Psalms 98

Psalms 98THIS psalm is similar, in tone and structure, to the one before it, containing three stanzas of three verses each. The first propounds the subject of the praise to which the whole world is exhorted, Psalms 98:1-3. The second prescribes the form in which it shall be rendered, Psalms 98:4-6. The third determines its extent, or in other words, requires it to be universal, Psalms 98:7-9.

1. (Psalms 98:1) A Psalm Sing ye to Jehovah a new song, for wonders he has done; his right hand has wrought salvation for him, and his holy arm. This is the only case in which the word psalm stands by itself as a complete inscription. This fact has been ingeniously explained by supposing that the word was intended to distinguish this, as a purely lyrical composition, from the one before it, which has more of the prophetic character and style. The first clause after this inscription is like Psalms 96:1, where the words have been explained already. Wonders, or wondrous deeds, things wonderfully done, as in Psalms 96:3. Wrought salvation, literally saved for him, i.e. enabled him to save his people.

The idea and expression are both found in Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5, as the expression arm of holiness (or holy arm) is in Isaiah 52:10. This is one of the cases in which holiness has the wide sense of divine perfection, as opposed to what is finite or belongs to the creature. See above, on Psalms 22:3. With the whole verse compare Judges 7:2. The allusion to Isaiah, or quotations from him, show that the wonders to be celebrated are like those which constitute the theme of his later prophecies, namely, Jehovah’s interpositions for the deliverance and protection of his people.

2. (Psalms 98:2) Jehovah hath made known his salvation, to the eyes of the nations he hath revealed his righteousness. He hath shewn the world his power and his willingness to save his own people according to his promise, with respect to which his righteousness and his salvation are related to each other as cause and effect. With this verse compare Isaiah 52:10.

3. (Psalms 98:3) He hath remembered his mercy and his truth for the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. The common version connects to the house of Israel with what immediately precedes, the mercy and truth which he formerly exercised towards the house of Israel. But according to the Hebrew idiom and the usage of the psalms, the preposition is dependent on the leading verb: “He has called to mind his mercy and truth for the present benefit of the house of Israel.” Truth, fidelity to his engagements. See the same combination in Psalms 92:8. The last clause is another citation from Isaiah 52:10, which shews that the salvation primarily meant is that of Israel. This, however is closely connected in prophecy with that of the Gentiles.

4. (Psalms 98:4) Shout to Jehovah, all the earth! Burst forth, and sing, and play! The second stanza prescribes the form or manner of the praise. This verse accumulates the verbs denoting joyful noise, whether inarticulate, or instrumental. The first clause differs from Ps. xcvi. 1, only by substituting one divine name for another. See also Psalms 47:1. The verb to burst forth (into praise or singing) is almost peculiar to Isaiah (Isaiah 14:7; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 49:12; Isaiah 54:1). This very combination with the verb to sing occurs in Isaiah 52:9.

5. (Psalms 98:8) Make music to Jehovah with a harp, with a harp and a musical voice! The first verb is the one translated play in the preceding verse. Its repetition is like that in Psalms 47:1. It is strictly applied to instrumental music, but often extended to any musical expression, especially of praise to God. A musical voice, or a voice of singing, as distinguished from the voice of speech. The phrase occurs in Isaiah 51:3. The repeated introduction of the Hebrew verb or its derivatives is supposed by some to be the reason of the title. See above, on Psalms 98:1.

6. (Psalms 98:6) With trumpets and sound of cornet, shout before the King, Jehovah! The first noun is supposed to denote the long straight trumpet, the other the cornet or curved horn of ancient music. These are named as the accompaniments of the act described in the other clause, where the verb may therefore have the sense of shouting, which it has most generally in these psalms. The act described is the joyful acclamation at the accession or public recognition of a sovereign. King Jehovah is a combination found in Isaiah 6:5. Compare Psalms 95:3; Psalms 96:10; Psalms 97:1. The whole is equivalent to saying, hail him who has now become your king

7. (Psalms 98:7) Let the sea thunder and what fills it— the land and those dwelling on it. The last stanza represents the praise as universal. For the meaning of the first clause see above, on Psalms 96:11; for that of the second, on Psalms 24:1. The word there translated world is here used in opposition to sea, and therefore rendered land. See above, on Psalms 90:2.

8. (Psalms 98:8) Let rivers clap the hand; together let mountains sing (or shout for joy)! This bold but beautiful personification is also found in Isaiah 55:12, the only other place where the clapping of the hands is ascribed to lifeless objects. This was a customary sign of joy, especially when joined with acclamation in honour of a sovereign, as it is not only here, and in Psalms 47:1, in highly figurative poetry, but also in historical prose, e.g. the account of the coronation of Joash, 2 Kings 11:12. Together, not merely with each other, but at the same time and in concert with the applauses of the floods or rivers.

9. (Psalms 98:9) Before Jehovah, for he cometh to judge the earth; he will judge the world in righteousness and nations in equity. The acclamations must be uttered to Jehovah, not only as a sovereign king, but as a righteous judge. The first clause is like Psalms 96:13, except that it omits the emphatic repetition, which is also the case in 1 Chronicles 16:33. The first verb might, in all these cases, be more exactly and emphatically rendered, he is come. In equity, literally equities or rectitudes, the plural form denoting fulness and perfection. See above, on Psalms 96:10.