Ps 47:1-9. Praise is given to God for victory, perhaps that recorded (2Ch 20:20-30); and His dominions over all people, Jews and Gentiles, is asserted.
1. clap ... hands ... people -- literally, |peoples,| or |nations| (compare De 32:43; Ps 18:49; 98:9).
2, 3. His universal sovereignty now exists, and will be made known.
3. under us -- that is, His saints; Israel's temporal victories were types of the spiritual conquests of the true Church.
4. He shall ... inheritance -- the heathen to be possessed by His Church (Ps 2:8), as Canaan by the Jews.
excellency of Jacob -- literally, |pride,| or, that in which he glories (not necessarily, though often, in a bad sense), the privileges of the chosen people --
whom he loved -- His love being the sole cause of granting them.
5-7. God, victorious over His enemies, reascends to heaven, amid the triumphant praises of His people, who celebrate His sovereign dominion. This sovereignty is what the Psalm teaches; hence he adds,
sing ... praises with understanding -- literally, |sing and play an instructive (Psalm).| The whole typifies Christ's ascension (compare Ps 68:18).
8, 9. The instruction continued.
throne of ... holiness -- or, |holy throne| (see on Ps 2:6; Ps 23:4).
9. princes -- who represent peoples. For --
even -- supply, |as,| or, |to| -- that is, they all become united under covenant with Abraham's God.
shields -- as in Ho 4:18, |rulers| [Margin].