The Feet of Christ and the Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

 

“The Feet of Christ and the Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken”

Text: Psalm 47:1–4
Cross References: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; Zechariah 14:4

Today we are invited into a vision that spans the whole of Scripture—a vision that reveals the universal kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 47:1–4 offers us a lens through which to see the destiny of all nations and the inheritance of God's people. But more than that, it gives us a glimpse into the heart of God’s plan for the world and our place in it under the feet of the exalted Christ.

Let us read Psalm 47:1–4:

“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.” (ESV)

The Joyful Proclamation of God’s Sovereignty

Psalm 47 is a psalm of enthronement. It proclaims that God reigns—not in some abstract, spiritual realm only—but “over all the earth.” The peoples are not merely observers; they are called to join in the celebration. All nations, all tribes, all languages are summoned to clap, to shout, to worship.

This is not triumphalism; it is divine invitation. The Lord is not only Israel’s King but the King of all the earth. And yet, notice in verse 3: “He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.” There is an undeniable element of conquest, of order being established, of enemies brought low. And yet, it is the Lord who does this—not through human ambition, but through His redemptive purpose. The chosen heritage is not seized, but given.

This is echoed in Zechariah 14:4, which speaks of a day when:

“His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives.”

This moment is full of awe. Christ’s feet—once pierced—will touch the earth again. And what happens when He stands on the Mount of Olives? The mountain splits. The earth responds to His presence. No longer a suffering servant riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, He comes as the triumphant King, bringing justice, shaking creation itself. This is the visible coming of the King to establish His kingdom visibly and physically on the earth.

The Church’s Place in the Ascended Christ

Psalm 47 celebrates the King's ascension as well. Verse 5 says:

“God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.”

This connects beautifully with 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17, where Paul comforts the church concerning those who have died in Christ:

“The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Here, the sound of the trumpet marks the King’s return—just as Psalm 47 associates the trumpet with His ascent. There is a symmetry here: the King who ascended with triumph will descend with power. But this time, He comes to gather His saints, both living and dead, to Himself.

And what happens then? We meet Him in the air. His feet do not touch the Mount of Olives yet—not in that moment. That’s key. This is a meeting in the clouds, a heavenly assembly. It is the gathering of His bride, the Church. It is a moment of union and transformation. It is not yet the judgment of the nations, not yet the splitting of mountains or the visible reign from Jerusalem.

The Feet of Christ and the Two Movements of His Reign

So what do these “feet” tell us?

• In Zechariah 14, Christ’s feet stand on the earth. He is judging, reigning, shaking the nations. It is the Day of the Lord.

• In 1 Thessalonians 4, Christ’s feet remain above the earth as He gathers His people—those who are alive and those who have fallen asleep in Him.

These are two related but distinct aspects of Christ’s ultimate sovereignty.

1. The Gathering – In Thessalonians, we see the gathering of the Church to the King. It is relational, familial, hopeful. This is the reunion of the saints. It reveals the love and promise of God to His people—that death cannot separate us from Him.

2. The Establishing – In Zechariah, we see the establishing of His throne upon the earth. This is not only relational but judicial. He comes not only as Bridegroom but as Judge and King. He brings justice and peace, subduing all things under His feet.

And Psalm 47 connects them both. It celebrates God’s sovereign reign now and anticipates its consummation when all peoples will be brought under His rule.

Our Place in the Kingdom of Christ

So where do we stand?

In Christ, we are not spectators of these events. We are participants. We are the ones gathered to meet Him in the air, and we are the ones who will reign with Him when His feet touch the Mount of Olives.

• We are the joy-filled worshipers in Psalm 47.

• We are the hopeful believers in 1 Thessalonians.

• And we will be the reigning co-heirs when Zechariah 14 is fulfilled.

Psalm 47:4 says: “He chose our heritage for us.” The word “heritage” here is rich—it is our inheritance, our place, our destiny in the kingdom of Christ. We have not earned this place; we have been chosen into it.

The Feet of the King and the Hope of the Saints

So, brothers and sisters, lift up your eyes and your hearts. The King has ascended with a shout—and He will return in glory. Let the trumpet of Psalm 47 echo in your soul. Let the hope of 1 Thessalonians comfort your grief. And let the power of Zechariah 14 ignite your reverence.

For the One whose feet once walked the dusty roads of Galilee will one day split the mountain with His glory. And those same feet now stand exalted in the heavens, until the day He comes again.

Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
The King is coming.
And we are His. Amen.

More: Lesson 9: In the Psalms: Part 2