Psalms 46 and 47: Since I've been working on a project on singing the psalms, my mind is on the musical settings of these psalms. Most folks will recognize the grand Protestant hymn, "A mighty fortress is our God" penned by Martin Luther, which is a metrical setting of psalm 46. This psalm is full of dramatic imagery (no fortress in the NRSV): shaking mountains, roaring and foaming water (tsunamis?) and a God who makes wars cease and bows break and spears shatter.
Psalm 47 begins with a familiar anthem, emphasizing again the musical setting of this enthronement psalm: "Clap your hands, all you peoples, shout to God with loud songs of joy." This psalm celebrates the kingship of God, the king of all the earth and nations. And now I've got to dash off to class.
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There is a move from Psalm 46 where God is the God of Jacob to Psalm 47 where God is the God of Abraham. There is a hint of universalism in the two psalms. In Ps. 46, God is exalted among the nations (I assume this is goyim but I have not checked the Hebrew); in Ps. 48, the nations are the people of God.
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