will reign and be Victorious and all its fullness. And those great rules are caused to elicit from God's people great enthusiastic Praise of his reign. In fact, we are the gentile people who are now called the people of Abraham who join with the Israelites looking to our King and praising him recognizing his Rule and Reign clapping shouts of Triumph. Enjoy as a result of that and singing praises to God. brothers and sisters the rest of this day goes on in this week's, we comes leading up to August 2nd when we're going to sing together as a congregation. Understand that we intend to do so. Because of who Jesus is and what he's done. And for God's people Psalm 47 is a call to come in to wisely and enthusiastically recognized his victory in his rain through the gospel want to be people. Who does that and that same call goes out this morning to those of you who don't consider yourself believers. I would admonish you this morning one day every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. It will recognize him as the great king that he is. But the call for you this morning, if you never entrusted your life to Christ, maybe you'll even know what the word Christian means you never availed yourself of his forgiveness.

Let me implore you this morning to be part of God's people who praise and recognize the Glorious reign of Jesus Christ who threw his life and his death and his Rex Resurrection saved his people. And deliver them from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God. Let's pray. Father God we thank you for your words. We thank you Father God for this glorious truth of who you are and what you've done.

You are the great king over all the Earth. You are the most high God. And you demonstrated that most clearly most beautifully in the life and death and resurrection of Christ. Until this morning, we acknowledge your rule and reign. But father God, we also look forward to the completion in the fullness and the consummation of that rule and Reign when you come again. And we would ask you father God that by your spirit that you would help us to be people of praise. That we would wisely and that we would enthusiastically that we with singing would recognize and acknowledge. You as a great king over all the Earth. In Christ's name I pray amen.