Psalm 98
Psalm 98
A New Song for His Marvelous Things
Psalm 98 is titled simply, “A Psalm.” It is the only psalm given that exact simple title without any further explanation. Like Psalm 96, it calls God’s people to praise the Lord for His work of salvation in widening circles. The psalm begins with Israel, then moves outward to all the earth, and finally calls creation itself to join in praise before the coming righteous judgment of the Lord.
Psalm 98 is a psalm of victory, salvation, proclamation, music, creation, and kingdom hope. It celebrates what God has done, what God has revealed, what God has remembered, and what God will yet do when He comes to judge the earth with righteousness and equity. The praise in this psalm is not vague emotion. It is rooted in the mighty saving acts of God, His covenant faithfulness to Israel, His revelation among the nations, and His future reign over the world.
This psalm also has strong messianic significance. It looks beyond a temporary national victory and anticipates the greater salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ. The Lord’s salvation has been made known publicly, His righteousness has been revealed before the nations, and the ends of the earth are called to behold the salvation of God. In this way, Psalm 98 fits naturally with the gospel going into all the world and with the final kingdom reign of Christ.
A. Singing Praise to the Savior
Psalm 98 begins with the Lord’s marvelous victory. There are clear parallels between the first part of this psalm and Mary’s praise in Luke 1:46-55. Mary’s Magnificat reflects the same themes of God’s salvation, His mercy, His covenant remembrance, His strength, and His faithfulness to Israel. This suggests that Mary, saturated with the Old Testament, understood that the promises of salvation and kingdom hope were being fulfilled through the coming of Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:46-55, “And Mary said My soul doth magnify the Lord And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy As he spake to our fathers to Abraham and to his seed for ever.”
Mary’s words show that the coming of Christ was not detached from the promises made to Israel. God remembered His mercy. He acted in fulfillment of His covenant promises. Psalm 98 celebrates the same truth. Salvation is of the Lord, and the Lord has made His salvation known.
Psalm 98:1, Praising Yahweh with a New Song
Psalm 98:1, “O sing unto the LORD a new song for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory.”
Psalm 98 opens with the command, “O sing unto the LORD a new song.” This phrase appears throughout Scripture and is connected with fresh praise for the fresh display of God’s saving power. A new song does not mean a new doctrine, a new gospel, or a new kind of God. It means renewed worship in response to the living works of the same eternal Lord.
Psalm 33:3, “Sing unto him a new song play skilfully with a loud noise.”
Psalm 40:3, “And he hath put a new song in my mouth even praise unto our God: many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 96:1, “O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD all the earth.”
Psalm 144:9, “I will sing a new song unto thee O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.”
Psalm 149:1, “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song and his praise in the congregation of saints.”
Isaiah 42:10, “Sing unto the LORD a new song and his praise from the end of the earth ye that go down to the sea and all that is therein the isles and the inhabitants thereof.”
Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.”
Revelation 14:3, “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne and before the four beasts and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth.”
The repeated biblical theme of the new song teaches that God’s people should never let worship become stale routine. The same truths remain, but the believer’s grasp of them should deepen. God’s mercies are new every morning. His faithfulness continues every night. His providence brings fresh deliverances, fresh corrections, fresh comforts, and fresh reasons to praise Him.
Lamentations 3:22-23, “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Psalm 98 gives the reason for the new song, “for he hath done marvellous things.” Worship is not empty religious sound. It is the proper response to the mighty acts of God. The word “marvellous” points to wonders, miracles, and works that display divine power beyond human ability. God has acted in a way that demands praise.
The verse continues, “his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory.” The right hand symbolizes power, skill, authority, and effective action. The holy arm emphasizes God’s own strength extended in righteousness to accomplish salvation. The Lord did not need help from man. He did not gain victory by human wisdom or fleshly strength. His own right hand and His own holy arm obtained the victory.
Isaiah 52:10, “The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
This verse from Isaiah directly parallels Psalm 98. The Lord makes bare His holy arm, meaning He acts openly and powerfully in salvation. The image is that of God rolling up His sleeve, so to speak, and accomplishing by His own power what no one else could accomplish.
This finds its highest fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Christ won the victory over sin, death, Satan, and the grave. He did not merely assist man in salvation. He accomplished salvation.
Colossians 2:14-15, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross And having spoiled principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it.”
The victory belongs to the Lord. Man contributes nothing to the saving work except the sin from which he must be saved. The redeemed sing because God has acted, God has conquered, and God has revealed His salvation.
Psalm 98:2-3, The Revelation of Yahweh’s Victory
Psalm 98:2-3, “The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed 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.”
Psalm 98:2 declares, “The LORD hath made known his salvation.” This is a critical statement. Salvation is not something man could discover by reason, philosophy, politics, or religious instinct. God must reveal salvation, or man remains blind. The Lord not only accomplishes salvation, He makes it known.
This salvation is public. His righteousness is “openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.” God’s saving work is not hidden in a corner. His righteousness has been revealed before the nations. In the Old Testament, this was seen through God’s dealings with Israel, His deliverance from Egypt, His covenant faithfulness, His judgments, and His prophetic promises. In the New Testament, this revelation becomes even clearer through the person and work of Jesus Christ and the worldwide proclamation of the gospel.
Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written The just shall live by faith.”
The gospel reveals the righteousness of God. At the cross, God shows Himself to be both just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.
Romans 3:24-26, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God To declare I say at this time his righteousness: that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
Psalm 98:3 says, “He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel.” This is covenant language. God remembers His mercy and His truth, meaning He remains faithful to what He promised. The house of Israel is specifically named. This should not be erased, spiritualized away, or treated as meaningless. God’s saving plan came through Israel, and His covenant faithfulness toward Israel remains part of His revealed glory.
Genesis 12:2-3, “And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Genesis 17:7, “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.”
Romans 11:1-2, “I say then Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,”
Romans 11:28-29, “As concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
God has not forgotten Israel. Psalm 98 celebrates the Lord’s remembered mercy and truth toward the house of Israel. The nations are blessed through Israel’s Messiah, but the promises to Israel are not canceled by Gentile inclusion. God’s covenant faithfulness is part of His glory.
The verse concludes, “all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” God’s work was centered in Israel, but His purpose was always worldwide. From the promise to Abraham onward, all families of the earth were in view. The gospel now goes to the nations, and in the coming kingdom the whole earth will behold the salvation and righteous reign of the Lord.
Luke 2:30-32, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.”
Simeon’s words at the birth of Christ perfectly reflect the theology of Psalm 98. Salvation in Christ is a light to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. The two are not enemies. They stand together in God’s redemptive plan.
B. Bringing Praise with Music
Psalm 98:4, The Music of Joyful Song
Psalm 98:4, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD all the earth: make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise.”
Because the Lord has made known His salvation and because the ends of the earth have seen His saving work, all the earth is commanded to praise Him. “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD all the earth.” This is a command for public, audible, vigorous praise. The tone is not lifeless, cold, or indifferent. The redeemed should praise with conviction.
The phrase “joyful noise” carries the idea of a shout of triumph, the kind of sound that greets a king or celebrates a victory. This is not disorderly worship, but neither is it dead formalism. Biblical worship may include reverence, fear, silence, loud praise, music, song, and joyful shouting, all under the authority of God’s truth.
Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion shout O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just and having salvation lowly and riding upon an ass and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
This prophetic shout was fulfilled when Jesus entered Jerusalem. The King had come, and the people cried out in recognition, though many did not fully understand the nature of His mission.
Matthew 21:8-9, “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way others cut down branches from the trees and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before and that followed cried saying Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest.”
Psalm 98:4 continues, “make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise.” The praise is enthusiastic and varied. It includes shouting, rejoicing, and singing. This is not a call to emotional manipulation, but to full hearted praise grounded in truth. The Lord has done marvelous things, therefore worship should not be sluggish.
The worship of Israel often involved great sound. When the temple was restored or when the people gathered in celebration, instruments and voices could be heard from far away.
2 Chronicles 29:25-30, “And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals with psalteries and with harps according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David and the priests with the trumpets. And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. And all the congregation worshipped and the singers sang and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. And when they had made an end of offering the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves and worshipped. Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness and they bowed their heads and worshipped.”
Ezra 3:10-13, “And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals to praise the LORD after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD because he is good for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers who were ancient men that had seen the first house when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes wept with a loud voice and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout and the noise was heard afar off.”
These passages show that joyful sound has a place in biblical worship when it is rooted in reverence, truth, and gratitude to God.
Psalm 98:5-6, The Music of Many Instruments
Psalm 98:5-6, “Sing unto the LORD with the harp with the harp and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD the King.”
The praise of Psalm 98 is not only vocal. It includes instruments. “Sing unto the LORD with the harp.” The harp was used in Israel’s worship to accompany praise. The phrase may suggest both singing with instrumental accompaniment and the instruments themselves contributing to the sound of praise.
The psalm mentions “the harp,” “the voice of a psalm,” “trumpets,” and “sound of cornet.” This combination indicates organized, skilled, intentional worship. The worship of God should not be careless. Music offered to the Lord should be thoughtful, reverent, skillful, and directed toward His glory rather than human performance.
Psalm 33:2-3, “Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song play skilfully with a loud noise.”
The “cornet” refers to the shofar or ram’s horn. In Israel, the horn was associated with major covenant and national events, including jubilee, assembly, warning, and the accession of a king.
Leviticus 25:9-10, “Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you and ye shall return every man unto his possession and ye shall return every man unto his family.”
1 Kings 1:39, “And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet and all the people said God save king Solomon.”
This is why Psalm 98:6 says, “make a joyful noise before the LORD the King.” The music is royal worship. The Lord is King, and His people are summoned to praise Him as King. This connects again to the kingdom psalms surrounding Psalm 98. The Lord reigns, the Lord saves, the Lord judges, and the Lord is coming.
Worship must therefore be God centered. The instruments, songs, voices, and shouts are not for entertainment. They are “before the LORD the King.” That phrase places all worship under divine authority. The question is not merely whether people enjoy the music. The question is whether the Lord is honored as King.
C. Majestic Praise from All Creation
Psalm 98:7-8, The Praise from All Creation
Psalm 98:7-8, “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.”
The psalm now widens beyond Israel and the nations to creation itself. The sea is commanded to roar. The fullness of the sea, the world, those who dwell in it, the floods, and the hills are all summoned into praise. The musical instruments of verses 5-6 are joined by the music of creation.
This is poetic language, but it reflects a real theological truth. Creation belongs to God and bears witness to His glory. The sea, rivers, hills, fields, trees, skies, and creatures all exist under His rule. They are not divine, but they declare the glory of the One who made them.
Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the LORD'S and the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein.”
The sea roaring in praise is especially powerful imagery. To man, the sea often represents vastness, danger, depth, and uncontrollable force. Yet even the sea is under the authority of the Lord and is called to praise Him.
Psalm 95:5, “The sea is his and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.”
The floods clapping their hands and the hills rejoicing together show creation responding to the reign of God. The natural world has suffered under the curse because of man’s sin. Therefore, creation is pictured as longing for the righteous order that will come when the Lord judges and reigns.
Romans 8:19-22, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
Creation groans now, but Psalm 98 anticipates the day when creation rejoices. The curse will not rule forever. The earth will not remain in bondage forever. The rightful King will judge, restore, and reign.
The phrase “the world and they that dwell therein” includes mankind within this universal call to praise. Inanimate creation is pictured as worshiping, but man, made in the image of God, has an even greater responsibility to worship consciously, personally, and obediently. It is a shame when seas, rivers, and hills are poetically pictured as more responsive to God than sinful man.
Psalm 98:9, The Reason for This Mighty Praise
Psalm 98:9, “Before the LORD for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity.”
Psalm 98 ends by giving the reason for this massive chorus of praise, “for he cometh to judge the earth.” The coming judgment of God is presented as good news for creation and for the righteous. Modern man often thinks of judgment only in negative terms, but Scripture presents righteous judgment as necessary for the restoration of order. Judgment means wickedness will be exposed, evil will be punished, corruption will be removed, and justice will be established.
The Lord will judge “with righteousness.” His judgment will not be crooked, confused, emotional, manipulated, bribed, or partial. He will judge according to perfect righteousness because He Himself is righteous.
Genesis 18:25, “That be far from thee to do after this manner to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Psalm 9:8, “And he shall judge the world in righteousness he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.”
The psalm also says He will judge “the people with equity.” Equity means fairness, uprightness, and just dealing. In the ancient world, justice was often rare. Judges could be bribed. The poor could be ignored. The powerful could escape punishment. The weak could be crushed. That remains true in many places today. But God’s judgment will not be like man’s judgment. He will not favor the rich over the poor, the strong over the weak, the famous over the unknown, or one nation over another. His judgment will be true.
Acts 17:30-31, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
The appointed Judge is Jesus Christ. His resurrection guarantees that judgment is coming. The same Christ who came the first time in humility will come again in glory. The same Christ who bore judgment for sinners at the cross will judge the world in righteousness.
Revelation 19:11-16, “And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Psalm 98 therefore calls for praise because of both past salvation and future judgment. The Lord has done marvelous things, and the Lord is coming to set all things right. His right hand and holy arm have gained the victory. His salvation has been made known. His righteousness has been revealed before the nations. He has remembered His mercy and truth toward the house of Israel. The ends of the earth have seen His salvation. Therefore, Israel must sing, the nations must shout, the instruments must sound, and creation itself must rejoice before the Lord the King.
