Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

PSALM 98: MAKE A JOYFUL SYMPHONY The Messiah Has Come

This joyful psalm that is wholly given to praise is celebrating some past victory, possibly the return of the Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem. In a larger sense it is a celebration of the 1st coming of Christ and the salvation he has secured for mankind as Adam Clark comments; it is ‘to be ultimately under- stood of the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ and the proclamation of his gospel through all the nations of the earth: and taken in this view, no language can be too strong, nor poetic imagery too high, to point out the unsearchable riches of Christ 1 .’ This is one of the ‘King’ psalms (93, 95-99) declaring the sovereignty of God over the nations and one of the great international worship psalms (95-100) filled with the language of Christ’s return and lordship over the earth. The beginning verse and the ending verses are taken from Psalm 96 and the content in between are very similar to passages found in the second half of Isaiah. There is in this psalm a ‘combination of old ideas 2 ’ presented in a fresh, lyrical way. It is outlined in three distinct sections:

I SING A NEW SONG - 1-3, Focus on Israel II MAKE A JOYFUL SYMPHONY - 4-6 Focus on the Nations III SHOUT HIS PRAISE - 7-9 Focus on Creation

INTRODUCTION:

“A Psalm”

This is the only psalm with a one word title (Hebrew: ‘mizmor’) and is often called the ‘Orphan Psalm.’ Perhaps it represents the very heart of psalms in that it is a clear river of praise. No author is presented.

There is a beautiful correlation between this Psalm and the ‘Magnificat’ of Mary that she sang after she had conceived her holy child:

Psalm 98

Luke 1

“Sing a new song to the Lord…”(1) “Oh, how I praise the Lord.” (46) “for he has done wonderful deeds.”(1) “He has done great things for me.”(49) “He has won a mighty victory by his “His mighty arm does tremendous things.” power and holiness.”(1) (51) “He has remembered his promise to love And how he has helped his servant Israel! and be faithful to Israel.”(3)

He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful.”(54)

I SING A NEW SONG - 1-3

This psalm seems to anticipate the work that Christ accomplished at his first coming: • His miraculous life- “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds.” (1) Every- thing about Jesus was wonderful. Those who were close to him were happy and full of songs because of all the amazing things he did. “God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing many wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.” (Acts 2:22) • His victory at the cross- “He has won a mighty victory by his power and holiness.” (2) Although this psalm seems to commemorate an unknown military victory by Israel, it points forward to the great triumph of Christ upon the cross: “In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.” (Col. 2:15) • His triumphant resurrection- “The Lord has announced his victory and has revealed his right- eousness to every nation!” (2) After his resurrection the disciples began announcing the message of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ. The church is completing their work today: “And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many mirac- ulous signs.” (Mrk. 16:20) • His promise to Israel- “He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.” (3) Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to love his people; he was first sent to them before the doors to the Gentiles were opened wide: “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.” (Acts 3:26)

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