Psalms 98

A psalm.

1 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.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Psalms 98 Commentary

Chapter 98

The glory of the Redeemer. (1-3) The joy of the Redeemer. (4-9)

Verses 1-3 A song of praise for redeeming love is a new song, a mystery hidden from ages and generations. Converts sing a new song, very different from what they had sung. If the grace of God put a new heart into our breasts, it will put a new song into our mouths. Let this new song be sung to the praise of God, in consideration of the wonders he has wrought. The Redeemer has overcome all difficulties in the way of our redemption, and was not discouraged by the services or sufferings appointed him. Let us praise him for the discoveries made to the world of the work of redemption; his salvation and his righteousness fulfilling the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament. In pursuance of this design, God raised up his Son Jesus to be not only a Light to lighten the Gentiles, but the glory of his people Israel. Surely it behoves us to inquire whether his holy arm hath gotten the victory in our hearts, over the power of Satan, unbelief, and sin? If this be our happy case, we shall exchange all light songs of vanity for songs of joy and thanksgiving; our lives will celebrate the Redeemer's praise.

Verses 4-9 Let all the children of men rejoice in the setting up the kingdom of Christ, for all may benefit by it. The different orders of rational creatures in the universe, seem to be described in figurative language in the reign of the great Messiah. The kingdom of Christ will be a blessing to the whole creation. We expect his second coming to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven and earth rejoice, and the joy of the redeemed shall be full. But sin and its dreadful effects will not be utterly done away, till the Lord come to judge the world in righteousness. Seeing then that we look for such things, let us give diligence that we may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Cross References 24

  • 1. Psalms 30:4
  • 2. S Psalms 96:1
  • 3. Exodus 15:1; Psalms 96:3; Isaiah 12:5; Luke 1:51
  • 4. S Exodus 15:6
  • 5. S Joshua 4:24; Job 40:9; Isaiah 51:9; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 53:1; Isaiah 63:5
  • 6. S Psalms 44:3; Isaiah 59:16
  • 7. Isaiah 52:10; Luke 3:6
  • 8. S Psalms 97:6
  • 9. S Psalms 67:2
  • 10. S 1 Chronicles 16:15; Luke 1:54
  • 11. S Genesis 49:10; S Psalms 48:10
  • 12. S Psalms 50:23
  • 13. Psalms 20:5; Isaiah 12:6; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 52:9; Isaiah 54:1; Isaiah 55:12
  • 14. Psalms 33:2; Psalms 92:3; Psalms 147:7
  • 15. Isaiah 51:3
  • 16. S Numbers 10:2; S 2 Samuel 6:15; Numbers 10:10
  • 17. S Exodus 19:13
  • 18. Psalms 20:5; Psalms 100:1; Isaiah 12:6
  • 19. Psalms 2:6; Psalms 47:7
  • 20. S Psalms 93:3
  • 21. S Psalms 24:1
  • 22. S 2 Kings 11:12
  • 23. Psalms 148:9; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 55:12
  • 24. S Psalms 96:10

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 98

\\<>\\. This is the only psalm throughout the whole book which is so called, without any other additional word, epithet, or inscription. The Targum calls it a psalm of prophecy, or a prophetic psalm, as indeed it is; for it respects time to come, as Jarchi observes, even the Gospel dispensation. Aben Ezra says, perhaps this psalm is concerning the coming of the Redeemer; a doubt need not be made of it, it certainly is. Abendana, a later writer among the Jews, says of the latter part of the psalm, that it figuratively expresses the greatness of the joy that shall be in the days of the Messiah. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, ascribe it unto David; but it was not penned by him on account of any victory obtained by him, but as a prophecy of the victories and salvation of the Messiah; nor is it of the same argument with, or a compendium of, the song of Moses at the Red sea, as Grotius thinks; though the inscription of the Syriac version begins thus, ``a Psalm of David, concerning the redemption of the people out of Egypt, when they conquered and triumphed;'' yet it more rightly adds, ``but spiritually a prophecy concerning the coming of Christ, and the calling of the Gentiles unto the faith.''

Psalms 98 Commentaries

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