February 16, 2017: Day 47 – Psalm 47

So, to start I want you to go back to the blog on Psalm 46 and look at Dot Rineer’s comment.  She continuously posts music that is incredibly appropriate (as opposed to Jethro Tull) and fits the psalm that we are covering perfectly.  There is a song there from Shane and Shane in her comment where you should click the link and just worship.  That is what it reflects, just pure worship.  I know, I know, what kind of worship does the Lord require of us?  Not just listening to music and feeling uplifted but to feed the poor, clothe the naked, house the homeless, give refuge to the outcast and the one without a nation.  That is pure worship.  But boy, that video is really, really uplifting.  Thank you all for your comments.

Okay, what does Psalm 47 provide for us?  It is obviously a psalm of praise as we begin with a command to clap your hands, all you peoples.  Hmm, that’s funny.  You know, I don’t like to clap in church.  I’m not one of those stodgy people who will frown upon clapping in church, if you want to do it, I’m fine with it, but I just won’t do it.  There is a big part of me that wants to clap to God for all that He has done.  The purpose of the clapping in this psalm is for the power and presence of God.  Not for a good song that we have sung or a good performance that we may have done.  But again, if you are good with it, so am I, just don’t ask me to do it and I won’t ask you to stop.

I guess I did sound a bit stodgy, especially in light of what this psalm reflects.  It shows a celebration for the people as we are to sing praises to God.  Did you see that phrase, sing praises, repeated 4 times in one verse and then it is followed up one more time in the next verses just for good measure?  There is no excuse for how we have treated communion as a funeral dirge.  Okay, that may have come out of the blue, but aren’t we talking about celebrating and praising God in church?  We should be singing praises for all that God has done, even as we take communion.  I think it is the most misrepresented and miscelebrated (sic) sacrament that we have.  We should be clapping our hands to God as we take the bread and the juice.  God, you are awesome, look what you did for me!  We ought to sing praises to God as the elements are being distributed.  

The basic strong thrust of this psalm is that we are to recognize that God is over all things.  He is enthroned on high and he is Lord and ruler of all.  That should make us clap our hands and sing praises to God.