Psalm 98:1 New Songs

Psalm 98:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

Headed A Psalm, Psalm 98 begins with a call to Sing to the Lord a new song. The occasion for this new song is not given in any detail but in some way The Lord had again made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations ... remembering his love and his faithfulness to Israel. In so doing he added to the effect that has meant that all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God entailing that there should be a worldwide response. And so the psalm says (4) Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with harp and voice, trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn. Things are then taken one step further as he speaks of the animate and inanimate creation rejoicing too - the sea resounding and everything in it ... rivers clapping their hands, ... mountains singing together for joy. All this is an anticipation of the final new song that will be sung at the end when God will come to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. Thus the new song of eternity and the new songs we sing today when we see God act in wonderful ways are linked. He does marvellous things and will continue to do so. He alone works salvation for himself. This is seen in part today but will be seen fully at the end of time.