Sing a New Song to the Lord

98:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he performs amazing deeds! His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance. 98:2 The Lord demonstrates his power to deliver; in the sight of the nations he reveals his justice. 98:3 He remains loyal and faithful to the family of Israel. All the ends of the earth see our God deliver us. 98:4 Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth! Break out in a joyful shout and sing! 98:5 Sing to the Lord accompanied by a harp, accompanied by a harp and the sound of music! 98:6 With trumpets and the blaring of the ram’s horn, shout out praises before the king, the Lord! 98:7 Let the sea and everything in it shout, along with the world and those who live in it! 98:8 Let the rivers clap their hands! Let the mountains sing in unison 98:9 before the Lord! For he comes to judge the earth! He judges the world fairly, and the nations in a just manner. Psalm 99

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 98 calls God’s people to praise the Lord for his mighty saving works. He has shown his salvation and justice, kept faith with Israel, and revealed his rule before the nations. Therefore all the earth, and all creation, are summoned to rejoice. The psalm ends by saying that the Lord is coming to judge the world in righteousness and equity.

This psalm is a call to worship. The people are told to sing a new song because the Lord has done amazing deeds. His own power has brought deliverance. His salvation is not hidden. He has made it known among the nations.

The psalm also says that the Lord has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel. His saving work shows his covenant loyalty. What he has done for his people is seen beyond Israel as well.

Because of this, the whole earth is called to shout for joy. The praise is rich and public, with singing and instruments. The psalm then uses poetic language to call on the sea, rivers, mountains, and the whole world to rejoice. This does not mean creation literally speaks in human words. It is a picture of all creation fittingly honoring its King.

The psalm ends with hope and solemnity. The Lord is coming to judge the earth. That judgment is good news because he will judge fairly and rule the nations with justice. So this psalm joins together salvation, praise, and judgment under the Lord’s righteous kingship.

• The Lord has done mighty saving works.
• God’s salvation is shown publicly before the nations.
• The Lord remains faithful to Israel.
• All the earth is called to praise the Lord.
• Creation is pictured as rejoicing before its King.
• The Lord is coming to judge the world fairly.
• God’s judgment is righteous and just.

• Command: Sing to the Lord a new song.
• Command: Shout for joy and praise the Lord.
• Promise: The Lord has shown his salvation and justice.
• Promise: The Lord remains faithful to Israel.
• Warning: The Lord is coming to judge the earth.
• Warning: His judgment is real, even though it is fair and just.

Psalm 98 fits the Lord-reigns psalms by celebrating God’s kingship over Israel, the nations, and all creation. It looks back to his saving acts and forward to his coming righteous judgment. Canonically, it prepares for the Bible’s fuller teaching that God’s saving rule and final judgment belong together under his appointed King.

Believers should praise God because he has acted in real history to save and to show his justice. Worship should be joyful, reverent, and public. We should trust that God has not forgotten righteousness, even when judgment seems delayed. This psalm also warns us not to separate God’s mercy from his justice.

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