Monday, December 22, 2014

Clap.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy! (Psa 47:1).

Interesting.

I just noticed that the call to “clap your hands” isn't a call for simple applause or the happy-clap-along clapping one might envision. The word translated “clap” here is “taqa',” and it is elsewhere used as a way of signaling judgment, warfare, triumph, or a call to worship (often blowing a trumpet); driving a sharp object into something (like a tent peg through Sisera's head); and striking hands in a pledge.

Given the context of the entire Psalm, it seems that the people of God are called to express indignation over their enemies; the enemies of God. This clapping is perhaps both a warning and a call to worship for every nation; a call for repentance; a call for ratification or renewal of covenant with God; a signal that the battle has come to them.

After the people have “clapped” with God, they are called to “Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” The word for “shout” here is a war-cry.

So what are our marching orders? How are we to conduct ourselves in this war?
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mat 28:18-20).

That's how.

Notice that our goal is not to make disciples of some from every nation; baptize some from every nation; teach some from every nation. No, on the grounds of Jesus Christ having all power in heaven and earth, and on the grounds of us being in Him, we are to set our sights on the entire world; “for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:9).

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this (Isa 9:7).


Clap.

 

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