The xlviiith Psalm by E. B. Saunders

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 9, 1859

The xlviiith Psalm.

By E. B. Saunders

This psalm has been subjected to as many distortions and wrong expositions as it has had commentators; and is supposed by the nominal christians to refer to our Saviour's ascension after his resurrection, at which time they suppose he established his kingdom, and now sits as King of kings and Lord of lords upon his throne in heaven. For this reason the Roman Catholic church has ordained it to be read on Ascension Day.

But where does it apply? In the past or in the future? Let us examine and see. "O clap your hands all ye people, shout unto God with the voice of triumph." It is inconsistent to suppose that all the people can shout with the voice of triumph until they have really triumphed over the last and worst enemy, death; and the kingdom of God is established on the earth. But why shout with the voice of triumph? "For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great king over all the earth;" not only king over Palestine, but all the earth. But he is not yet King of kings, and reigning over all the earth, nor will he be so till the stone cut out without hands smites the image upon the feet, [see Dan. ii] or till the Son of man receives of the Ancient of days "a kingdom that all people, nations and languages should serve him," [Dan. vii] which will not be before the judgment is set and the books are opened. That he is not king over the earth now is evident from John xviii, 36, when the king expressly says "my kingdom is not of this world. . . . But now is my kingdom not from hence," or from this time forward. His kingdom will be the New Earth, his subjects the redeemed. When he is king he will subdue the nations under our feet; or in other words, when the heathen are given him for an inheritance, he will dash them in pieces and break them with a rod of iron. Then we can shout unto God with a voice of triumph.

Just before Jesus comes he will lay off his priestly robes and put on the garments of vengeance. He will then cease to plead for fallen guilty man. Then there will be no intercessor, no one to cry, Spare, spare yet a little longer. Then Jesus will come as King of kings to save his people who have been appointed unto death. His arm will bring salvation.

Doubtless this period will be one of deep anxiety to the chosen ones who are threatened with death; yet they can "shout unto God" for the Holy Spirit has written in their hearts that the atonement is made, the subjects of the kingdom are made up, the marriage of the Lamb is finished, and Jesus has received the kingdom. The next event of importance to the saints is the coming of Jesus in the clouds of heaven, with a shout and the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, [1 Thess. iv, 16, 17,] when they with the dead saints will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Their trials are now ended; they have escaped the appointed death, having been delivered in a wonderful manner.

But how beautifully this is described by the Psalmist in verse 5. "God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet." What next? "Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises unto our King, sing praises." And who would not sing praises to God as the cloudy chariot bears us off to the golden city? Then will the princes of the people be gathered together even the people of the God of Abraham, and all as one great family will shout praises to God and the Lamb on the Mount Zion. E. B. SAUNDERS.