Psalms 98: His Right Hand Has Saved
An enthronement psalm celebrating the salvation God has worked with his holy arm, calling all the earth to make a joyful noise before the coming King.
Psalms 98 (WEB)
1 Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him.
2 Yahweh has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody.
6 With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise before the King, Yahweh.
7 Let the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together.
9 Let them sing before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Psalms 98 (KJV)
1 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
Psalms 98 (ASV)
1 Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song; For he hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought salvation for him.
2 Jehovah hath made known his salvation: His righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the nations.
3 He hath remembered his lovingkindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all the earth: Break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises.
5 Sing praises unto Jehovah with the harp; With the harp and the voice of melody.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet Make a joyful noise before the King, Jehovah.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein;
8 Let the floods clap their hands; Let the hills sing for joy together
9 Before Jehovah; for he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity.
Summary
This psalm, echoing Psalm 96, calls for a new song because of a great salvation God has accomplished. It opens by declaring that Yahweh has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. He has made his salvation known and openly displayed his righteousness in the sight of the nations, remembering his loving kindness and faithfulness toward the house of Israel, so that all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. The psalm then erupts into a command for the whole earth to make a joyful noise to Yahweh, to burst out and sing for joy with harp, trumpets, and the ram's horn before the King. The celebration spreads into creation: let the sea roar, the rivers clap their hands, and the mountains sing for joy together. As in Psalm 96, the deep reason for this universal joy is that the Lord comes to judge the earth, to judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity. The salvation worked by God's holy arm and his coming as righteous Judge come together for Christians in Jesus, whose arm of salvation reached the whole world and who will return to set everything right; Isaac Watts drew on this very psalm in the carol “Joy to the World.”
Voices
- Yahweh the Savior and King — The God whose right hand and holy arm have worked salvation, who comes to judge the earth in righteousness and equity.
- The house of Israel — The people toward whom God has remembered his loving kindness and faithfulness, witnesses of his salvation.
- All the earth and the nations — The peoples summoned to make a joyful noise and to see the salvation of God.
- Creation—seas, rivers, mountains — The roaring sea, clapping rivers, and singing mountains called to rejoice before the coming King.
Key Verse
Psalm 98:1 (WEB)
Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him.
Lessons Learned
- Salvation is God's own work, accomplished by his right hand and holy arm, not earned by us.
- God's salvation is meant to be seen by all the nations, not hidden away among one people.
- Worship can be loud and exuberant, full of joyful noise and instruments of every kind.
- Even the created world is summoned to rejoice in God's saving reign.
- God's coming as righteous Judge is reason for joy, fulfilled in Christ who saves and will set all things right.
- Salvation is God's accomplishment. “His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him” (Psalm 98:1, WEB). Rescue comes from God's power, not human effort.
- God's salvation is meant to be seen worldwide. “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Psalm 98:3, WEB). His rescue is a public display before the nations.
- Joyful worship is loud and wholehearted. “Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy” (Psalm 98:4, WEB). Praise is not always quiet; it can be exuberant.
- Creation joins the song. “Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together” (Psalm 98:8, WEB). The whole world is caught up in praising its King.
- The Judge is coming, and that is good news. “He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness” (Psalm 98:9, WEB). His just rule is something to sing about.
- Why is a “new song” called for, and what has God done to deserve it according to verses 1–3?
- What does it mean that God has shown his salvation “in the sight of the nations”?
- How does this psalm picture joyful worship, and what does that suggest about our own praise?
- Why is the coming judgment of God a reason for the sea and mountains to rejoice rather than tremble?
- Reflecting on the salvation God has worked in your life, what “new song” of thanks rises in you today?
- The new song is called for because God's right hand and holy arm have worked salvation, making it known and displaying his righteousness, remembering his loving kindness to Israel so all the earth sees it (98:1-3). Fresh salvation calls for fresh praise.
- It means God's rescue is not a private, hidden thing but a public demonstration before the watching world (98:2-3). His salvation is meant to be seen, declared, and recognized by all peoples, anticipating the worldwide reach of the gospel.
- It pictures bursting out, singing for joy, and playing harps, trumpets, and the ram's horn (98:4-6). This suggests our praise can be exuberant and wholehearted, not merely reserved or formal; joy in salvation overflows naturally.
- Because he judges with righteousness and equity (98:9), his coming means the world will be set right. Creation itself groans under brokenness, so a just King's arrival is liberation, not terror, for all that he has made.
- This is a gentle personal-application question. Invite members to name a specific way God has saved or sustained them and to express thanks in their own words. Encourage them that gratitude is the natural “new song” of a rescued heart.