@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].