The psalm for this Ascension Day is Psalm 47, which you might think is a curious choice after reading it.
Psalm 47
1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom He loves.
5 God has gone up with a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on His holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
He is highly exalted!
A little context for the original writing of this psalm will help bring us to this Ascension Day. This psalm was first written to shout out praise for a marvelous victory God gave to His people. In 850 BC, two nations attacked Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. King Jehoshaphat knew his armies were outnumbered and he cried out to God: "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You." [2 Chronicles 20:12]. God sent a prophet who spoke God's words to them: "The battle is not yours, but God's" [v15]. So the nation of Judah went to a hopeless battle with nothing more than singing and praising God with a very loud voice [v19]. God proceeded to keep His promise, causing the two armies to turn on each other until no enemy remained in Jerusalem.
In Psalm 47, the people praised God their eternal King, who came down to save His people and returned to heaven (v5) , where He reigns over the nations and sits on His holy throne (v8). This brings us to today, as we remember the Ascension of our Lord. Jesus, your eternal King, came down to be born one of His created, to battle Satan and save you from your sins. Today, Your king has ascended, He has gone up with a shout and He still reigns over the nations and sits on His holy throne!
No matter how hopeless or painful your situation is today, remember God's promise to you: "The battle is not yours, but God's". Your most important preparation for battle is to pray and trust in God, that He will walk with you through your dark days. Consider these precious words of God from Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
Be comforted today and every day because "The battle is not yours, but God's".
