Psalms 98

Psalms 98 calls for a new song to the LORD, celebrating His marvelous deeds and the victory achieved by His holy arm. It proclaims that the LORD has revealed His salvation and righteousness to all nations, remembering His mercy to Israel. Therefore, all the earth, along with creation itself, is exhorted to make a joyful noise and praise the LORD, for He comes to judge the world with righteousness and equity.

This Psalm begins with an urgent call to sing a new song to the LORD, acknowledging His wondrous works and the victory secured by His own power. It emphasizes that the LORD has openly manifested His salvation and righteousness not only to Israel, remembering His mercy and truth, but also in the sight of the heathen, so that all the ends of the earth have witnessed His saving power. Consequently, the entire world is summoned to make a joyful noise, to rejoice, and to sing praises to the LORD using musical instruments like the harp, trumpets, and cornet. The scope of this praise extends beyond humanity, inviting the sea, the world, floods, and hills to participate in this universal acclamation. The ultimate reason for this widespread adoration is the imminent coming of the LORD, who will judge the earth with perfect righteousness and govern the peoples with equity.

Psalms 98 opens with an enthusiastic command to "sing unto the LORD a new song," grounding this imperative in the magnificent and "marvellous things" He has accomplished. The psalmist specifically highlights that the LORD's "right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory," attributing divine triumph to His inherent power. The scope of God's redemptive work is then broadened, declaring that "The LORD hath made known his salvation" and "his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen," indicating a universal revelation of His saving acts. Furthermore, the psalm affirms God's faithfulness, stating that "He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel," ensuring that His covenant promises are upheld. The global impact of these deeds is underscored by the declaration that "all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." Following this declaration of God's deeds, the psalm transitions into a fervent call for universal worship. "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth," is the repeated exhortation, urging collective rejoicing and praise. Specific instructions are given for this worship, involving musical instruments: "Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm," and "With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King." The invitation to praise extends beyond humanity to the natural world, personifying elements of creation: "Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap [their] hands: let the hills be joyful together." This cosmic symphony of praise culminates in the profound reason for such adoration: the LORD's impending arrival. "Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth," the psalm proclaims, emphasizing His role as sovereign arbiter. The nature of this judgment is explicitly defined as righteous and equitable: "with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity," assuring fairness and justice in His reign.