Monday, May 25, 2009
Psalm 47:5-7 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
VICTORY BRINGS CHEERING--CHRIST HAS CONQUERED DEATH!
What brings louder cheering than a victory, whether in sports or warfare? The shouts of praise in our psalm are the cheering of a festive victory parade. Like the time the armies of Judah came from the Valley of Beracah to Jerusalem in triumph. A victory parade moved to the house of the Lord with the people shouting praise, with the sound of harps and lyres and trumpets. The Lord had defeated their enemies in the wilderness of Tekoa. The enemy indeed was terrifying for it was overpowering in strength. But the Lord came down and fought mightily for His people. It was the Lord's victory for them. All that was left for His people to do was to take the spoil. Goods more than they could carry. The Lord made His people rejoice over their enemies. Sing praises to God our King, sing praises! He fights for us who rules on high over all.
These festive cheers of victory are to find an unending echo to the glory of God. This battle in the wilderness of Tekoa was but a skirmish, the real battle was yet to be fought. Eternal peace had to be won for His people. Christ is the King in whom the words of our psalm are fulfilled. For Jesus our King descended to fight this most critical battle in history. It took place on Golgotha. After He wrestled with the powers of darkness, He now ascends on High. God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. He ascends in triumph, in victory. Sing praises, sing praise to our God, our King! Look about you. Sin and all evil, the devil and hell, and death, all lie on the ground. Dead bodies. Our King did this for us. The spoils of this victory are ours. More than enough for all eternity. Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
