Ascension
God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Psalm 47:5
The beginning of Psalm 47:1-2, which is a psalm of the sons of Korah, joyfully goes: “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.” Throughout the nine-verse psalm, they recount how the Lord God ruled justly and graciously in the past. In addition to this awesome wonder, they look ahead at His triumphant rule in future times and eternity. The middle verse sees God going up to His rightful place.
This is accompanied by “a shout” and a “sound of the trumpet.” The Hebrew word for “shout” pictures a literal shouting or a loud blast of an instrument. But this was no call to war, something the war often denotes. No, this was a shout of victory and acclamation! The King was home! The victory won! The trumpets fill in the rest of the picture for us. These were royal trumpets that let those around them know that a kingly procession was near.
One can imagine the shouts of joy at the ascension. Luke records that the disciples “returned with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.” (Luke 24:52-53) This was not just a bunch of whooping and hollering about seeing the miraculous sight; they were praising and blessing God! He had done all that He said He would. Now He had ascended to heaven. Soon He would send the Holy Spirit, and in the tongues of many people, they would proclaim the good news to all people.
God has gone up . . . For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding. (Psalm 47:5, 7)
With joy is heav’n resounding Christ’s glad return to see;
Behold the saints surrounding the Lord who set them free.
Bright myriads, thronging, come; the cherub band rejoices,
And loud seraphic voices all welcome Jesus home.
The Lutheran Hymnal 214.2