Is clapping of hands appropriate during worship? What about after the singing? This psalm has that answer and more about worship.
Commentary:
Psalm 47:1. The psalmist calls all peoples to praise God with action. The peoples are not any people but the people of God. The action of praise and worship include shouting with the voice of joy and clapping of hands. This shouting is to raise the voice. In other words, sing or read loudly in worship. The clapping of hands is done to drive the worship or to show triumph. These meanings here should define how we raise our voices and clap our hands in our “contemporary” worship.
Psalm 47:2. God is to be praised and to be feared by everyone on earth. The word fear is yare in Hebrew. In addition to fear, the word also means to revere.
Psalm 47:3. God would rule the earth through His people. Although that did not occur in Israel time, God would absolutely rule in the Millennium kingdom.
Psalm 47:6. The phrase “sing praises” is repeated four times. Two of which is repeated. When it is repeated, it means to sing praises strongly.
Psalm 47:7. God is the King of the earth.
Psalm 47:8. God reigns over the nations
Psalm 47:9. God is the shields. The word shield is “magen” in Hebrew. It is more appropriate to translate the word as suzerains or benefactors in this verse. This translation is consistent with the theme of the psalm. In five other places, vv. 2, 3, 6, 7, and 9, God is sovereign over all the earth. He is the suzerain, and we are the vessels.
Meditation:
Certainly it is the right thing to ascribe God the honor and glory with clapping of hands. In the same vein of thought, it is not alright to share that worship with fellow men. Only God alone deserves our dedication. So it is wrong to give each other appreciation for singing well or playing well during the course of worship.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, you are the great King in heaven, and you reign over the earth. We pray that your kingdom will come and bring that everlasting peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.