Sing Ye Praises with Understanding
Psalm 47:7 KJV
[7] For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
Praise is a duty in which we ought to be frequent and abundant. But here is a needful rule; Sing ye praises with understanding.
As those that understand why and for what reasons they praise God, and what is the meaning of the service. It is not an acceptable service, if it is not a reasonable service. We are never to forget the end of Messiah's exaltation, so continually do the prophets dwell upon the conversion of the nations to the gospel of Christ.
Why do we vainly fancy that we belong to him, unless the Spirit reign in our hearts by faith? Lord, is it not thy glory and delight to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins, now that thou art exalted as a Prince and a Saviour? Set up thy kingdom in our hearts. Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
And so sweetly constrain all the powers and faculties of the souls of thy redeemed, into holy love, fear, and delight in thee, that praise with the understanding may rise from every heart, both here and for ever, to Thee, our God.
-Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (Public Domain)
Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation, the God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation. With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled: To God all praise and glory.
The Lord is never far away, but through all grief distressing, an ever present help and stay, our peace and joy and blessing. As with a mother's tender hand, God gently leads the chosen band: To God all praise and glory.
Thus all my toilsome way along, I sing aloud thy praises, that earth may hear the grateful song my voice unwearied raises. Be joyful in the Lord, my heart, both soul and body bear your part: To God all praise and glory.
Let all who name Christ's holy name give God all praise and glory; let all who own his power proclaim aloud the wondrous story! Cast each false idol from its throne, for Christ is Lord, and Christ alone: To God all praise and glory. Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above Translator: Frances Elizabeth Cox; Author: Johann Jakob Schütz (1675) Tune: MIT FREUDEN ZART