Psalm 47
To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.Selah
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.
7 For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm.[a]
8 God is king over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted.
Reflection
When I read this psalm, a song from my childhood comes rushing back. We used to sing it at summer camp and in Sunday School. “Clap your hands, all ye people. Shout unto God with a voice of triumph. Clap your hands, all ye people. Shout unto God with a voice of praise. Hosanna!…”. That tune will be fixed in my mind throughout the day now. And that’s ok. There are times when we need to have those childhood songs or those first memory verses resurface to remind us how deep our faith goes. I find myself resting in the peace of a faith taught to me by those saints who have gone before. What a gift I, and many of us, have received because someone shared faith with us, taught us to sing, taught us memory verses, led us through the rituals of baptism and communion. I am thankful for those faithful saints who taught me to sing and clap my hands.
Prayer
Everlasting father, we offer thanks for those who have gone before us, who lived their faith honestly and with commitment. We offer thanks for what they have taught us by example. We know we have stepped into their shoes and now live as an example for others, seeking your grace, and living our discipleship. Help us to grow in the areas in which we need help, and help us to share our strengths to help us others. Help us, today, to remember the old lessons of our faith which have shaped us and led us to where we are today. Help us to rely on you as we continue to grow in our faith. Thank you for giving us time and opportunity to grow. Amen.