Thank you to John for this week’s MWB
Today we come to the third in our series of three psalms which describe God’s Sovereignty.
Please read PSALM 98.
Do you prefer singing ancient hymns, or modern songs? or a mixture?
This psalm (along with several others) urges us to “Sing to the LORD a new song” (v1). In this context, “new” means not necessarily newfangled or avant-garde, but fresh and vibrant, like spring-time. Likewise, the Lord’s compassions are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Ancient hymns can be fresh. Modern songs can be stale. Or vice versa. It depends on the singer!
But to sing a fresh song to the Lord we need motivation. And this psalm gives us that. Why sing to the Lord a new song?
- BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE (vv1-3)
He has done marvellous, wonderful things (v1): specifically, he has “worked salvation”. This word means victory, deliverance from enemies. Please note three truths from this psalm:
a) This salvation is God’s work, not ours – “his right hand and his holy arm” (v1). For the Israelites, God’s salvation had been most clearly seen in the exodus from slavery in Egypt, and particularly in their momentous crossing of the water known as “Yam Suph” (often translated “Red Sea”). That was God’s work of salvation/victory: “your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy” (Exodus 15:6).
b) God’s salvation is not some private or secret matter: it is clear for all to see (vv2-3), even “all the ends of the earth”. We must not narrow salvation down to “God saving me”. Salvation embraces the whole of creation (Romans 8:19-21).
c) God’s salvation reveals his righteousness (justice) and his steadfast love and faithfulness to his people (vv2-3). - BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD WILL DO (v9)
This psalm gives a second motivation for singing to the Lord a new song:- “for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world…”.
We rejoice in God’s salvation. But how do we feel about God’s judgment? Fearful? Anxious? We should eagerly await that judgment with hope and joy, because righteousness and equity will triumph over injustice and unfairness. All evil will be finally and fully defeated. “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments” (Revelation 19:1-2).
SO WHAT NOW?
Because of God’s salvation and his judgment, all humanity should make a joyful noise to the LORD, the King (vv4-6). And the sea and the rivers and the mountains – all of nature – should join in the chorus! (vv7-8)
In the light of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, we who trust and obey him have even more wonderful reasons to sing to the Lord a new song.
So “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20).
