Psalm 98
This Psalm is often read at Christmas and Easter. Both seasons are a time for rejoicing in God because of His wonderful gift of salvation through Jesus—both in respect to Christ’s birth and His resurrection. In the Magnificat, Mary used phrases from this psalm to praise God for the wonderful things He had done. This psalm is the only one that bears the superscription “A Psalm.” The three sections of this psalm deal with: 1-God’s works, 2-man’s praise, and 3-creation’s praise.
The first section (verses 1 to 3) calls upon believers to “sing a new song” to God. While believers have rejoiced in God’s promise of salvation for centuries, it is ever new as people learn to know what the Messiah has done to redeem mankind from its sins. What is truly marvelous is God’s grace and His work of salvation. Salvation is described as a “victory” over the enemies of sin, death, and Satan. The victory is won by the “right hand and His holy arm,” a description of the almighty strength of the LORD God, the Messiah.
In verses 2-3, the Psalmist declares that God’s “marvelous things” are. The words “right hand” denotes God’s almighty power and “holy arm” refers to God’s absolute perfection; divine attributes by which the Messiah gained the victory over sin and the devil. The “victory” of verse 1 is described as “salvation,” that is, rescue from death and hell. The word “righteousness” refers to all that Jesus established in regard to God’s Law: by keeping it perfectly and by suffering sin’s punishment through His death on the cross. In this way, God remembered His promises to the house of Israel. The message of Christ’s salvation has been declared to “all the ends of the earth,” especially at Christmas and Easter.
God’s marvelous works should move every believer to joyfully sing to the Lord, as we do in our worship services. Verses 4-6 teach us that we can sing praises to God accompanied by the harp, trumpets, and horn. For God created music to praise His name. Music connected with a psalm or new song teaches us how to praise God for His mighty acts and marvelous victory. God invented music and gave people musical skills—instruments and voices—so that they may worship Him. Music enhances the words so that they are more easily learned. The music and godly words are fitting praise to our King, the Lord of all creation. Believers want to glorify Christ for His salvation. Godly hymns and music should praise God and instruct us in the truths revealed in God’s Word. Through music, believers join their praise with the saints in heaven who sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 5:12, 7:12).
The last section (verses 7 to 9) calls upon all creation to praise the Messiah. The sea, the earth, the rivers, and the hills are to join with man in unbound joy and praise to God. Verse 9 gives another reason to praise God: “He is coming to judge the earth.” Jesus will judge with “equity,” that is, without partiality, on the just basis of His Word. For Jesus once said, “The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). All who believe and are baptized shall have eternal life and praise God forever. All who do not believe in Jesus will have eternal death (Mark 16:15).
God’s marvelous works are revealed in His Word, the Bible. He created the universe, delivered the Israelites from Egypt, sent His Son to rescue sinners, raised Jesus from the dead, exalted Jesus’ human nature to equality with Him, and will send Jesus on the Last Day to raise up the dead and bring all believers in Him to heaven. God’s people have many reasons to rejoice in God for His mercy and grace.