The Great King of the Earth
The one immutable part in all of life is God Most High. Yahweh is God, and rules from Heaven over all of the universe. Psalm 47 is a call for all peoples to praise God as Lord and King.
The Psalmist begins this psalm with a call for all peoples to celebrate and worship God for His gracious dealing with the nation of Israel (47:1-3). The people are bursting with joy because the “LORD Most High” inspires fear among the nations and reverence by His people. He is the great King, whose dominion extends over the entire earth (47:2-3). God is the one that in that sets the boundaries and times of the nations (Acts 17:26). God has chosen Israel as His people (Deut 7:6). It is God that has given the land of Canaan to Israel as its inheritance, for an everlasting possession because of His steadfast love for them (Psalm 47:4; Gen 17:8).
The psalmist calls all people to praise God because of His sovereignty over all of the Earth. God “going up” is pictures the ark of the covenant going back to Jerusalem, His early residence among His people, after having gone into battle with His people.
The psalmist says that “God is the King,” and “God reigns” over the nations of the world (47:5-8). The appropriate response to God’s sovereignty is praise and worship (47:7). Just as the rulers (princes) of Israel assemble and pay homage to their King, so should all those appointed by God as governors of the nations (47:9).