Clap Your Hands Everyone!

Clap Your Hands Everyone! Reader: Jon Watson Date: 23rd November 2022 Passage: Psalm 47:1 ------------------- Just imagine if we really did what these words ask and we all clapped and shouted with joy in church when we sang this psalm! Some people would be horrified! When the psalm was written the people were celebrating a great victory. They were happy and they showed it. But the psalm was also looking forward to the time when our Lord Jesus ascended to heaven having finished his work of salvation on the cross. But an even greater event will come when Jesus, the Great King over all the earth (verse 7), will come again and judge the world in his righteousness and glory. This is a happy psalm and it looks out over all the earth which will be the kingdom of Christ in all its splendour. This psalm is a reminder to us that, as Christians, we have much to sing about and clap happily about. As Christians, we are on the victory side. Evil will not triumph over Christ nor will the devil triumph over us if we stay close to Jesus and live in his way. Too often we may give the impression that our religion is in some way sad, but this psalm shows us its victorious, happy side and calls on people everywhere to praise our glorious God and Saviour. Prayer Dear Lord, help me to shout and sing the glory of your name. Amen.