Psalms 98
Psalm 98 can be divided into three main parts. First (verses 1–3), it praises the remarkable deliverance and faithfulness that God has shown for Israel. Second (verses 4–6), it encourages the whole earth and all creation to raise their voices, rejoice, and praise God. The final section (verses 7–9) sings about everything in the natural world, too, celebrating before the Creator, and it proclaims that God will judge the world with justice.
1verseA Psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2verseThe LORD has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3verseHe has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4verseMake a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
5verseSing praises to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody.
6verseWith trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
7verseLet the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein.
8verseLet the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together.
9verseLet them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Key Content and Meaning
- The Meaning of the New Song: Verse 1 commands people to sing a “new song.” This means that you have experienced God’s new act of deliverance, and it emphasizes an attitude of not staying fixed in everyday life but looking anew at how God is working.
- Universal Praise: In verses 4–6, it urges “the whole earth” to praise God, and in verses 7–9, it calls on all nature—such as the “sea, rivers, and mountains”—to praise God together. This shows worship that is universal, encompassing all humanity and the entire created world beyond a single nation.
- God’s Judgment: In the final verse 9, by mentioning God who will judge the world with “righteousness and justice,” it underscores that God’s rule is not established through bias or oppression, but through setting up an upright order.
Meditation Points
- When we hear God’s command to sing a new song, how are we responding with our hearts?
- Think about how widely the scope of praising God is expanding in your own life.
- Reflect on what challenges and comfort God’s righteous judgment is giving to our lives today.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Take time each day to discover God’s new grace and offer thanks.
- You can also try more diverse ways to praise God through the community you belong to or through nature.
- Trust in God, who rules the world with righteousness and justice, and resolve to live with proper standards as well.
