Bible Commentaries

Verses 1-9

XCVIII. A Psalm of Grateful Joy.— The poet calls all nations and all mankind to rejoice, because Yahweh “ has manifested His righteousness.” Here, as in Psalms 98:2 Is., righteousness means Yahweh’ s vindication of Israel’ s rights (see Psalms 103:6, Isaiah 45:24). It is almost equivalent to the grace which Yahweh shows to Israel. Yahweh will, moreover, come speedily to judge the world.

Psalms 98:1 . a new song: see on Psalms 96:1. Yahweh’ s arm is holy, because separate from all human weakness and defilement.

Psalms 98:6 . The trumpets are possibly mentioned here, because the Ps. was meant for use at the Feast of Trumpets (the Jewish New Year’ s Day, p. 104).