This past week I taught our men’s ministry Bible study. The topic is Living as Real Men in a Godless Society.

Our aim is to lay a biblical foundation that will enable men to examine the influence of our culture and rather than allowing our culture to squeeze us, choosing to allow the Bible to establish a world view from which we can live to honor God and influence others.

The series was developed in conjunction with Dave Muchmore. But when we developed the series we didn’t know our schedules. So this past week I was to teach Psalm 47–a psalm I had never studied or taught before.

What a wonderful, though unfamiliar Psalm.

I continue to be amazed at the depth of God’s Word. And I am thankful that it is alive and active and that it continues to challenge me.

Psalm 47 is an enthronement Psalm tied to Psalm 46 (a more well known psalm).

Psalm 46 celebrates God’s defeat of the nations to secure Israel. Psalm 47 continues to the bigger picture, that eventually all the nations will gather to worship God.

Psalm 47 serves as a wonderful call to worship God because of His sovereignty. He is superior to all other “gods” and since He is the Most High and great king He won’t allow any competition. He is powerful and reigns over the whole earth.

In light of the attributes and actions of God He is most worthy of worship.

But the worship Psalm 47 calls us to is not passive or passionless, it is dynamic and probably loud.

1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

5 God has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

In light of who God is, what He has done and what He will do–we are to worship him wholeheartedly.  There is excitement, urgency, community and joy in this wholehearted worship.

May we be wholehearted worshippers.
May our worship be well pleasing to God, the Host High, the Great King, our King.