Original Meaning
The Heading (98:0)
A PSALM. Psalm 98 is the only poem in this collection to begin with a heading. It is the simplest, most basic form of heading (mizmor), but, as we have discussed before, the title is appropriate to the psalm because of its emphasis on a musical and vocal response to God.1
Hossfeld suggests that the inclusion of a title may indicate a “tiny caesura” in the Yahweh malak collection that possibly links Psalms 98 and 99 at the end of this collection.2
Bridging Contexts
JUDGMENT AND JOY. Perhaps one of the most surprising elements of Psalm 98 is the association between Yahweh’s judgment and the response of joy that is anticipated from all humanity and all creation. This association is not automatic for us. We often see judgment as a necessity in response to evil (hence our court systems, etc.), but judgment would not normally be something in which we rejoice. Ellen Davis comments on this unexpected response to God’s rule:
Modern Christians . . . are little inclined to rejoice at the prospect of judgment, yet the psalm challenges us to examine our preconceptions and embrace judgment as one of the most positive elements of our faith. What makes jubilation the appropriate response to God’s judgment is the fact that it is characterized by righteousness, that is, by the abiding concern to sustain, restore, and enhance relationship. The needs of God’s relationship with Israel determine the multifarious concrete forms that righteousness assumes. Accordingly, the Hebrew word tsedek/tsedakah is variously translated “righteousness,” “salvation,” “deliverance,” “victory,” “vindication”; it denotes healing that takes place by rescue (Ps 40:11) as well as by punishment (Ps 119:75; cf. Ps 51:15). The righteousness of God’s judgment (in contrast to our own!) consists in the refusal to answer sin vindictively, in a way that robs genuine repentance of its fruitfulness (cf. Matt 3:8).9
From a biblical perspective, the judgment of God is something eminently more holistic than our normal association with the concept. Rather than being about strict restitution, God’s judgment is much more about renewal and restoration—therefore both the nations and the created realm are able to rejoice in the judgment of Yahweh. The nations are offered knowledge of the living God, recognition of their Creator, and restored relationship with him—such is God’s judgment with righteousness and equity. The earth is offered renovation and renewal. The future promise of God’s judgment points to a renewed creation restored to the original promise that was lost in the fall of humanity. The fate of the created order is inextricably linked with the divine-human relationship. Psalm 98 points to a future reality of renewed relationship between God and all the earth. Inevitably, this renewal has a positive impact on the created realm—so creation sings its praise at the very thought of God’s righteous judgment.
Psalm 98 in the New Testament. There are a couple of echoes of Psalm 98 reflected in the thoughts of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. First, the language of Romans 1:16–17 picks up on the imagery of Psalm 98. God’s “salvation” and “righteousness” are “revealed” in the gospel of Christ Jesus, and this revelation is not just to Israel but also to the gentiles. (In Greek, the word “gentiles” is also used to denote “the nations.”) So here there seems to be a clear attempt by Paul to link the eschatological revelation of God’s righteousness from Psalm 98 with the person and work of Jesus.10
Second, Romans 8:18–22 speaks of a creation that is subjected to frustration as a result of human sinfulness and the loss of relationship with God. The same passage pictures the created realm as waiting for the restoration of humanity because with that restoration comes creation’s own renewal. The natural world, the environment in all its amazing diversity, is presented as struggling under the weight of decay while waiting for the renewal of humanity. The renewal of the divine-human relationship brings with it the renewal of the world. The same link that is seen in Ps 98 is echoed in the eschatological expectation of Romans 8.
The other main reflection of the themes of Psalm 98 in the New Testament is the image of God as Judge—a frequently repeated presentation in the New Testament. One of the interesting factors of the New Testament’s presentation of God as Judge is that often the reference to God’s judicial capacity is found in the context of leaving judgment in his hands (e.g., Rom 14:10–11; 1 Cor 4:3–5; Jas 4:11–12 et al.). Herein we find a timely reminder that God is in control and that at the right time he will bring his justice into our reality.
Contemporary Significance
WITNESS THROUGH COMMUNITY. One of the key aspects of application from Psalm 98 is the reminder that God works through his people to draw all the nations of the earth back into relationship with him. Psalm 98:3 reminds us that God “has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” The interesting factor in the dynamic of this verse is that those outside the community of faith are drawn into the praise of God through his dealings with his people. As God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are worked out in the church, others are drawn to join that community of faith. As the church experiences the blessings of God openly and without embarrassment, others are drawn to know and love this God who does great things.
Of course, this active witness is only possible when our communities are outwardly focused, welcoming, and open to others. If we ever become too comfortable in our own little groups (dare I say cliques?) to such an extent that we do not offer welcome to others, then we fail to give voice to one of the most powerful testimonies in our arsenal—the testimony of God’s gracious and loving dealings with his people through his Son. The truth is that people from outside the church are sometimes uncomfortable. Often they don’t think or dress or speak or act the way we would like them to. But surely it is ridiculous for us to expect a Christian morality from those who are not yet Christians. Yes, sometimes it can be uncomfortable to welcome into our midst those who do not share our worldview. It is by doing so, however, that worldviews are changed forever. Allowing people to observe God’s grace at work in our communities is one of the most powerful witnesses available to us. It is important for us as communities to be open to those who are still apart from our community.
Exuberant Praise. Psalm 98 is also full of noise! It is loud. It is vocal. It is musical. It is vociferous in its determination to give thanks and praise. Our God is worthy of no less today. He is the great King over all and, as such, is well worth the highest, most melodic, loudest, and most engaged praise we can offer. Nothing reflects the greatness of his character more than the greatest praise we have to offer. Cultural preoccupation should never hold us back. The God of the Scriptures is worthy of the most fulsome praise we can possibly offer. This psalm gives us a clear indication of the type of attitude of heart we should have as we gather to worship God.
Original Meaning
The Call to Worship (98:1–3)
SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG. Psalm 98 bears a number of linguistic and thematic similarities to Psalm 96, and the first of these similarities is seen in the songs’ shared opening line. As with Psalm 96:1, the newness of the song is more connected with its addressees than its content.3
This song is new for the inhabitants of the “nations” and the “ends of the earth” (vv. 2–3) rather than being entirely new in its content. Longman argues,
The theme of God the Warrior connects his role as Victor, King and Judge. . . . The song praises God for winning a victory on the battlefield, which recalls his kingly role and his future judgment. . . . “New song” occurs elsewhere in the Psalms (33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 144:9; 149:1), as well as Isaiah (42:10) and the book of Revelation (5:9; 14:3), in contexts connected to warfare. A new song is a hymn of victory sung after God has made all things new by his defeat of the forces of evil.4
Psalm 98, with its message of the lordship of a just God, offers hope to nations of people who were subject to the whims of capricious gods and the failures of their earthly representatives.
For he has done marvelous things. Psalm 98 supplements the call to worship with an immediate rationale. All the nations should worship Yahweh because he has done marvelous things. Again, echoing the themes of Psalm 96:3, the Hebrew word for “marvelous things” points to the miracles Yahweh has worked in behalf of his people, especially the miracle of the exodus. If, as seems likely, Psalm 98 (along with the other Yahweh malak psalms) makes up part of the response to the themes of exile that dominate Book 3 of the Psalter (Pss 73–89), then this verse is probably pointing to the return from exile as a second exodus. Already once in the exodus, God has proved his miraculous power over the superpowers of the earth, and he can do so again in Israel’s return from exile.5
The LORD has made his salvation known. The theme of divine revelation, so prominent in Psalm 97, continues in Psalm 98:2. Once again, what has been revealed is both the character (“righteousness” [v. 2b]) and the works (“salvation” [v. 2a]) of Israel’s God (cf. the discussion of Ps 96:3 above).
He has remembered his love and his faithfulness. The language in Psalm 98:3—remember, love, faithfulness, Israel—is reminiscent of the covenant made between God and his people. The interesting part of the equation here is that in remembering his covenantal promises to Israel, God’s activity in human history acts as a testimony to the nations. “All the ends of the earth” come to see and recognize the true character and miraculous works of God through his activity in, among, and in behalf of his people. God’s dealings with Israel show both that he cares for his people and that he is able to intervene in their behalf.
Bridging Contexts
JUDGMENT AND JOY. Perhaps one of the most surprising elements of Psalm 98 is the association between Yahweh’s judgment and the response of joy that is anticipated from all humanity and all creation. This association is not automatic for us. We often see judgment as a necessity in response to evil (hence our court systems, etc.), but judgment would not normally be something in which we rejoice. Ellen Davis comments on this unexpected response to God’s rule:
Modern Christians . . . are little inclined to rejoice at the prospect of judgment, yet the psalm challenges us to examine our preconceptions and embrace judgment as one of the most positive elements of our faith. What makes jubilation the appropriate response to God’s judgment is the fact that it is characterized by righteousness, that is, by the abiding concern to sustain, restore, and enhance relationship. The needs of God’s relationship with Israel determine the multifarious concrete forms that righteousness assumes. Accordingly, the Hebrew word tsedek/tsedakah is variously translated “righteousness,” “salvation,” “deliverance,” “victory,” “vindication”; it denotes healing that takes place by rescue (Ps 40:11) as well as by punishment (Ps 119:75; cf. Ps 51:15). The righteousness of God’s judgment (in contrast to our own!) consists in the refusal to answer sin vindictively, in a way that robs genuine repentance of its fruitfulness (cf. Matt 3:8).9
From a biblical perspective, the judgment of God is something eminently more holistic than our normal association with the concept. Rather than being about strict restitution, God’s judgment is much more about renewal and restoration—therefore both the nations and the created realm are able to rejoice in the judgment of Yahweh. The nations are offered knowledge of the living God, recognition of their Creator, and restored relationship with him—such is God’s judgment with righteousness and equity. The earth is offered renovation and renewal. The future promise of God’s judgment points to a renewed creation restored to the original promise that was lost in the fall of humanity. The fate of the created order is inextricably linked with the divine-human relationship. Psalm 98 points to a future reality of renewed relationship between God and all the earth. Inevitably, this renewal has a positive impact on the created realm—so creation sings its praise at the very thought of God’s righteous judgment.
Psalm 98 in the New Testament. There are a couple of echoes of Psalm 98 reflected in the thoughts of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. First, the language of Romans 1:16–17 picks up on the imagery of Psalm 98. God’s “salvation” and “righteousness” are “revealed” in the gospel of Christ Jesus, and this revelation is not just to Israel but also to the gentiles. (In Greek, the word “gentiles” is also used to denote “the nations.”) So here there seems to be a clear attempt by Paul to link the eschatological revelation of God’s righteousness from Psalm 98 with the person and work of Jesus.10
Second, Romans 8:18–22 speaks of a creation that is subjected to frustration as a result of human sinfulness and the loss of relationship with God. The same passage pictures the created realm as waiting for the restoration of humanity because with that restoration comes creation’s own renewal. The natural world, the environment in all its amazing diversity, is presented as struggling under the weight of decay while waiting for the renewal of humanity. The renewal of the divine-human relationship brings with it the renewal of the world. The same link that is seen in Ps 98 is echoed in the eschatological expectation of Romans 8.
The other main reflection of the themes of Psalm 98 in the New Testament is the image of God as Judge—a frequently repeated presentation in the New Testament. One of the interesting factors of the New Testament’s presentation of God as Judge is that often the reference to God’s judicial capacity is found in the context of leaving judgment in his hands (e.g., Rom 14:10–11; 1 Cor 4:3–5; Jas 4:11–12 et al.). Herein we find a timely reminder that God is in control and that at the right time he will bring his justice into our reality.
Contemporary Significance
WITNESS THROUGH COMMUNITY. One of the key aspects of application from Psalm 98 is the reminder that God works through his people to draw all the nations of the earth back into relationship with him. Psalm 98:3 reminds us that God “has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” The interesting factor in the dynamic of this verse is that those outside the community of faith are drawn into the praise of God through his dealings with his people. As God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are worked out in the church, others are drawn to join that community of faith. As the church experiences the blessings of God openly and without embarrassment, others are drawn to know and love this God who does great things.
Of course, this active witness is only possible when our communities are outwardly focused, welcoming, and open to others. If we ever become too comfortable in our own little groups (dare I say cliques?) to such an extent that we do not offer welcome to others, then we fail to give voice to one of the most powerful testimonies in our arsenal—the testimony of God’s gracious and loving dealings with his people through his Son. The truth is that people from outside the church are sometimes uncomfortable. Often they don’t think or dress or speak or act the way we would like them to. But surely it is ridiculous for us to expect a Christian morality from those who are not yet Christians. Yes, sometimes it can be uncomfortable to welcome into our midst those who do not share our worldview. It is by doing so, however, that worldviews are changed forever. Allowing people to observe God’s grace at work in our communities is one of the most powerful witnesses available to us. It is important for us as communities to be open to those who are still apart from our community.
Exuberant Praise. Psalm 98 is also full of noise! It is loud. It is vocal. It is musical. It is vociferous in its determination to give thanks and praise. Our God is worthy of no less today. He is the great King over all and, as such, is well worth the highest, most melodic, loudest, and most engaged praise we can offer. Nothing reflects the greatness of his character more than the greatest praise we have to offer. Cultural preoccupation should never hold us back. The God of the Scriptures is worthy of the most fulsome praise we can possibly offer. This psalm gives us a clear indication of the type of attitude of heart we should have as we gather to worship God.
Original Meaning
Participating in Noisy Worship (98:4–6)
SHOUT FOR JOY TO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH. AS we have seen throughout many of the Yahweh malak psalms, the focus of the call to worship is universal. The whole earth is called to join in this new song of praise to Yahweh. The “new song” that speaks of God’s covenantal faithfulness and all-powerful work in the affairs of humanity gives all people—all the nations—reason to join in the noisy, exuberant praise of God. As we have discussed above, this call to the nations to join in the praise of Yahweh would be a strong paradigm challenge for most in Israel, who would view the nations as being far removed from the holiness of God (see the discussion of Ps 96). The song of the goodness of Yahweh’s character and the power of his hand may be new on the lips of the nations, but it gives good reason to praise: reason to bring praise that is vocal, praise that is musical, praise that is full of joy.
Shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Emphasizing the main theme of this collection, the poet makes explicit the identity of the God who is to be praised—he is the one, true King of the universe (Ps 98:6). Longman suggests that this song of praise is a response to the military victory of Yahweh. He points out that much of the language used in these verses often occurs in a holy-war context in the Old Testament. His suggestion is that noisy praise of this type goes into abeyance while the king is at war but is brought back to life when his victory is assured: “Simply stated, while the Divine Warrior wars, music languishes (Isa 24:8ff. . . .), and when the Divine Warrior wins, music is taken up again in a paean of praise.”6
The interesting factor in Psalm 98 and its neighbors is that the whole earth—all the nations—are called to respond in praise to the kingship of Yahweh. Normally, Yahweh’s victory would mean loss and lament to other nations, but the establishment of God’s authority, given his nature, gives the whole earth good cause to rejoice.
Bridging Contexts
JUDGMENT AND JOY. Perhaps one of the most surprising elements of Psalm 98 is the association between Yahweh’s judgment and the response of joy that is anticipated from all humanity and all creation. This association is not automatic for us. We often see judgment as a necessity in response to evil (hence our court systems, etc.), but judgment would not normally be something in which we rejoice. Ellen Davis comments on this unexpected response to God’s rule:
Modern Christians . . . are little inclined to rejoice at the prospect of judgment, yet the psalm challenges us to examine our preconceptions and embrace judgment as one of the most positive elements of our faith. What makes jubilation the appropriate response to God’s judgment is the fact that it is characterized by righteousness, that is, by the abiding concern to sustain, restore, and enhance relationship. The needs of God’s relationship with Israel determine the multifarious concrete forms that righteousness assumes. Accordingly, the Hebrew word tsedek/tsedakah is variously translated “righteousness,” “salvation,” “deliverance,” “victory,” “vindication”; it denotes healing that takes place by rescue (Ps 40:11) as well as by punishment (Ps 119:75; cf. Ps 51:15). The righteousness of God’s judgment (in contrast to our own!) consists in the refusal to answer sin vindictively, in a way that robs genuine repentance of its fruitfulness (cf. Matt 3:8).9
From a biblical perspective, the judgment of God is something eminently more holistic than our normal association with the concept. Rather than being about strict restitution, God’s judgment is much more about renewal and restoration—therefore both the nations and the created realm are able to rejoice in the judgment of Yahweh. The nations are offered knowledge of the living God, recognition of their Creator, and restored relationship with him—such is God’s judgment with righteousness and equity. The earth is offered renovation and renewal. The future promise of God’s judgment points to a renewed creation restored to the original promise that was lost in the fall of humanity. The fate of the created order is inextricably linked with the divine-human relationship. Psalm 98 points to a future reality of renewed relationship between God and all the earth. Inevitably, this renewal has a positive impact on the created realm—so creation sings its praise at the very thought of God’s righteous judgment.
Psalm 98 in the New Testament. There are a couple of echoes of Psalm 98 reflected in the thoughts of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. First, the language of Romans 1:16–17 picks up on the imagery of Psalm 98. God’s “salvation” and “righteousness” are “revealed” in the gospel of Christ Jesus, and this revelation is not just to Israel but also to the gentiles. (In Greek, the word “gentiles” is also used to denote “the nations.”) So here there seems to be a clear attempt by Paul to link the eschatological revelation of God’s righteousness from Psalm 98 with the person and work of Jesus.10
Second, Romans 8:18–22 speaks of a creation that is subjected to frustration as a result of human sinfulness and the loss of relationship with God. The same passage pictures the created realm as waiting for the restoration of humanity because with that restoration comes creation’s own renewal. The natural world, the environment in all its amazing diversity, is presented as struggling under the weight of decay while waiting for the renewal of humanity. The renewal of the divine-human relationship brings with it the renewal of the world. The same link that is seen in Ps 98 is echoed in the eschatological expectation of Romans 8.
The other main reflection of the themes of Psalm 98 in the New Testament is the image of God as Judge—a frequently repeated presentation in the New Testament. One of the interesting factors of the New Testament’s presentation of God as Judge is that often the reference to God’s judicial capacity is found in the context of leaving judgment in his hands (e.g., Rom 14:10–11; 1 Cor 4:3–5; Jas 4:11–12 et al.). Herein we find a timely reminder that God is in control and that at the right time he will bring his justice into our reality.
Contemporary Significance
WITNESS THROUGH COMMUNITY. One of the key aspects of application from Psalm 98 is the reminder that God works through his people to draw all the nations of the earth back into relationship with him. Psalm 98:3 reminds us that God “has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” The interesting factor in the dynamic of this verse is that those outside the community of faith are drawn into the praise of God through his dealings with his people. As God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are worked out in the church, others are drawn to join that community of faith. As the church experiences the blessings of God openly and without embarrassment, others are drawn to know and love this God who does great things.
Of course, this active witness is only possible when our communities are outwardly focused, welcoming, and open to others. If we ever become too comfortable in our own little groups (dare I say cliques?) to such an extent that we do not offer welcome to others, then we fail to give voice to one of the most powerful testimonies in our arsenal—the testimony of God’s gracious and loving dealings with his people through his Son. The truth is that people from outside the church are sometimes uncomfortable. Often they don’t think or dress or speak or act the way we would like them to. But surely it is ridiculous for us to expect a Christian morality from those who are not yet Christians. Yes, sometimes it can be uncomfortable to welcome into our midst those who do not share our worldview. It is by doing so, however, that worldviews are changed forever. Allowing people to observe God’s grace at work in our communities is one of the most powerful witnesses available to us. It is important for us as communities to be open to those who are still apart from our community.
Exuberant Praise. Psalm 98 is also full of noise! It is loud. It is vocal. It is musical. It is vociferous in its determination to give thanks and praise. Our God is worthy of no less today. He is the great King over all and, as such, is well worth the highest, most melodic, loudest, and most engaged praise we can offer. Nothing reflects the greatness of his character more than the greatest praise we have to offer. Cultural preoccupation should never hold us back. The God of the Scriptures is worthy of the most fulsome praise we can possibly offer. This psalm gives us a clear indication of the type of attitude of heart we should have as we gather to worship God.
Original Meaning
The Choir of Creation (98:7–9)
LET THE SEA RESOUND, AND EVERYTHING IN IT. The surprising source of praise in the second stanza (the nations) is echoed by another atypical source of praise in the third stanza, namely, creation itself. The imagery in this final stanza is the recognizing of Yahweh’s inherent worth by the whole created order because he is the universal Judge, and the joining of Israel and the nations in bringing praise to God. Ellen Davis notes:
Thus the world is revealed for what it really is: in fact, not Nature at all but rather Creation, still exquisitely sensitive to the presence and will of its Maker, eager to the point of impatience for the full manifestation of God’s will in human life, which is the final goal of judgment (cf. Rom 8:19–22).7
Longman suggests that the imagery of creational response to Yahweh continues the presentation of Israel’s God as the victorious Warrior-King:
But, furthermore, the rejoicing of nature in Psalm 98 may be put forward as additional evidence for the Divine Warrior interpretation of the psalm as a whole. L. Greenspoon has most recently delineated the connection between nature and the activity of the Divine Warrior. When the Divine Warrior wars, nature droops, withers, languishes (Isa 24:4–13), but when the Divine Warrior wins, nature is revivified and participates in praising Yahweh.8
Let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. The final stanza concludes with the presentation of Yahweh as Judge, thus echoing the style of the second stanza (Ps 98:4–6), which concluded with the presentation of Yahweh as King. The offices of king and judge often combined in Israel and throughout the ancient Near East. The king was seen as the ultimate arbiter of justice because he was the ultimate source of power and authority. In the same way, Psalm 98 suggests that Yahweh’s unquestionable kingship endues him with the right to judge the earth and all its inhabitants. The fact that the created realm acknowledges Yahweh’s right to judge further emphasizes the inherent and unquestionable nature of that right. Since God is who he is, that judgment will inevitably be marked by “righteousness” and “equity” (lit., “uprightness” [v. 9]), but the whole of creation—along with the whole of humanity (vv. 4–6)—will one day rejoice because of Yahweh’s unquestionable rule over everything and everyone he has made.
Bridging Contexts
JUDGMENT AND JOY. Perhaps one of the most surprising elements of Psalm 98 is the association between Yahweh’s judgment and the response of joy that is anticipated from all humanity and all creation. This association is not automatic for us. We often see judgment as a necessity in response to evil (hence our court systems, etc.), but judgment would not normally be something in which we rejoice. Ellen Davis comments on this unexpected response to God’s rule:
Modern Christians . . . are little inclined to rejoice at the prospect of judgment, yet the psalm challenges us to examine our preconceptions and embrace judgment as one of the most positive elements of our faith. What makes jubilation the appropriate response to God’s judgment is the fact that it is characterized by righteousness, that is, by the abiding concern to sustain, restore, and enhance relationship. The needs of God’s relationship with Israel determine the multifarious concrete forms that righteousness assumes. Accordingly, the Hebrew word tsedek/tsedakah is variously translated “righteousness,” “salvation,” “deliverance,” “victory,” “vindication”; it denotes healing that takes place by rescue (Ps 40:11) as well as by punishment (Ps 119:75; cf. Ps 51:15). The righteousness of God’s judgment (in contrast to our own!) consists in the refusal to answer sin vindictively, in a way that robs genuine repentance of its fruitfulness (cf. Matt 3:8).9
From a biblical perspective, the judgment of God is something eminently more holistic than our normal association with the concept. Rather than being about strict restitution, God’s judgment is much more about renewal and restoration—therefore both the nations and the created realm are able to rejoice in the judgment of Yahweh. The nations are offered knowledge of the living God, recognition of their Creator, and restored relationship with him—such is God’s judgment with righteousness and equity. The earth is offered renovation and renewal. The future promise of God’s judgment points to a renewed creation restored to the original promise that was lost in the fall of humanity. The fate of the created order is inextricably linked with the divine-human relationship. Psalm 98 points to a future reality of renewed relationship between God and all the earth. Inevitably, this renewal has a positive impact on the created realm—so creation sings its praise at the very thought of God’s righteous judgment.
Psalm 98 in the New Testament. There are a couple of echoes of Psalm 98 reflected in the thoughts of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. First, the language of Romans 1:16–17 picks up on the imagery of Psalm 98. God’s “salvation” and “righteousness” are “revealed” in the gospel of Christ Jesus, and this revelation is not just to Israel but also to the gentiles. (In Greek, the word “gentiles” is also used to denote “the nations.”) So here there seems to be a clear attempt by Paul to link the eschatological revelation of God’s righteousness from Psalm 98 with the person and work of Jesus.10
Second, Romans 8:18–22 speaks of a creation that is subjected to frustration as a result of human sinfulness and the loss of relationship with God. The same passage pictures the created realm as waiting for the restoration of humanity because with that restoration comes creation’s own renewal. The natural world, the environment in all its amazing diversity, is presented as struggling under the weight of decay while waiting for the renewal of humanity. The renewal of the divine-human relationship brings with it the renewal of the world. The same link that is seen in Ps 98 is echoed in the eschatological expectation of Romans 8.
The other main reflection of the themes of Psalm 98 in the New Testament is the image of God as Judge—a frequently repeated presentation in the New Testament. One of the interesting factors of the New Testament’s presentation of God as Judge is that often the reference to God’s judicial capacity is found in the context of leaving judgment in his hands (e.g., Rom 14:10–11; 1 Cor 4:3–5; Jas 4:11–12 et al.). Herein we find a timely reminder that God is in control and that at the right time he will bring his justice into our reality.
Contemporary Significance
WITNESS THROUGH COMMUNITY. One of the key aspects of application from Psalm 98 is the reminder that God works through his people to draw all the nations of the earth back into relationship with him. Psalm 98:3 reminds us that God “has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” The interesting factor in the dynamic of this verse is that those outside the community of faith are drawn into the praise of God through his dealings with his people. As God’s steadfast love and faithfulness are worked out in the church, others are drawn to join that community of faith. As the church experiences the blessings of God openly and without embarrassment, others are drawn to know and love this God who does great things.
Of course, this active witness is only possible when our communities are outwardly focused, welcoming, and open to others. If we ever become too comfortable in our own little groups (dare I say cliques?) to such an extent that we do not offer welcome to others, then we fail to give voice to one of the most powerful testimonies in our arsenal—the testimony of God’s gracious and loving dealings with his people through his Son. The truth is that people from outside the church are sometimes uncomfortable. Often they don’t think or dress or speak or act the way we would like them to. But surely it is ridiculous for us to expect a Christian morality from those who are not yet Christians. Yes, sometimes it can be uncomfortable to welcome into our midst those who do not share our worldview. It is by doing so, however, that worldviews are changed forever. Allowing people to observe God’s grace at work in our communities is one of the most powerful witnesses available to us. It is important for us as communities to be open to those who are still apart from our community.
Exuberant Praise. Psalm 98 is also full of noise! It is loud. It is vocal. It is musical. It is vociferous in its determination to give thanks and praise. Our God is worthy of no less today. He is the great King over all and, as such, is well worth the highest, most melodic, loudest, and most engaged praise we can offer. Nothing reflects the greatness of his character more than the greatest praise we have to offer. Cultural preoccupation should never hold us back. The God of the Scriptures is worthy of the most fulsome praise we can possibly offer. This psalm gives us a clear indication of the type of attitude of heart we should have as we gather to worship God.
