Short answer: Psalm 98 is an enthronement psalm that calls all the earth to sing a new song to the Lord. The psalm celebrates God's marvelous deeds, his victory and salvation. It calls for joyful noise from the whole earth, from the sea and its fullness, from the rivers and the mountains. The psalm anticipates the coming of the Lord to judge the earth with righteousness and equity.
The setting of the psalm
Psalm 98 is an enthronement psalm that calls all the earth to sing a new song to the Lord. The psalm celebrates God's marvelous deeds — his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation and revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. The psalm is filled with the language of victory and cosmic celebration.
The psalm calls for musical praise of every kind — singing, the harp, the trumpet, and the horn. The call to make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord, is addressed to the whole earth, not just to Israel. The instruments mentioned are those used in temple worship, but the invitation extends far beyond the temple courts.
The psalm envisions all of creation joining in praise. The sea roars and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it, the rivers clap their hands, and the hills sing for joy together. This personification of nature expresses the belief that all creation participates in celebrating God's reign.
The reason for this cosmic celebration is that the Lord comes to judge the earth. His judgment is described as righteous and equitable. For the psalmist, God's coming to judge is not a threat but good news — it means the establishment of justice and the vindication of the oppressed.
For Christians, this psalm finds its fulfillment in the coming of Christ. The new song is the song of the redeemed, celebrating God's salvation accomplished through Jesus. The call for all the earth to praise anticipates the Great Commission. The coming of the Lord to judge points to Christ's second coming.
Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Yahweh has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He 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. Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
Psalm 98:1-4 (World English Bible)
Key words and their meaning
The Hebrew word for 'new song' (shir chadash) in verse 1 implies a fresh expression of praise for a new act of salvation. The new song is the response to God's ongoing work of redemption. Every generation must sing its own new song to the Lord.
The word 'salvation' (yeshuah) in verse 2 is related to the name Joshua and Jesus. God's right hand and holy arm have worked salvation. The image of God's arm as the instrument of deliverance emphasizes his power acting on behalf of his people.
The phrase 'judge the earth' (yishpot tevel) in verse 9 describes God's coming to establish justice. The verb implies setting things right, not merely punishing. God's judgment is good news because it means the end of oppression and the establishment of righteousness.
Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise before the King, Yahweh. Let the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein. Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together. Let them sing before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 98:5-9 (World English Bible)
What the psalm claims
First, God has done marvelous things and made known his salvation. The psalm begins with God's acts before calling for human response. Praise is always a response to what God has done.
Second, all the earth is called to join in praise. The call extends beyond Israel to the whole creation — the sea, the rivers, and the mountains all participate in worship.
Third, the coming of the Lord to judge is good news. God's judgment means the establishment of righteousness and equity. The righteous can rejoice because God will set all things right.
Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Yahweh has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He 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. Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
Psalm 98:1-4 (World English Bible)
Where readers disagree
The relationship between this psalm and Psalm 96 has been discussed. Both psalms share similar themes and language, suggesting they may have been composed for similar liturgical occasions.
The meaning of 'new song' has been discussed. Some see it as a reference to a specific liturgical composition, while others understand it as a metaphor for fresh praise in response to God's ongoing acts of salvation.
The eschatological interpretation of the psalm has been discussed. While the psalm may have been used in temple worship, its vision of all creation praising God and the coming of the Lord to judge points beyond the immediate context to the final consummation.
Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise before the King, Yahweh. Let the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein. Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together. Let them sing before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 98:5-9 (World English Bible)
How this psalm connects to the gospel
The themes of Psalm 98 find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament frequently draws on the Psalms to explain who Jesus is and what he accomplished. The psalm's language of deliverance, kingship, and steadfast love all point toward the gospel.
In Jesus, believers see the perfect fulfillment of everything this psalm celebrates. The deliverance the psalmist experienced was a foreshadowing of the greater deliverance Christ would accomplish. The kingship celebrated in the psalm points to Christ's eternal reign. The steadfast love described in the psalm is fully revealed in Jesus's sacrificial death and resurrection.
For Christians, reading this psalm is an opportunity to see God's faithfulness across the entire biblical story. The same God who heard the psalmist's cry also hears the prayers of his people today. The same deliverance finds its ultimate expression in the salvation Christ offers. The psalm invites believers to trust in this faithful God and to make his praise known to all generations.
The New Testament writers understood the Psalms as a prophetic witness to Christ. Jesus himself told his disciples that everything written about him in the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). When the apostles preached about Jesus, they regularly quoted the Psalms to demonstrate that his suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation were all part of God's redemptive plan.
Psalm 98 participates in this prophetic witness. Whether through its language of kingship, its descriptions of suffering and deliverance, or its celebration of God's steadfast love, this psalm contributes to the biblical portrait of the Messiah. Reading it in light of Christ does not diminish its original meaning but reveals its deepest significance.
Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Yahweh has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He 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. Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
Psalm 98:1-4 (World English Bible)
Biblical fidelity check
Psalm 98 is theologically sound and consistent with the broader biblical witness. Its themes of God's steadfast love, faithfulness, and righteousness are central to biblical theology. The psalm contributes to the Psalter's comprehensive portrait of God's relationship with his people. While each psalm reflects its original historical context, its truths are enduring and applicable to believers today. The New Testament affirms and deepens the themes found in this psalm, particularly through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main message of Psalm 98?
The main message of Psalm 98 is a call for all the earth to sing a new song. The psalm teaches that God is worthy of trust and praise. It calls believers to respond to God's character with faith, obedience, and worship.
How does Psalm 98 point to Christ?
Psalm 98, like all Scripture, ultimately points to Jesus Christ. The themes of God's deliverance, steadfast love, and kingship find their fullest expression in Christ. The New Testament frequently quotes the Psalms to explain Christ's person and work. As Jesus himself said, the Scriptures bear witness to him (John 5:39).
How does Psalm 98 apply to Christians today?
Psalm 98 applies to believers today by providing language for prayer, praise, and lament. It teaches about God's character and how believers should respond to him. The psalm's truths are timeless, addressing the universal human experiences of joy, suffering, hope, and trust.
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