Psalm 98
Psalm 98
1 O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. 2 The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. 7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. 8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy 9 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
“O Sing to the Lord a new song,” says the psalmist. What is this new song and why should we sing it? A new song implies that there was an old song. The old song is the ongoing song of praise that creation sings to its Lord and Maker. All nature sings that song, the old song. It is the song of creation. Psalm 19:1 proclaims that the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. The OLD song is a song that celebrates what God has MADE.
The NEW song, then is sung in response to what God has DONE – “for he has done marvelous things.” What are these marvelous things that God has done? God has brought salvation to God’s people. The victory of God was God’s salvation act by bringing the Israelites through the sea when bringing them out of their slavery in Egypt. God had triumphed over Pharaoh. The victory belongs to God.
God continues to do marvelous things, and we are invited to sing the new song of God’s victory. Through Jesus Christ and his resurrection, God has triumphed over death. Once again, all creation joins the new song of victory. The seas roar, the floods clap their hands, and the hills sing together for joy. Let us join the psalmist and all creation as we sing to the Lord a new song. Let us take stock of all the marvelous things that God has done. Indeed, when we look at the cross, when we ponder what God has done through Jesus Christ, we can’t help but join in the singing of the NEW song of victory. May God be praised! Amen.