This psalm is entitled, “To the chief Musician, a psalm for (margin, of) the sons of Korah.” On the phrase “To the chief Musician,” see the notes at the title to Psalms 4:1-8. On the phrase “For the sons of Korah,” see the notes at the title to Psalms 42:1-11.
The occasion on which the psalm was composed, and the name of the author, are alike unknown. It is a triumphal psalm, and was composed apparently on some occasion of “victory” over enemies, with reference to a triumphal procession. Professor Alexander supposes that it was composed to commemorate the victory of Jehoshaphat over the Ammonites and Edomites, recorded in 2 Chronicles 20. It is, as he remarks, a coincidence of some importance, that there is express mention made of the presence of the “Kohattlites” on that occasion, as among those who “stood up to praise the Lord,” 2 Chronicles 20:19. This is not, however, decisive, as they might have been present on other similar occasions, and as it is probable, in fact, that they usually took part in celebrations of this kind. All that can be expressed with any certainty in regard to the occasion on which the psalm was composed is, that it was on an occasion of victory.
The psalm consists of two parts, quite similar in structure and in design. Each part consists of an exhortation to praise God, followed by a statement of reasons why, it should be done.
I. The first part comprises the first five verses:
(1) An exhortation to praise God - to celebrate the joy of the soul by a clapping of hands, and by a shout of triumph, Psalms 47:1.
(2) Reasons for doing this, Psalms 47:2-5. These reasons are that he is terrible; that he is king over all the earth; that he will subdue the nations, and make them subject to his own people; and that, in anticipation of this, and in proof of this, he had now achieved a signal victory, and had gone up as from that victory to his own abode in heaven.
II. The second part embraces the Last four verses of the psalm:
(1) An exhortation, as before, to praise God, Psalms 47:6.
(2) Reasons for this, Psalms 47:7-9. These reasons are, as before, that God is king over all the earth; that he now sits upon the throne of his holiness, and that Psalms 47:9 the princes of the nations - the subdued kings and rulers - are borne along in triumph to the people of the God of Abraham; and that in this victory it has been shown that the shields of the earth belong to God. See the notes at Psalms 47:9.
The psalm, therefore, is a triumphal ode, and was probably composed to be sung on occasion of some military triumph - some solemn procession on a return from battle, with captive princes marching in the procession, and with a display of the “shields” and other implements of war taken from the foe. All this is celebrated as indicative of the interposing power of God in victory, and as evidence of his purpose to protect his chosen people in time of peril. The psalm may yet be used in a higher sense by the church at large, when all the foes of God on earth shall be subdued, and when his kingdom shall be in fact set up over all the world.