rejoicing before our King

Upon the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, crowds shouted “Hosanna” and recognized Him as the King of Israel (John 12:13). Their rejoicing was exuberant and without fear or embarrassment. Doubtless, many Jews did not line the pathway into Jerusalem that day, but those who anticipated Jesus’ arrival were prepared to wave their branches and lift their voices to Him.

Psalm 47 includes proclamations of God’s kingship. Further, His majesty justifies and, perhaps, requires extraordinary acclaim by His people. The psalmist shapes his call to worship as an invitation to clamorous praise: “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” Why? “For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth” (Psalm 47:1-2).

“Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm" (Psalm 47:6-7).

Clap your hands. Shout to God. Sing praises to our King. Of the many reasons we may rejoice so freely before our King, none is loftier than that we acknowledge our Sovereign. We humbly embrace His dominion, rest in His perfection, and find in these truths our reason for overwhelmingly joyful praise unto Him.

“God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” (Psalm 47:8). Knowing that Jesus Christ provides glorious triumph for His people should inspire us to lift heartfelt – and hearty – praises unto Him.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24-25).