Psalms 98
BSB1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory. 2 The LORD has proclaimed His salvation and revealed His righteousness to the nations. 3 He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth—let your cry ring out, and sing praises! 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp. 6 With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea resound, and all that fills it, the world, and all who dwell in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy 9 before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Study Notes — Psalms 98
- Chapter Summary
- Context for the Chapter
- Heart Application
- What Does This Chapter Mean?
- Voices from the Church
- Outline for Preaching
- Core Doctrines
- Lessons from Psalms 98
- Themes from Psalms 98
- Questions for Meditation
- Detailed Chapter Outline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Cross References
- Sermons on Psalms 98
- Matthew Henry Commentary
- What Do You Notice?
Chapter Summary
Psalms 98 begins with a call to sing a new song to the Lord, proclaiming His salvation to all nations (Psalms 98:1-3). The chapter then describes the Lord's mighty deeds, including His redemption of His people and His judgment of the wicked (Psalms 98:4-6). The psalmist exhorts all creation to rejoice and praise God, including the sea, the mountains, and the rivers (Psalms 98:7-9). The chapter concludes with a declaration of God's faithfulness and justice, and a call to rejoice before Him (Psalms 98:9). Throughout the chapter, the psalmist emphasizes the importance of worship and praise, encouraging believers to express their joy and gratitude to God through music and song.
Context for the Chapter
Psalms 98 is part of the final section of the Psalter, which is characterized by a focus on worship and praise. The chapter is likely a post-exilic psalm, written after the return of the Israelites from Babylonian exile. The psalmist's emphasis on God's salvation and redemption reflects the experience of the Israelites, who had been restored to their homeland after a period of judgment and exile. The chapter's themes of worship and praise are also reflected in other psalms in this section, such as Psalms 96 and 100.
Heart Application
The chapter encourages believers to express their joy and gratitude to God through music and song, and to rejoice before Him. This can be applied in our lives by prioritizing worship and praise, and by seeking to express our love and adoration for God through various forms of music and art. We can also apply the chapter's emphasis on God's character by seeking to reflect His faithfulness and justice in our own lives, and by trusting in His sovereignty and goodness.
What Does This Chapter Mean?
Psalms 98 is a call to worship and praise God for His salvation and redemption. The chapter encourages believers to express their joy and gratitude to God through music and song, and to rejoice before Him. The psalmist emphasizes God's faithfulness and justice, and calls all creation to praise Him. As we read this chapter, we can apply its themes to our lives by prioritizing worship and praise, and by seeking to express our love and adoration for God through various forms of music and art.
Voices from the Church
“The new song is a song of redemption, a song of salvation, a song of victory over sin and death. It is a song that can only be sung by those who have experienced the redeeming power of God.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“The psalmist's call to sing a new song to the Lord is a call to worship and praise God for His mighty deeds. It is a call to express our joy and gratitude to Him, and to rejoice before Him.”
— John Calvin
Outline for Preaching
- The Call to Worship and Praise (Psalms 98:1-3) — The psalmist calls believers to sing a new song to the Lord, proclaiming His salvation to all nations.
- The Description of God's Mighty Deeds (Psalms 98:4-6) — The psalmist describes God's mighty deeds, including His redemption of His people and His judgment of the wicked.
- The Call to All Creation to Rejoice and Praise God (Psalms 98:7-9) — The psalmist calls all creation to rejoice and praise God, including the sea, the mountains, and the rivers.
- The Declaration of God's Faithfulness and Justice (Psalms 98:9) — The psalmist declares God's faithfulness and justice, highlighting His character as a righteous and just God.
- The Conclusion (Psalms 98:9) — The chapter concludes with a call to rejoice before God, emphasizing the importance of worship and praise.
Core Doctrines
- The Doctrine of Worship
- The chapter emphasizes the importance of worship and praise, encouraging believers to express their joy and gratitude to God through music and song.
- The Doctrine of God's Character
- The chapter highlights God's faithfulness and justice, emphasizing His character as a righteous and just God.
- The Doctrine of Redemption
- The chapter describes God's redemption of His people, emphasizing the importance of salvation and redemption in the Christian life.
- The Doctrine of Creation
- The chapter calls all creation to rejoice and praise God, highlighting the importance of creation and the role of humans as stewards of the earth.
Lessons from Psalms 98
- The Importance of Worship and Praise — The chapter emphasizes the importance of worship and praise, encouraging believers to express their joy and gratitude to God through music and song.
- The Power of God's Redemption — The chapter describes God's redemption of His people, emphasizing the importance of salvation and redemption in the Christian life.
- The Faithfulness and Justice of God — The chapter highlights God's faithfulness and justice, emphasizing His character as a righteous and just God.
- The Role of Creation in Worship and Praise — The chapter calls all creation to rejoice and praise God, highlighting the importance of creation and the role of humans as stewards of the earth.
- The Importance of Rejoicing Before God — The chapter encourages believers to rejoice before God, emphasizing the importance of expressing joy and gratitude to Him.
Themes from Psalms 98
- Worship and Praise — The chapter emphasizes the importance of worship and praise, encouraging believers to express their joy and gratitude to God through music and song.
- Redemption and Salvation — The chapter describes God's redemption of His people, emphasizing the importance of salvation and redemption in the Christian life.
- God's Character — The chapter highlights God's faithfulness and justice, emphasizing His character as a righteous and just God.
- Creation and Stewardship — The chapter calls all creation to rejoice and praise God, highlighting the importance of creation and the role of humans as stewards of the earth.
- Joy and Gratitude — The chapter encourages believers to rejoice before God, emphasizing the importance of expressing joy and gratitude to Him.
Questions for Meditation
- What are some ways that you can express your joy and gratitude to God through music and song?
- How does the chapter's emphasis on God's faithfulness and justice impact your understanding of His character?
- What are some ways that you can apply the chapter's themes to your life, and prioritize worship and praise in your daily routine?
- How does the chapter's description of God's mighty deeds encourage you to trust in His sovereignty and goodness?
- What are some ways that you can rejoice before God, and express your love and adoration for Him?
Detailed Chapter Outline
1. The Call to Worship and Praise (Psalms 98:1-3)
| Psalms 98:1 | The psalmist calls believers to sing a new song to the Lord, proclaiming His salvation to all nations. |
| Psalms 98:2 | The Lord has made known His salvation, and has revealed His righteousness to the nations. |
| Psalms 98:3 | He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. |
2. The Description of God's Mighty Deeds (Psalms 98:4-6)
| Psalms 98:4 | Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, sing praises, and sing praises with music. |
| Psalms 98:5 | Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. |
| Psalms 98:6 | With trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. |
3. The Call to All Creation to Rejoice and Praise God (Psalms 98:7-9)
| Psalms 98:7 | Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. |
| Psalms 98:8 | Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy. |
| Psalms 98:9 | Let them sing before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; with righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new song that the psalmist calls believers to sing?
The new song is a song of redemption, a song of salvation, a song of victory over sin and death. It is a song that can only be sung by those who have experienced the redeeming power of God (Psalms 98:1).
How does the chapter's emphasis on God's faithfulness and justice impact our understanding of His character?
The chapter's emphasis on God's faithfulness and justice highlights His character as a righteous and just God, who is faithful to His promises and just in His judgments (Psalms 98:9).
What are some ways that we can apply the chapter's themes to our lives?
We can apply the chapter's themes by prioritizing worship and praise, and by seeking to express our love and adoration for God through various forms of music and art (Psalms 98:1-3).
Top Cross References
| Reference | Connection | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 98:1 → Isaiah 42:10 | The new song that the psalmist calls believers to sing is similar to the new song that Isaiah calls the people to sing in Isaiah 42:10. |
| 2 | Psalms 98:2 → Romans 1:16 | The Lord's salvation is revealed to the nations, as described in Romans 1:16. |
| 3 | Psalms 98:3 → Luke 2:30 | The psalmist's statement that all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God is fulfilled in Luke 2:30, where Simeon says that his eyes have seen the salvation of the Lord. |
| 4 | Psalms 98:4 → 1 Chronicles 15:16 | The call to shout joyfully to the Lord and to sing praises with music is similar to the instructions given to the Levites in 1 Chronicles 15:16. |
| 5 | Psalms 98:5 → Ephesians 5:19 | The psalmist's call to sing praises to the Lord with the lyre and the sound of melody is similar to the instructions given to believers in Ephesians 5:19 to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. |
| 6 | Psalms 98:6 → Numbers 10:10 | The use of trumpets and the sound of a horn to shout joyfully before the Lord is similar to the instructions given to the Israelites in Numbers 10:10 to blow the trumpets in the new moons and on the appointed feasts. |
| 7 | Psalms 98:7 → Isaiah 55:12 | The call to the sea and the mountains to rejoice and praise God is similar to the call to the mountains and the hills to break forth into singing in Isaiah 55:12. |
| 8 | Psalms 98:8 → Habakkuk 3:10 | The call to the rivers to clap their hands and to the mountains to sing together for joy is similar to the description of the mountains and the hills trembling before the Lord in Habakkuk 3:10. |
| 9 | Psalms 98:9 → Revelation 19:11 | The statement that the Lord is coming to judge the earth with righteousness is similar to the description of the Lord's return in Revelation 19:11, where He comes to judge and make war. |
| 10 | Psalms 98:9 → Acts 17:31 | The statement that the Lord shall judge the world with equity is similar to the statement in Acts 17:31 that the Lord has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness. |
Sermons on Psalms 98
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Kathryn With Duane Pederson and Chuck Smith - Part 6 by Jesus People | This sermon encourages young people to lift their voices in praise, singing 'Hallelujah' as a declaration of praise and worship to God. It emphasizes the power and beauty of praisi |
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We're Marching to Zion (Zion City Choir) by John Alexander Dowie | The video is a repetitive chant or song asking the Lord to let His joy be known. The phrase "And hear us, how we sing our song" is repeated multiple times throughout the video. The |
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Quiet Time - an Appointment With God by Peter Axup | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being aware of our actions and habits. He encourages keeping a log to understand how we spend our time and make necessary c |
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Spiritual Joy by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of rejoicing in the Lord. He points out that the Apostle Paul mentions this multiple times in his letter to the Philippians. T |
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Sing the New Song—part 1 by John D. Martin | In this sermon, the importance of music in worship is emphasized. The speaker recounts the story of Joshua and the Levites, who sang before going into battle and witnessed God's vi |
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Open Thy Mouth Wide, and I Will Fill It by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need for the Holy Spirit's power in the face of the challenges and trials of life. He highlights the limitations of human reasoning and t |
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Challenge by R.G. Flexon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not just attending conventions and gatherings, but also reaching out to the world with the message of God's love. He share |
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His Offer to Us by Basilea Schlink | In this sermon transcript, Basil E. Schlink emphasizes that God is alive and active in the world today. He assures listeners that God's promises are true and always come to pass. T |
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The Magic of Music (Part 2) by K.P. Yohannan | K.P. Yohannan addresses the profound impact of music on the youth, emphasizing how negative influences can lead to despair and even suicide, as evidenced by tragic statistics in We |
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Praise for the Incarnation by John Newton | John Newton preaches about the overwhelming love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the gratitude and praise that should flow from believers for His birth, death on the cro |
Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on Psalms 98
Matthew Henry's commentary on Psalms 98 emphasizes the importance of worship and praise, and encourages believers to express their joy and gratitude to God through music and song. Henry notes that the new song that the psalmist calls believers to sing is a song of redemption, a song of salvation, and a song of victory over sin and death. He also emphasizes the importance of God's faithfulness and justice, and encourages believers to trust in His sovereignty and goodness. Henry's commentary highlights the chapter's themes of worship and praise, redemption and salvation, and God's character, and encourages believers to apply these themes to their lives by prioritizing worship and praise, and by seeking to express their love and adoration for God through various forms of music and art. Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →
What Do You Notice?
The Importance of Worship and Praise
The chapter emphasizes the importance of worship and praise, encouraging believers to express their joy and gratitude to God through music and song. This is reflected in the call to sing a new song to the Lord and to rejoice before Him.
The Use of Imagery and Metaphor
The psalmist uses imagery and metaphor to describe God's mighty deeds and the response of creation to His salvation and redemption. For example, the sea, the mountains, and the rivers are all called to rejoice and praise God.
The Emphasis on God's Character
The chapter emphasizes God's faithfulness and justice, highlighting His character as a righteous and just God. This is reflected in the declaration of God's faithfulness and justice, and in the call to rejoice before Him.