“Clap your hands, all peoples! 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 whom he loves. God has gone up with a shout, 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 psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!” (v1-9)
This celebratory Psalm was likely used when Israel was victorious in battle (such as under King Jehoshaphat 2 Chr 20:15-23). Not only does it proclaim victory for the people, but more importantly it gives glory to God, for without Him they would not have succeeded.
This Psalm correctly declares that God is:
– worthy of respect and reverence (“the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared”)
– sovereign (“a great king over all the earth”, “sits on His holy throne”)
– all powerful (“He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet”)
– wise and discerning (“He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob”)
– caring for His people (“Jacob whom He loves”)
– worthy of praise (“Sing praises to our King, sing praises!”)
– a protector of the people (“the shields of the earth belong to God”)
This Psalm also correctly identifies that God’s people are:
– to celebrate to God (“Shout to God with loud songs of joy!”)
– give God the glory (“He subdued peoples under us”, “He chose our heritage”)
– loved by God (“the pride of Jacob whom He loves”)
– to praise God (“Sing praises to God, sing praises!”)
– to know their role and their true King (“the people of the God of Abraham”)
Praise be to You, O Lord, the Most High. We exalt You our King, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You are worthy of our praise, having subdued our enemies and destroyed the eternal reign of the evil one. Your victory, O God, was made complete on the cross of Calvary through Christ Jesus our Lord. All glory and honor and praise be to Him, our Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world. This universe is Yours, for Your mighty hands have created it, and Your mighty hands have redeemed it. We humbly bow before You our Savior, God and King.
~ Conqueror in Training