Bible Commentaries
Psalms 98

Verses 1-9

This is the only hymn in the Psalter which simply bears the superscription, A psalm. In view of the wonders of God's grace and righteousness, as revealed in the coming and in the work of the Messiah, the whole creation is invited to unite in praise to Jehovah.

v. 1. O sing unto the Lord a new song, one of the newness of all things in consequence of the redemption of mankind through the work of the Messiah; for He hath done marvelous things, the miracles of His grace in bringing salvation to the world; His right hand, emblem of His almighty power, and His holy arm, upheld in the sinlessness of His perfection, hath gotten Him the victory, bringing help and salvation to men. God Himself intervened in favor of men; it was His miraculous interference through Him who is called Wonderful that brought deliverance to those who sat in the shadow and darkness of death.

v. 2. The Lord hath made known His salvation, by the proclamation of the Gospel, both before and after the coming of the Messiah; His righteousness, that which found a way of bringing salvation by imputing the righteousness of the Redeemer to fallen mankind, hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen, publicly displaying it before all men by having the Gospel-message proclaimed throughout the earth.

v. 3. He hath remembered His mercy and His truth, His grace and faithfulness, the two divine attributes which were so conspicuously active in the work of salvation, toward the house of Israel, that is, the spiritual Israel, the believers of all times; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God, for it was gained for the whole world, John 3:16. These facts having been set forth, the urgent admonition to praise follows.

v. 4. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, in exultant jubilation, all the earth; make a loud noise, in unrestrained happy shouting, and rejoice, and sing praise.

v. 5. Sing unto the Lord with the harp, with the accompaniment of the zither, with the harp and the voice of a psalm, both vocal and instrumental music being placed in the service of Jehovah's praise.

v. 6. With trumpets and sound of cornet, the horns used so frequently in divine worship, make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King, hailing the Messiah as their Sovereign.

v. 7. Let the sea roar and the fullness thereof, the roaring suiting the fullness of the sea, expressing the great volume of joyful sound which should arise in honor of Jehovah; the world, and they that dwell therein, organic and inorganic, animate and inanimate creatures uniting in the praise of the Messiah.

v. 8. Let the floods clap their hands, as a token of applause, an expression of joy used at the accession of kings; let the hills be joyful together, all these figures being purposely extravagant to denote the unbounded joy possessing the hearts of the believers,

v. 9. before the Lord; for He cometh to judge the earth, in His great Messianic visitation; with righteousness shall He judge the world and the people with equity, in the uprightness and soundness of His principles of right. Whosoever accepts His righteousness in faith will be saved; he that believeth not will be damned, on account of his unbelief. Therefore let all believers rally to His banners with their faithful hymns of praise.