Psalms 98:1-9: a reflection

1Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2The LORD has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises! 5Sing praises to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody. 6With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD. 7Let the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein. 8Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together. 9Let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98 opens with a call to fresh praise: Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! And the reason for the new song is God's salvation, openly revealed: The LORD has made known his salvation; he has shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. God has not hidden his saving work; he has made it known, for all to see. And so the psalm summons not only Israel but all the earth, and even the sea, the rivers, and the mountains, to rejoice, for the LORD comes to judge the earth with righteousness.

Notice why the new song is sung: God has made his salvation known. His saving work is not a private secret but openly revealed, shown before the nations, so that all the ends of the earth might see it. And notice the reason all creation is called to rejoice: he comes to judge the earth with righteousness, to judge the world in equity. God's coming to set the world right is, for the psalmist, cause not for dread but for joy.

Both truths can renew our praise. God has made his salvation known, above all in Christ, revealed openly for all to see; that is reason for a new song, fresh praise for a salvation not hidden but given. And God comes to set the world right; his judgment, for those who are his, is not a thing to dread but to welcome, the day when all wrong is righted and all is made new. Let these truths lift your heart to praise. Sing a new song for the salvation God has openly given, and rejoice that he comes to set the world right. Do not let your praise grow stale or silent; God's marvelous works, his revealed salvation, his coming to make all things right, are always fresh reason for a new song.

Lord, your psalm calls me to sing a new song, for you have done marvelous things and made known your salvation before all the earth. Renew my praise. You have not hidden your saving work but revealed it openly, above all in Christ, for all to see; that is reason for a fresh song. And you come to set the world right, to judge it with righteousness; for those who are yours, that is cause not for dread but for joy, the day when all wrong is righted and all is made new. Lift my heart to praise you. Help me sing a new song for the salvation you have openly given, and rejoice that you come to make all things right. Keep my praise from growing stale or silent; your marvelous works are always fresh reason for a new song. I will give you thanks and sing your praise.