# Overview Psalm 98 is a jubilant song of praise, calling all the earth to worship #God for His marvelous acts and steadfast love. The psalmist begins by urging a "new song" to be sung to the #Lord, celebrating His wondrous deeds and the victory He has made known to the nations. This victory is attributed to #God's right hand and holy arm, signifying His divine power and majesty. The psalm emphasizes that the #Lord has remembered His mercy and faithfulness to the house of #Israel, ensuring that all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our #God. The latter part of the psalm calls upon the whole earth to make a joyful noise before the #Lord, with a symphony of music involving the lyre, trumpets, and horns. This universal call to worship extends even to nature, as the seas, rivers, and mountains join in the exultation, clapping their hands and singing together before the #Lord. The psalm closes with an anticipation of the #Lord's return to judge the earth righteously and with equity, highlighting His sovereign rule and the ultimate justice He will establish. This psalm captures the essence of universal praise, recognizing #God's enduring faithfulness and the assurance of His righteous judgment. ## Theological Insights Psalm 98 is a hymn of praise that emphasizes the **universal kingship and righteousness of the LORD**. This psalm celebrates God's victorious deeds and His steadfast love, drawing the entirety of creation into worship. 1. **Divine Victory and Salvation**: The psalm opens by urging a "new song" to the LORD, for He has "done marvelous things" (verse 1). The emphasis on God's right hand and holy arm achieving salvation highlights His power and sovereignty. This victory is not only a historical deliverance for #Israel but also a typological foreshadowing of ultimate salvation through #Christ, as seen in the New Testament (e.g., [[Luke/Luke Chapter 1|Luke 1:68-75]]). 2. **Revelation to the Nations**: God's salvation and righteousness are revealed in the sight of the nations (verse 2). This divine revelation underscores the universal scope of God's redemptive plan, which is further affirmed in the #NewTestament with the Gospel being preached to all nations (e.g., [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 28|Matthew 28:19]]). 3. **Covenantal Faithfulness**: The remembrance of God's mercy and faithfulness to the house of #Israel (verse 3) reiterates the covenantal themes prevalent throughout the #OldTestament. This assurance of God's steadfast love is a constant theme, as seen in His promises to the patriarchs and fulfilled in the coming of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]. 4. **Universal Call to Worship**: Verses 4-6 call all the earth to make a joyful noise to the LORD, employing music and song. This universal call to worship reflects the eschatological vision of all creation praising God, as echoed in the vision of the heavenly throne room in [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 5|Revelation 5:13]]. 5. **Creation's Response**: The psalm concludes with creation itself participating in worship (verses 7-9). The sea, rivers, and hills are personified to express joy before the LORD, who comes to judge the earth. This imagery points to the harmony and renewal of creation that will be fully realized in the new heaven and new earth, as described in [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 21|Revelation 21]]. 6. **Righteous Judgment**: The coming judgment of the LORD is described as righteous and equitable (verse 9). This assurance of divine justice is a cornerstone of biblical theology, offering hope to the oppressed and affirming God's ultimate sovereignty over all creation. Psalm 98, therefore, not only celebrates God's past acts of salvation but also anticipates the future consummation of His kingdom, where His righteousness and justice will be fully realized, and all creation will join in worship. ## Thematic Connections ### Joyful Praise and Worship Psalm 98 is a call to all creation to engage in joyful praise and worship of the Lord. This theme of exuberant worship echoes throughout the #Psalms, as seen in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 96|Psalm 96]] where the heavens, earth, sea, and fields are called to rejoice before the Lord. Similarly, [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 100|Psalm 100]] encourages all the earth to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, serving Him with gladness and coming before His presence with singing. The universal call to worship in Psalm 98 highlights the inclusive nature of God’s reign and invites all of creation to participate in this celebration. ### God's Righteousness and Salvation The theme of God’s righteousness and salvation is central to Psalm 98. This is a continuation of themes found throughout the Psalter and the broader #OldTestament narrative. In [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 96|Psalm 96]], God’s righteousness is proclaimed to the nations, and in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 52|Isaiah 52:10]], the Lord has bared His holy arm in the sight of all nations, so that all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. The emphasis on God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises, as seen in the remembrance of His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of #Israel in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 98|Psalm 98]], reinforces His commitment to bring salvation to His people. ### The Universality of God’s Rule Psalm 98 depicts the universality of God’s rule, inviting all nations and elements of creation to join in the celebration of His kingship. This theme is prevalent in Scripture, as illustrated in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 97|Psalm 97]], where the Lord reigns, and all the earth is called to rejoice. Similarly, [[Philippians/Philippians Chapter 2|Philippians 2:10-11]] anticipates that at the name of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The universality of God’s reign in Psalm 98 underscores His sovereign dominion over all creation. ### The Coming Judgment The theme of the coming judgment features prominently in Psalm 98, where it is proclaimed that the Lord will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity. This theme resonates with other scriptural passages such as [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 96|Psalm 96]], where the Lord is said to judge the peoples with equity, and [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 20|Revelation 20:11-15]], which describes the final judgment before the great white throne. The assurance of God’s righteous judgment provides hope and encouragement for the faithful, knowing that justice will ultimately prevail. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Universal Reign of the Messiah Psalm 98 celebrates the universal reign of the #Messiah, a theme that resonates with prophetic expectations throughout Scripture. This psalm’s depiction of God’s salvation and righteousness being revealed to all nations aligns with prophecies such as those found in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 52|Isaiah 52:10]], where it is declared that the Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. This universal aspect of God's reign points toward the coming of Jesus Christ, who fulfills these prophecies by bringing salvation to both #Jews and #Gentiles. ### The Joyful Response of Creation Psalm 98:7-8 speaks of the sea roaring, the floods clapping their hands, and the hills rejoicing. This imagery is reflective of the anticipation of creation itself for the coming redemption, as echoed in the New Testament in [[Romans/Romans Chapter 8|Romans 8:19-22]], where it is said that creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God and will be delivered from bondage. The Psalm thus prophetically points towards a future when creation will be fully restored and rejoice in the reign of Christ. ### The Righteous Judgment of the World The psalm concludes with the declaration that the Lord is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and the peoples with equity (Psalm 98:9). This expectation of a righteous divine judgment is echoed in New Testament prophecies such as those found in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 17|Acts 17:31]], where it is stated that God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom He has ordained, referring to [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]. This reinforces the theme of Jesus as the righteous judge who will bring ultimate justice and peace. ## Verses - **Psalm 98:1** - "Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!" - Notes: Similar themes are found in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 15]] where Moses and the Israelites sing a song to the LORD for His mighty deeds and victory. - **Psalm 98:2** - "The LORD has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!" - Notes: This echoes the proclamation of God's righteousness to the nations as seen in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 52]]. - **Psalm 98:3** - "He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God." - Notes: God's faithfulness to Israel is a recurring theme, also seen in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]] regarding His covenant with Abraham. - **Psalm 98:4** - "Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!" - Notes: A call to universal praise is also found in [[Psalm/Psalm Chapter 100]]. - **Psalm 98:5** - "Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song," - Notes: The use of musical instruments in worship is similarly noted in [[Psalm/Psalm Chapter 150]]. - **Psalm 98:6** - "with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!" - Notes: The celebration with trumpets can also be found in [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 6]] during the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. - **Psalm 98:7** - "Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in." - Notes: This invocation for creation to praise God is also expressed in [[Psalm/Psalm Chapter 96]] and [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 55]]. - **Psalm 98:8** - "Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy" - Notes: Similar imagery is found in [[Psalm/Psalm Chapter 93]] regarding nature's praise to God. - **Psalm 98:9** - "before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness." - Notes: The theme of God's righteous judgment is echoed in [[Psalm/Psalm Chapter 96]] and [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 19]].