Theme:
God’s victory and faithful salvation summon a fresh, overflowing worship that spreads from the redeemed community to the ends of the earth—and finally to all creation.
Tone:
Jubilant.
Structure:
A call to worship, followed by reasons, widening outward into a cosmic chorus as the Lord is welcomed as righteous Judge and King.
The Call
The psalm begins with an urgent invitation: sing—not because worship is a duty to complete, but because God has done something so weighty and bright that old words feel too small. Praise rises like surprise and delight: the Lord has acted, and His people cannot stay silent.
The Reflection
Joy deepens as the singer considers what God’s action reveals about His character. His “right hand” and “holy arm” speak of power that is morally pure—strength that saves rather than crushes. The Lord’s salvation is not hidden in a corner; He makes it known, displaying righteousness in the open. And the praise is anchored not in mood but in covenant reality: God remembers His steadfast love and faithfulness. Worship, then, becomes more than personal gratitude—it becomes testimony. Israel’s joy is meant to be overheard by the nations, until “all the ends of the earth” recognize the saving work of the Lord.
From there the psalm’s horizon expands. Human voices are joined by instruments, and then by creation itself. The sea roars, rivers clap, hills sing—images that do not romanticize nature so much as declare that the world is not mute before its Maker. When God’s reign is acknowledged, everything begins to sound like it is finally in tune.
The Resolve
The psalm ends not with a private feeling of uplift, but with a public, steady confidence: the Lord is coming to judge. This is not a threat to worship; it is a reason for it. His judgment is portrayed as good news because it is righteous and fair—straightening what is crooked, ending what is unjust, and ruling with equity. The final note is a settled, creation-wide gladness before the Holy King.
Psalm 98 celebrates a salvation God “has made known” in the sight of the nations, and a coming judgment marked by righteousness and equity. In Jesus, this praise finds its fullest focus. God’s saving power is revealed not only in mighty deeds but in the cross and resurrection, where mercy and righteousness meet without contradiction. The gospel going out to “the ends of the earth” echoes the psalm’s widening circle of worship, as nations are gathered into praise of Israel’s God. And the psalm’s closing hope—“He comes to judge the earth”—aligns with the New Testament’s promise that Christ will come again to set all things right. The “new song” becomes the church’s fitting response to the finished and unfolding work of the risen King.
The phrase “a new song” (Hebrew שִׁיר חָדָשׁ, shir chadash) is not merely “a different song,” but worship born from a fresh act of God—praise that matches newly revealed mercy and power. In Psalm 98, the “newness” is driven by God’s public, history-shaping salvation that demands more than recycled gratitude.
“He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” — Psalm 98:3
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What reason is given for singing a new song to the Lord?
2. How is the Lord’s coming judgment portrayed?