Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 98:9

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 98:9. For he cometh to judge the earth — He comes to make known his salvation, and show his merciful designs to all the children of men.

With righteousness shall he judge the world — His word shall not be confined; all shall know him, from the least to the greatest: he shall show that he is loving to every man, and hateth nothing that he hath made. See the notes on Psalms 96:10-13. There is a very great similarity between this Psalm and the Song or Magnificat of the Blessed Virgin. I shall note some of the parallels, chiefly from Bishop Nicholson.

This Psalm is an evident prophecy of Christ's coming to save the world; and what is here foretold by David is, in the Blessed Virgin's song, chanted forth as being accomplished. David is the Voice, and Mary is the Echo.

1. DAVID. "O sing unto the Lord a new song." (The Voice.)

MARY. "My soul doth magnify the Lord." (The Echo.)

2. DAVID. "He hath done marvellous things." (The Voice.)

MARY. "He that is mighty hath done great things." (The Echo.)

3. DAVID. "With his own right hand and holy arm hath he gotten himself the victory." (The Voice.)

MARY. "He hath showed strength with his arm and scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts." (The Echo.)

4. DAVID. "The Lord hath made known his salvation; his righteousness hath he openly showed," c. (The Voice.)

MARY. "His mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation." (The Echo.)

5. DAVID. "He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel." (The Voice.)

MARY. "He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy." (The Echo.)

These parallels are very striking and it seems as if Mary had this Psalm in her eye when she composed her song of triumph. And this is a farther argument that the whole Psalm, whether it record the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, or the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, is yet to be ultimately understood of the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ, and the proclamation of his Gospel through all the nations of the earth: and taken in this view, no language can be too strong, nor poetic imagery too high, to point out the unsearchable riches of Christ.

ANALYSIS OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH PSALM

This Psalm has the two following parts: -

I. An exhortation to sing to the Lord, and the reasons of it, Psalms 98:1-3.

II. A new invitation to praise him, and that it be universal, Psalms 98:4-9.

I. He calls upon them to praise God: 1. Sing - a song or hymn, to the Lord - and to none other. A new song - a song of excellency.

For this exhortation and command he gives the reasons. His work was a work of power and holiness.

1. "He hath done marvellous things." He has opened his greatness and goodness in the work of redemption. What marvels has not Christ done? 1. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost. 2. Born of a virgin. 3. Healed all manner of diseases. 4. Fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes. 5. Raised the dead. 6. And what was more marvellous, died himself. 7. Rose again by his own power. 8. Ascended to heaven. 9. Sent down the Holy Ghost. 10. And made his apostles and their testimony the instruments of enlightening, and ultimately converting, the world.

2. "His right hand and his holy arm hath got him the victory." 1. It was all his own work, whatever were the instruments; for without his energy they could do nothing. 2. It was his holy arm - no bloody sword, but a holy hand, to do a holy work. 3. "He got himself the victory" over sin, Satan, death, and hell.

3. This salvation was made known: - 1. By himself to the Jews. 2. By his apostles to all nations.

4. This salvation has been applied. 1. He hath showed his righteousness - his method of justifying sinners through his own blood, and sanctifying them by his own Spirit. 2. This he hath openly showed, plainly revealing the whole in his Gospel. 3. He has done this in the sight of the heathen, calling them to be partakers of the same salvation promised to Abraham and to his posterity, both Jews and Gentiles.

5. That which moved him to do this; his mercy, and truth: 1. "He hath remembered his mercy." This mercy was to the house of Israel, and through them to the Gentiles; for the Gentiles were the first in the promise and covenant. There was no Jew when the covenant was made with Abraham: it was made with him while he was yet in uncircumcision; consequently the Gentiles, the whole human race, were originally included in that covenant. The descendants of Jacob were made depositaries of it for a season; but they, not having benefited by it, were rejected, and the salvation of Christ was given to the Gentiles, for whom it was originally intended, and who have kept the faith, and are daily profiting by it. 2. It is called mercy; for it was the merest mercy that said: "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." 3. He remembered this, it was never out of the Divine mind; "Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." 4. As this mercy was intended for every human soul; so it is here prophectically said: "All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." This Gospel has been preached, is now in the course of being preached, and shortly will be preached to every people under heaven.

II. A new invitation to praise God; and to do this in every possible way.

1. "Make a joyful noise." Jump for joy, because of this most glorious news.

2. As all are interested in it, so let all do it: "All the earth."

3. In all possible ways. With harp, psaltery, trumpet, cornet; with vocal, chordal, and pneumatic music. But it is the joyful music, the heart music, which the Lord seeks.

4. "Before the Lord." In his immediate presence. Let all be sincere, pure, and holy. Remember the eye of the Lord is upon you: do not draw near with your lips, pipes, or stringed instruments, while your hearts are far from him.

5. And to make the music full, as if the inanimate creation had ears and hands to give an applause at the relation, and feet to dance because of it, he says: "Let the sea roar, the floods clap their hands, and the hills be joyful together."

And for all this he gives a reason, with which he concludes: "For he cometh to judge the earth;" which may be referred to his first and second coming.

1. If to the first, then the sense is - Let all creatures rejoice because he comes to judge, that is, to enlighten, order, and govern the world. For this purpose he was incarnated, suffered, died, and rose again for the redemption of mankind; and has sent his holy Gospel to enlighten the world, and his Spirit to apply its truths to the hearts of men.

2. If we consider this as referring to his last coming, then let all men rejoice, as he comes to destroy evil, to root out incorrigible sinners, and to make a new heaven and a new earth.

3. All this shall be done with that rectitude of judgment, that there shall be nothing crooked, oblique, or savouring of iniquity in it: "For he shall judge the world, and the people with equity."

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalms 97-100 God the universal king

Psalms 97:0 follows on from the thought on which the previous psalm closed (namely, that God is king over the earth). It shows that holiness, righteousness and justice are the basis of God’s kingdom. His judgment will be as universal as a flash of lightning and as powerful as an all-consuming fire (97:1-5). Every thing will bow before his rule (6-7). His own people already recognize him as Lord and bring him fitting worship (8-9). They can experience the light and joy of his salvation in their everyday lives as they reject what is evil and choose what is good (10-12).

Continuing the theme of the previous psalm, Psalms 98:0 reminds the people to welcome the divine universal king. By his power, he has conquered evil and established his kingdom in righteousness and love (98:1-3). People worldwide are to praise God with music and singing because of his great victory (4-6). The physical creation is invited to join in the praise, rejoicing because of him who rules the earth with justice (7-9).

From his throne in Zion, the city of God, God rules over the earth in holiness and justice (99:1-4) and people respond with worship (5). The psalmist refers to the lives of Moses, Aaron and Samuel to show how God answered the prayers of those who submitted to his rule and obeyed his law (6-7). When people disobeyed they were punished, but when they repented God forgave them (8). The God who rules in Zion is holy, and those who worship him must also fear him (9).

Psalms 100:0 is the climax of this group of six psalms. People of all the world are to worship God gladly, acknowledging him as their God, their maker and their shepherd (100:1-3). They are invited to come into his temple, where they can unite in thankfully praising him for his loving faithfulness to them (4-5).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

"Before Jehovah; for he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity."

"Before Jehovah." These words belong to the preceding verse, carrying the meaning that all that singing and the joyful noises, the clapping of hands, etc. shall be performed "before Jehovah."

"Jehovah cometh to judge the earth… he will judge the world." It is amazing that Anchor Bible translates this as God's coming to "Govern the world."Mitchell Dahood in The Anchor Bible, Vol. II, p. 365. No, God's Final Judgment, indicated here, will not be for the purpose of "governing the world." A summary of some of the things God has revealed that will be accomplished upon that Great Day includes the following:

(1)    God will wipe this Adam off the face of the earth (Zephaniah 1:3).

(2)    The earth and everything in it will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10).

(3)    A new heaven and a new earth shall appear (2 Peter 3:13).

(4)    All nations shall be summonsed before the throne of Christ for judgment (Matthew 25).

(5)    The redeemed shall receive their reward, and

(6)    the wicked shall be banished from the presence of God forever (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

(7)    There shall be a general resurrection of the dead (Hebrews 9:27).

(8)    Cosmic disturbances of the greatest dimensions shall occur; every mountain, and every island shall be moved out of its place, and the sun shall become black (Revelation 6:12 ff). At that time, of course, the probation of Adam's race shall have been concluded.

Mankind is repeatedly warned that the Great Judgment spoken of here will not be a day when Christ will begin to reign and govern the earth; "That will be the day he will end his reign on earth" (1 Corinthians 15:20-28), The reign of Christ is going on at the present time for those who love him (Matthew 28:18-20).

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the earth ... - This verse is essentially the same as Psalms 96:13. See the notes at that verse. The psalm calls for universal praise. The very “reading” of the psalm - so joyous - so jubilant - so animated - so exulting - is suited to awaken the mind to praise; to rouse it to thankfulness; to fill it with joy. One cannot read the psalm without being a happier man; without being lifted above the world; without lofty views of God; without a feeling that he is worthy of this universal praise; without recognizing that we are in a world where the mind should be joyful; that we are under the dominion of a God whose reign should fill the mind with gladness.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 98:1-9

Now Psalms 98:1-9 , as I said, parallels Psalms 96:1-13 in many things. Notice Psalms 96:1-13 , "O sing unto the Lord a new song." Psalms 98:1-9 :

Sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, his holy arm, have gotten him the victory. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets, the sound of the cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity ( Psalms 98:1-9 ).

Now notice in Psalms 96:1-13 it begins, "O sing unto the Lord," and the encouragement to praise God and to offer the offerings and so forth unto Him. And then calling the heavens to rejoice and the earth and the sea roaring, and the fullness thereof. And so in verse Psalms 98:7 , "Let the sea roar, the fullness thereof." And then the thirteenth verse of ninety-six compared with the ninth verse, they are pretty much the same, "The Lord cometh to judge the earth with righteousness shall He judge."

Now there are people who are constantly worried about, "How can a God of love do this or that or the other?" God, when He judges, will judge righteously. I do not believe that we have in our court systems today really righteous judgment. I long to see righteous judgment. I think that it's a shame, a travesty and all that the Supreme Court should rule concerning the Ten Commandments put up in the classrooms. They don't mind and they don't do anything to stop the pictures of the development from an anthropoid to a man in the classrooms. That's pawned off as science. And yet it's a religious system; it takes more faith to believe in that than it does to believe that God created things. And yet, the schools in Kentucky where they had the Ten Commandments placed in each of the classrooms, the Supreme Court has ordered that that is a violation of the separation of church and state, etc. State not imposing any religion. Of course, they didn't... "The Lord will judge the earth, with righteousness shall He judge the world." And I long for righteous judgment. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 98

This is another psalm that calls the earth to praise God in view of His coming reign. This psalm inspired Isaac Watts to write the hymn, "Joy to the World!" [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 268.]

"It is a close companion to Psalms 96, but is wholly given up to praise. Here there are no comparisons with the heathen, no instructions in right worship: all is joy and exhilaration." [Note: Kidner, Psalms 73-150, p. 352.]

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

2. God’s future judgment of the world 98:4-9

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The prospect of Yahweh balancing the scales of justice is good reason for universal rejoicing. His "coming" describes a literal visit to this earth, rather than just a heavenly judgment and reign. [Note: See Allen, Rediscovering Prophecy, pp. 39-54. For a discussion of Yahweh as the Divine Warrior, see VanGemeren, pp. 630-35.]

This psalm should help God’s people view the Lord’s coming to earth to reign as a blessing, rather than something they should fear. Even though He will rule with an iron rod (Psalms 2:9), His coming will be a good thing for humankind. We who are believers should rejoice greatly as we anticipate it, and we should pray for its arrival (Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2).

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the earth,....

:-,

with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity; both at his first and second coming, and during the intermediate time; see the note as before. The only difference is, that in Psalms 96:13, it is said that he shall judge the people "with his truth", here "with equity", or "uprightnesses" f; in the most upright manner, according to the strictest rules of justice and judgment; see

Isaiah 11:3.

f במשרים "in rectitudinibus", Montanus, Michaelis.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.   5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.   6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.   7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.   8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together   9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

      The setting up of the kingdom of Christ is here represented as a matter of joy and praise.

      I. Let all the children of men rejoice in it, for they all have, or may have, benefit by it. Again and again we are here called upon by all ways and means possible to express our joy in it and give God praise for it: Make a joyful noise, as before, Psalms 95:1; Psalms 95:2. Make a loud noise, as those that are affected with those glad tidings and are desirous to affect others with them. Rejoice and sing praise, sing Hosannas (Matthew 21:9), sing Hallelujahs,Revelation 19:6. Let him be welcomed to the throne, as new kings are, with acclamations of joy and loud shouts, till the earth ring again, as when Solomon was proclaimed, 1 Kings 1:40. And let the shouts of the crowd be accompanied with the singers and players on instruments (Psalms 87:7; Psalms 68:25), as is usual in such solemnities. 1. Let sacred songs attend the new King: "Sing praise, sing with the voice of a psalm. Express your joy; thus proclaim it, thus excite it yet more, and thus propagate it among others." 2. Let these be assisted with sacred music, not only with the soft and gentle melody of the harp, but since it is a victorious King whose glory is to be celebrated, who goes forth conquering and to conquer, let him be proclaimed with the martial sound of the trumpet and cornet,Psalms 98:6; Psalms 98:6. Let all this joy be directed to God, and expressed in a solemn religious manner: Make a joyful noise to the Lord,Psalms 98:4; Psalms 98:4. Sing to the Lord, (Psalms 98:5; Psalms 98:5); do it before the Lord, the King,Psalms 98:6; Psalms 98:6. Carnal mirth is an enemy to this holy joy. When David danced before the ark he pleaded that it was before the Lord; and the piety and devotion of the intention not only vindicated what he did, but commended it. We must rejoice before the Lord whenever we draw near to him (Deuteronomy 12:12), before the Lord Jesus, and before him, not only as the Saviour, but as the King, the King of kings, the church's King, and our King.

      II. Let the inferior creatures rejoice in it, Psalms 98:7-9; Psalms 98:7-9. This is to the same purport with what we had before (Psalms 96:11-13): Let the sea roar, and let that be called, not as it used to be, a dreadful noise, but a joyful noise; for the coming of Christ, and the salvation wrought out by him, have quite altered the property of the troubles and terrors of this world, so that when the floods lift up their voice, lift up their waves, we must not construe that to be the sea roaring against us, but rather rejoicing with us. Let the floods express their joy, as men do when they clap their hands; and let the hills, that trembled for fear before God when he came down to give the law at Mount Sinai, dance for joy before him when his gospel is preached and that word of the Lord goes forth from Zion in a still small voice: Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. This intimates that the kingdom of Christ would be a blessing to the whole creation; but that, as the inferior creatures declare the glory of the Creator (Psalms 19:1), so they declare the glory of the Redeemer, for by him all things not only subsist in their being, but consist in their order. It intimates likewise that the children of men would be wanting in paying their due respects to the Redeemer, and therefore that he must look for his honour from the sea and the floods, which would shame the stupidity and ingratitude of mankind. And perhaps respect is here had to the new heavens and the new earth, which we yet, according to his promise, look for (2 Peter 3:13), and this second mention of his coming (after the like, Psalms 96:1-13) may principally refer to his second coming, when all these things shall be so dissolved as to be refined; then shall he come to judge the world with righteousness. In the prospect of that day all that are sanctified do rejoice, and even the sea, and the floods, and the hills, would rejoice if they could. One would think that Virgil had these psalms in his eye, as well as the oracles of the Cumean Sibyl, in his fourth eclogue, where he either ignorantly or basely applies to Asinius Pollio the ancient prophecies, which at that time were expected to be fulfilled; for he lived in the reign of Augustus Cæsar, a little before our Saviour's birth. He owns they looked for the birth of a child from heaven that should be a great blessing to the world, and restore the golden age:--

and that should take away sin:--

      Many other things he says of this long-looked-for child, which Ludovicus Vives, in his notes on that eclogue, thinks applicable to Christ; and he concludes, as the psalmist here, with a prospect of the rejoicing of the whole creation herein:--

And, if all rejoice, why should not we?