Psalm Devotional
A Glorious Reunification
In August 1961, the Soviet-controlled government in East Germany began construction of a wall to divide the city of Berlin. Eventually, the wall was extended so that it completely divided the nation of Germany. The once-unified people of Germany, people sharing a common language and culture, became divided. For nearly three decades, the German people longed for reunification.
In June 1987, at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, U.S. President Ronald Reagan issued the following clarion call to the Soviets: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Two years later, the wall began to come down, and the two nations were eventually reunified.
Psalm 47 speaks about similar themes. It deals with the issues of division and reunification, except the wall spoken of in Psalm 47 did not simply divide one nation—it divided all of humanity.
This psalm opens with a universal call to worship. All “nations” (v. 1), “all the earth” (v. 2), and all “peoples” (v. 3) are called to worship God. The nations are called to worship God because He is awesome (v. 2), He subdues the nations (v. 3), and He blesses His own people (v. 4).
