The Book of Psalms

Psalm 98

Psalm XCVIII · Vol. II, p. 1052

1 The psalmist exhorteth the Jews, 4 the Gentiles, 7 and all the creatures to praise God.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

A psalm.

1 O sing^a unto the LORD a new song;¹ for he hath done marvellous things: ^bhis right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory.

B.C. cir. 1045.

a Ps.33.3; 96.1. Is.42.10. Re.15.3,4; 14.3.

1 See note on Ps.96.1.—C.

b Ex.15.6. Is.59.16; 63.5. Da.9.24. Col.2.15. Ps.110.2-6. Re.6.2,17; 11.17.

2 The^c LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed² in the sight of the heathen.

c Is.52.10; 46.13; 61.10. Mar.16.15. Tit.2.11. Ps.22.31.

2 Or, revealed, Ro.1.17; 3.21,22.

3 He^d hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: ^eall the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.³

d Mi.7.20. Lu.1.54,68-75.

e Ro.10.12,18. Is.52.10; 45.22; 42.6,7; 49.8. Lu.2.30. He.2.3. Tit.2.11.

3 This psalm was, in all probability, composed to celebrate the dedication of the second temple. It was thus emphatically 'a new song'—a song in which the grateful nation expressed anew praise & thanks to Jehovah for restoring them to their fatherland, and giving them another temple. All nations had witnessed their humiliation and captivity; and now again all nations could see how Jehovah brought salvation to his people.—P.

4 Make^g a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

g Ps.95.1; 100.1; 66.1,4; 67.3,5; 47.1,5-7; 149.2. Is.44.23; 42.10.

5 Sing^h unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

h Ps.33.2,3; 68.25; 81.1,2; 150.3-5. Re.14.2,3.

6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

7 Letⁱ the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

i Ps.96.11-13. Is.35.1,2; 42.10-12; 49.13; 61.10,11. Re.xv.xix.

8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together

9 Before^j the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

j Re.1.7. Ps.96.13; 50.6; 67.4; 72.2,4; 9.8; 110.5,6. Is.5.16. Ge.18.25. De.32.4. 2 Th.1.6-9.

Notes

Ver. 3. Ends—countries of the world, evidently carrying forward to the period foretold by our Lord, Mat. 24. 14. C.

Ver. 6. See note on Ps. 92. 3. But these instruments are now, almost without exception, dedicated to military pomp, theatrical spectacles, bacchanalian revellings, and worldly amusements; and, married to a sensual and degrading poetry, whereby they become the great auxiliaries of the world against God—and are by many held inconsistent with the simplicity and purity of Christian worship. C.

Reflections.—While I review these lofty notes, let me think what is Jehovah! What is Jesus to my heart! What of his marvellous incarnation, miracles, life, death, resurrection, and ascension; of his love to sinners; and of his gifts of pardon, grace, and glory; have I seen! What of his victories over sin, Satan, the world, and death; and of his righteousness and salvation manifested in the gospel; have I known, believed, and embraced! What of his mercy and truth, in fulfilling his promises, have I experienced! What of his coming in power to gather the world to himself, and of his coming in glory to judge the world, do I know, believe, and rejoice in hope of!