Psalm 98

Sing to the Lord a New Song

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Intro

Psalm 98 is a song of joy and praise to the Lord for His victorious salvation. From the New Covenant perspective, this Psalm foreshadows the great saving work of Jesus Christ and the global reach of His gospel.

Section 1: The Lord's Victorious Salvation (Verses 1-3)

"O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him. The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God."

Harmony

The victorious salvation of God is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:57, which gives thanks to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Talking Points:

1. The call to sing a new song to the Lord.

2. The victory of God through His marvelous works.

3. God's salvation revealed to all nations.

Questions:

1. What does it mean to sing a "new song" to the Lord in the context of our lives?

2. How do we see the victory of God displayed in our world and personal experiences?

3. How does the revelation of God's salvation to all nations inform our understanding of God's love for humanity?

Section 2: Joyful Praise to the Lord (Verses 4-6)

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord."

Harmony

The call to praise God with joyful music is mirrored in Ephesians 5:19, which encourages believers to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord.

Talking Points:

1. The call for all the earth to shout joyfully to the Lord.

2. The use of music as a medium of praising God.

3. The recognition of God as King.

Questions:

1. How can we practice joyful praise in our daily lives?

2. What role does music play in your personal worship and the collective worship of your church?

3. How does recognizing God as King affect our perspective on life?

Section 3: Creation Joins in Praise (Verses 7-9)

"Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity."

Harmony

The anticipation of the Lord's coming to judge the earth aligns with Acts 17:31, where it is confirmed that God has set a day when He will judge the world with justice through the man He has appointed, Jesus Christ.

Talking Points:

1. Creation's personified participation in praising God.

2. The anticipation of the Lord's righteous and equitable judgment.

3. The return of the Lord.

Questions:

1. What does the personified praise of creation tell us about the Lord's relationship with His creation?

2. How should the knowledge of God's righteous and equitable judgment shape our actions and attitudes?

3. How does the anticipation of the Lord's return affect our lives and our perspective on the future?

Summary:

Psalm 98:1-9 encapsulates the celebration of God's victorious salvation, the call for joyful praise, and the anticipation of the Lord's return for judgment. 

These themes resonate in the New Covenant through the victory provided by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57), the encouragement for joyful praise and music in worship (Ephesians 5:19), and the assurance of Christ's return for righteous judgment (Acts 17:31). 

This Psalm invites us to celebrate God's victory, participate in joyful worship, and anticipate Christ's return with assurance of His righteous judgment.

Psalms