God is portrayed as going “up to his throne” (see “his holy throne” in verse 8). As the Revised Standard Version literal translation shows, the Hebrew text says only “God goes up,” with no indication of the place to which he goes; it is most unlikely that “God goes up into heaven” is meant. Perhaps “the Temple” is implied, the place where God was present with his people as king (see 24.3). It seems likely that the words accompanied (or referred to) the taking of the Covenant Box into the Temple (see 24.7-10; 2 Sam 6.15). The Covenant Box was spoken of as the throne of Yahweh, and its entrance into the Temple represented God’s taking his seat on the throne. The people in the Temple gave “shouts of joy” (Revised Standard Version a shout), and the Levites blew their trumpets. (The Revised Standard Version literal rendition wrongly implies, in English, that God shouts and blows a trumpet.) For the blowing of a trumpet at a coronation, see 2 Kings 9.13; 11.14; the trumpet was a ram’s horn. If one follows Good News Translation “goes up to his throne,” it will be necessary in some languages to specify whether the implied throne is visible or not. Based on the exegesis given here, the throne is present and so is visible. The impersonal expression “There are shouts of joy” must often be rendered “The people shout because they are joyful.” Likewise “the blast of trumpets” must often be rendered in a more personal manner; for example, “the musicians blow their horns.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .