Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 47

PSAL. XLVII.

To the Master of the Musicke, to the sonnes of Korach a Psalme.

ALl peoples clap ye hands, shout triumphantly to God with voice of shrilling. For Iehovah is high, fearfull, a great King over all the earth. Hee hath subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.

He hath chosen for us our inheritance, the high excellencie of Iakob, whom hee loveth Selah. God is gone up with triumph, Iehovah with voice of trumpet. Sing Psalme to God sing Psalme; sing Psalme to our King sing Psalme. For God is King of all the earth; sing an instructing Psalme. God reigneth over the heathens, God sitteth on the throne of his holinesse. The bounteous Princes of the peoples are gathered, the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth are Gods; vehemently is hee exalted.

Annotations. CLap hands] or the Palmes; Hebrew, the palme: a signe of joyfull approbation, used as at other times, so at the coronation of Kings, 2 King. 11. 12. So after Psalm. 98. 8. voice of [illegible: 1 span]ing] that is, a shrill voice and joyfull. See the notes on Psalm. 5. 12. and 41. 12. Vers. 4. He hath subdued, or, will subdue: So in the next verse, He will chuse; but the time to come is often used for the time past or continued. And here it seemeth to be spoken of the subduing of the Canaanites, and the [illegible: 1 word] subduing of nations to Christ, by preaching of the Gospell. Of subduing, see Psal. 18. 48. the Chaldee here translateth it, kill. Vers. 5. our inheritance] the land of Canaan, Psal. 78. 55. and that immortall undefiled heritage reserved in heaven for us, 1 Pet. 1. 4. high excellencie] or glorious highnesse; meaning the kingdome, priest-hood, Temple, &c. (as the Chaldee mentioneth, the house of the Sanctuary:) whereby Iacobs posteritie excelled, Ezek. 24. 21. Amos 6. 8. and 8. 7. Nahum 2. 2. and all the heavenly promises given to the Church in Christ. Vers. 6. God is gone up] as when the [illegible: 1 letter]rke went up from Ki[illegible: 1 span]th-j[illegible: 1 letter]arim to Ierusalem, 2 Sam. 6. 15. 1 Chron. 13. 8. and 15. 28. when the Arke was carried by Solomon into the Temple, 2 Chron. 5. when Christ ascended with triumph into heaven, Luke 24 51, 52. and with like glory shall he come againe, 1 Ihess. 4. 16. Act. 1. 9, 11. The Chaldee referreth this Going up, to the Exalting of Gods name. Vers. 7. an instructing Psalme] Maschil, the title of Psal. 32. and many others, here used in like sense for a Psalme to give instruction; or, as in Psal. 14. 2. for a prudent understanding person; in this sense, sing Psalme every one that is prudent; or, as the Greeke explaineth it, sing prudently; the Chaldee, with good understanding. Vers. 9. throne of his holinesse] Greeke, his holy throne. See Psal. 9. 5. Revel. 4. 2. The Chaldee calleth it, the throne of his glory. Vers. 10. The bounteous Princes] or, the voluntaries, Nobles: A name given to the liberall and free hearted, Isa. 32. 5. 8. Exod. 35. 21, 29. and to Princes or Nobles, Numb. 21. 18. Psal. 113. 8. and 118. 8. Iob 12. 21. So here the Greeke hath Princes. are Gods] or, to God (belong) the shields of the earth: He is the great conquer our and protectour of all, Gen. 15. 1. Shields also are Magistrates and Governours, that protect the Common-weales, Hos. 4. 18. Psal. 89. 19. So the Greeke here hath, the strong men of the earth.