Psalm 47

Plato said, “Only the dead have seen the end of war.” I wish that was not true, but it is; and it will be, until Christ comes again in final victory over the forces of evil. As I noted in my meditation on Psalm 41, the Bible, and the Book of Psalms, presents the reality of living in a world fractured and broken by sin. The psalms do not hide or deny sin, evil and a world hostile to God. The Bible teaches us that we do not have to sink in despair in the face of this reality because, “. . . we are more than conquerors through (Christ) who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

Psalm 47 is a battle psalm written to praise God before the battle, within the battle, and after the victory. The Bible contains many examples where the Israelites put the formula of the psalmist into practice. Perhaps the classic illustration of this is the story of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. Prior to the battle, the people went to God in a prayer of trust and praise: “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

As the King led his people into battle, they went forth “singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:21)

Then, “On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.” (2 Chronicles 20:26)

Although few of us have tasted war and we have not experienced the physical battle of the psalmist, we all experience spiritual battles. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6, teaches us that the Holy Spirit has equipped us with spiritual armor for battle. With the testimony of the unseen cloud of witnesses surrounding us, (Hebrews 12) we too can go forth singing,

“Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!”

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

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How does this passage touch your life today?

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Reading for June 18, 2012                   Psalm 48