Psalm 47:5-8 "God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. (6) Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (7) For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. (8) God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness."
"God is gone up." What a beautiful prophecy concerning our Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Before I address the second part of the verse,
let us think about the departure (ascension) of our Lord. What had to
happen before Jesus could ascend back into heaven? Let me answer that: the work
had to be finished before He went back home. He could not have gone home
if He had not finished that which He came to do. "And she shall
bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his
people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) I never get tired of this passage
in connection with the finished work of our Lord. Jesus came to this earth for
one purpose. Now out of that purpose, we have the blessings of everyday kingdom
living through the life of Jesus Christ. But there was one work in particular
that He came to accomplish: the salvation of His people.
Now either He actually accomplished it, or his body was stolen from the tomb
and the biggest scam of all history has taken place. Let me assure you,
Jesus Christ is alive and well and doing just fine. As verse 8 tells us, He is
sitting upon the throne of His holiness and reigning over all. How do I know
that? Well that grand old hymn states it best. "You ask me how I know He
lives - He lives within my heart." He finished that work. He stated
it on the cross in John 19:30, "...He said, It is finished: and he bowed
his head, and gave up the ghost." Jesus accomplished the redemption
of His people through the shedding of His blood. He secured our hope (blessed
assurance) of this salvation by raising from the dead after three days and
nights, just like He said. Yes, my redemption and yours is secured. We are in
the blessed hands of our Lord and nothing nor anyone can pluck us from His
hands. We belong to Jesus!
Now, let me address the entire verse 5. "God is gone up with a shout, the LORD
with the sound of a trumpet." When I first saw this verse, my heart leaped
for joy. Let us go ahead about a thousand years to the time of Christ's
ascension. "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted
up his hands, and blessed them. (51) And it came to pass, while he
blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
(52) And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great
joy." (Luke 24:50-52) Luke continues and expounds on this event when
he begins writing the book of Acts. We pick up this same scene in Acts chapter
1:9, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken
up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." You might be
asking, "How does Psalm 47:5 connect with Acts chapter 1. Let's look at
Acts 1:11 concerning Christ (God in flesh) going up. The two men in white said
to the disciples, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven".
"He shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go (up) into
heaven." According to Psalm 47:5, how did He go up? "God is gone up
with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.". How will He come
back? "He shall come back in like manner." Now let's finalize
this by going to 1 Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord himself shall
descend from heaven WITH A SHOUT (emphasis mine), with the voice of the
archangel, and WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD: (emphasis mine) and the dead in Christ
shall rise first."
Now why is this so important? The Word of God is very exact and very
specific concerning the work of our Lord from creation unto the very end of
time. Our Lord is the God of order and everything He does, and everything He
allows, is within that purpose and order of God. Rest in that thought. Find
peace and comfort. What were the final words Paul wrote concerning the event of
the Lord's return for His people? "Wherefore comfort one another
with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:18) We can find comfort in
knowing God is precise in all He does. So now, fits verse 6 of our text,
"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing
praises."