Psalms Chapter 98 — A New Song of Joy
Psalm 98 is a hymn of praise calling on the people of Israel and all of creation to celebrate the Lord's salvation and righteous judgment.
1Sing to the LORD a new song,
2The LORD has made known his salvation.
3He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
4Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
5Sing praises to the LORD with the harp,
6With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn,
7Let the sea roar with its fullness;
8Let the rivers clap their hands.
9Let them sing before the LORD,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 98:1
“Sing to the LORD a new song,”
This verse introduces the theme of fresh and renewed worship in response to God's actions.
Psalms 98:4
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!”
It extends the invitation of praise beyond a single nation to include all of humanity.
Psalms 98:8
“Let the rivers clap their hands.”
This poetic personification illustrates the idea that nature itself celebrates the presence of the Lord.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 98 is a celebratory hymn that begins with an invitation to sing a new song to the Lord in recognition of His marvelous deeds and salvation. The text highlights how God has revealed His righteousness to the nations and remembered His faithfulness to the house of Israel. The second portion of the psalm shifts toward a universal call for worship, urging the entire earth to make a joyful noise using various instruments such as the harp, trumpets, and the ram’s horn. The natural world is also called to participate in this praise; the psalmist uses vivid imagery describing the sea roaring and the rivers clapping their hands in joy. The psalm concludes with a focus on the Lord's arrival to judge the earth, emphasizing that His judgment will be conducted with righteousness and equity for all people.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main message is a call to universal celebration of God's victory and salvation. It encourages both humanity and nature to rejoice because God has shown His faithfulness and is coming to judge the world with equity.
The psalm uses personification to describe nature's worship, such as the sea roaring, the rivers clapping their hands, and the hills singing for joy. This suggests that the entire physical world recognizes and celebrates the Lord’s presence.
The psalm mentions several instruments used to praise the Lord, including the harp, trumpets, and the sound of the ram’s horn. These are used to make a 'joyful noise' before the King.
Study Note
Psalm 98 is classified as an 'Enthronement Psalm,' celebrating the Lord's kingship and His role as the righteous judge of the earth.
Related Chapters
Psalm 96
Psalm 96 also begins with the call to 'sing to the Lord a new song' and shares themes of universal praise.
Psalm 100
This psalm mirrors the call to 'make a joyful noise' and enter God's presence with thanksgiving.
Isaiah 55
Similar to Psalm 98, this chapter in Isaiah uses nature imagery like hills singing and trees clapping to describe joy.
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