Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. He will choose our inheritance for us, the excellence of Jacob whom He loves. God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted. (Psalm 47; To the Chief Musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah)

The King Over All The Earth

International intrigue has always gripped the world as men seek power over their neighbors through war and oppression. Despots have tried vainly to rule the world from the great Roman Empire, the Third Reich, and the Empire of the Sun. The British Empire controlled more land in the world than any nation. At the height of its dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories, it covered nearly a quarter of the earth as the foremost global power ruling over 412 million people. The Roman Empire is left in ruins, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito are dead, and the British Empire is now a Commonwealth. Russia and Ukraine continue to wage war with many other skirmishes and conflicts worldwide.

History is filled with the vain attempts of men seeking to rule the world. The tower of Babel destroyed the unity of humanity’s attempt to become a global power. There will never be a time when one nation, people, or leader will rule the world. God will not permit it for two reasons: first, the purpose of the incident in the land of Shinar when the Lord confused the languages of a unified world was to destroy global unity. The United Nations is an example of how nations cannot work together. Secondly, and more importantly, God is the King over all the earth. All governments are subject to the rule, authority, power, and dominion of the Lord Most High.

The sons of Korah lived thousands of years ago. Israel was a small nation compared to the nations of the world, but it was the greatest people because the Lord God was their Father. Moses had told the Israelites before crossing the Jordan River that if they obeyed the will of the Lord, they would be blessed above all nations on earth. The history of Israel is the tragic story of rebellion and God removing His blessings from them as they became like the nations around them. When the sons of Korah wrote a psalm for the Chief Musician, they praised the name of God because He was King over all the earth. Through His power, God could subdue all nations with His might and authority. No empire, nation, or country could stand against the Lord Most High, King over all the earth.

God reigns over the nations. He brings a nation into existence, and if by His will He determines a nation must end, they will fall. The power of Congress, the House of Representatives, the President, and the United States Supreme Court are at the bidding of the King of all the earth. King Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest ruler of his time, reigning over vast tracts of land. The Babylonian army was a superpower of destruction. Nebuchadnezzar bragged about how great he was and that his majesty was supreme, and then God made him eat grass for a period of time. The Babylonian Empire is nothing more than a reference in a history book covered with dust. There is no promise the United States of America will be a nation in the years to come. Greater nations have ruled and are no more.

It is easy for men to brag about who they are and what they are as a nation of people. The hearts of the citizens can rest assured in their pride; nothing will take away their freedoms, but they forget God is King over all the earth, not man. Thousands of years ago, the sons of Korah declared the glory and exaltation of the One who sits on His holy throne, and they knew there was only one Lord Most High. He still reigns over the affairs of men. The state of the divine union is settled in Heaven. God is King over all the earth. Praise God. Give honor to the King.