The nations are exhorted to cheerfully entertain the kingdom of Christ.
0To the 1chief Musician, A Psalm for the 2sons of Korah.
1 See the first annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.
2 See the third annotation at Psalm 42 in the title.
1O CLAP 3your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
3 Hebr. the palm, as a sign of joy and cheerful acclamation. Compare 2 Kings 11:12; Psalm 98:8.
2For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
3He 4shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
4 Or, bring on, lead on, ordain, appoint. Understand not only the bodily subjection of the heathen at that time, but also the spiritual under the New Testament, whereof John 10:16; Acts 2:39, etc.
4He 5shall choose our inheritance for us, the 6excellency of Jacob whom he 7loved. 8Selah.
5 Or, He chooseth for us. Here both may be understood as well the earthly, Canaan, as the heavenly; the first they possessed, the second they expected by faith and hope, Heb. 11:15, 16.
6 Or, the highness, glory, eminence; such as were with them: the kingdom, the priesthood, the temple, etc. together with the glorious spiritual goods thereby signified.
7 And out of love chose, or, loveth, understanding by Jacob the people of Israel.
8 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.
5God 9is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
9 Or, is ascended, gone up, come up, marched up, as was done when the ark (whereon God did show His presence and which was a type of Christ) was carried up by David to Zion, 2 Sam. 6:15; 1 Chron. 13:8; 15:28 and afterwards by Solomon brought into the temple, 2 Chronicles 5; and then especially, when the Lord Christ Himself went up to heaven, Luke 24:51, 52, from there to rule and govern all things as King. Compare Psalm 2:6, 8, 9 and Psalm 110.
6Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
7For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with 10understanding.
10 Hebr. maschil. See the first annotation at Psalm 32 in the title. Other, every one that is wise or of understanding, ye understanding ones. Likewise understandingly, with mutual instruction, Col. 3:16; or an instructing psalm or psalm of instruction.
8God reigneth over the 11heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
11 Compare Psalm 22:28.
9The 12princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God 13of Abraham: for the 14shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
12 Or, the voluntary ones, of one’s own free will, who offer themselves, volunteers (as they say), the liberals; which name is given to princes and nobles, because kindness and liberality suit them and they are adorned thereby. See Job 12 on verse 21.
13 That is, those who have the faith of Abraham, Rom. 4:16, to whom God had made the promise that: In thee shall all nations be blessed, which had a special regard to the calling of the Gentiles, whereof it also speaks in this place. Compare Psalm 22:27, 28, 29, 30; Eph. 2:13, 18, 19; 3:6, or thus: The nobles of the nations are gathered, namely the people of the God of Abraham.
14 That is, the perfect or all the defense and protection of people in general and of His people in particular belongs to God alone, the sole and true Protector and Defender. Compare Psalm 89:18; 1 Tim. 4:10. Which also renders Him worthy of all honor, laud and praise. This may likewise be understood of, and applicable to magistrates and governors on earth, whom God has put and appointed as shields to protect the church. Compare Hosea 4:18. The hearts of them He has such in His hands that He can make them willing to be admitted to the communion of His church, as was said in the beginning of this verse.