Psalm 47:8–9 (ESV) —
8 God reigns 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!
NOTES: This Psalm is
another psalm in this section which emphasizes God's control, his ruler-ship,
and his authority. The Psalmist could be referring in the beginning to the
period of David's reign but then seems to finish the Psalm with the future
reign of the Messiah, since the princes of the peoples gather as the people of
the God of Abraham. If it was all Israel there does not seem to be a need to
separate the princes from the people. All of the research I reviewed felt that
the "shields" are a reference to rulers in their role as protectors.
God does "own" all the shields of the earth, and God does
"reign" even today but in a passive sense and not the active sense
this verse depicts (it is probably set in the future). The passive sense allows
the rulers freedom that does not interfere with God's ultimate plan. And it
does not affect the building of God's kingdom nor eternal life. But it does
affect temporal life. In that sense, evil reigns today in the temporal aspects
of life on earth. And God allows it. I believe primarily for one major reason
-- He uses evil to show people their need for true good -- which only God can
provide. No matter how man tries to create his perfect world, it is just evil.
Only when we submit to God we will be able to experience the good God intended
when he created man and the earth.
PRAYER: Father, thy
kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. I'm not sure how
much longer this world can survive in its own devices. We are so deceived in
our minds. We truly are lost. Save us I pray.
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