Psalms 47:8

8 God shall reign on heathen men; God sitteth on his holy seat. (God reigneth over all the heathen; yea, God sitteth on his holy throne.)

Psalms 47:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 47:8

God reigneth over the Heathen
He reigned over Israel under the former dispensation, and now he reigns over the Gentiles under the Gospel dispensation; as appears by the numerous instances of conversion among them in the first ages of Christianity; and by the many churches that were planted by the means of the apostles; and by the destruction of the Roman Pagan empire under the sixth seal, ( Revelation 6:12-14 ) ( 12:7-10 ) ; and which will still more appear by the destruction of Rome Papal, when all the Heathens shall perish out of the land; and by the fulness and forces of the Gentiles being brought into a submission to him; all which are reasons to sing praises to him;

God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness;
or his holy throne, which is heaven; on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; on his Father's throne; having done his work on earth he is received up into heaven, and is set down on a throne at the right hand of God, an honour which none of the angels have: he has ceased from his work and entered into his rest, and sits and sees of the travail of his soul; all which is matter of joy to his people, and a reason why they should sing praises; and the rather, since they are set down with him in heavenly places: or this may be understood of his sitting on the throne of judgment to judge the world in righteousness at the last day, it following upon his reign over the Gentiles; though the other sense best agrees with his immediate ascension to heaven.

Psalms 47:8 In-Context

6 Sing ye to our God, sing ye; sing ye to our king, sing ye. (Sing ye to our God, sing ye; sing ye to our King, sing ye.)
7 For God is king of all earth; sing ye [psalm] wisely. (For God is the King of all the earth; sing ye songs with all your skill/sing ye songs, and understand what they mean.)
8 God shall reign on heathen men; God sitteth on his holy seat. (God reigneth over all the heathen; yea, God sitteth on his holy throne.)
9 The princes of peoples be gathered together with God of Abraham; for the strong gods of earth be raised greatly. (The rulers of the nations be gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham; for the strong of the earth belong to God, and he is raised above them all.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.