Psalm 47

Read Psalm 47

“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” The Lord chose the people of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob out of all the families of the earth. Though He remained a great King “over all the earth,” He loved Israel in a special way.

God heard them when they groaned for deliverance from bondage. He brought them to the land that He promised to give them. There He subdued nations under their feet.

Yet it was too small a thing for God to redeem only one group of people. The King of the earth had a plan for a much bigger salvation. His Son, the King of the Jews, would die for His elect people throughout the world.

After His great fight against sin and death, Jesus ascended up into the heavens as His disciples looked on in amazement. Now after centuries of Spirit-directed ministry, people throughout the world are calling out to the Father in the Name of the Son. One day Jesus will come back to earth with all His chosen people. Then the divine shout of victory will be heard everywhere. The trumpet will sound and the Lord will reign. All His people will worship Him with perfect joy.

Jesus reigns over all the earth even now. Yet we do not see everything submitting to Him. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He will be “highly exalted” forever.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Sovereign Lord, You are the Most High God. You have ordered all the events of human history in accord with Your glorious plan. You rule over every lesser power. You will be exalted forever.