Biblion Bible Commentary
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He Has Done Marvelous Things
Psalms 98:1-9
1 A Psalm. Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. · WEB
Salvation is performed in public, and rivers are told to applaud.
Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him Psalms 98:1.
The new song again, and this time the reason is given immediately. What is notable is the last phrase: the salvation was worked for him, by his own arm, with nobody assisting.
Yahweh has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations Psalms 98:2.
Made known, openly shown, in the sight of — three phrases in one verse, all about visibility. Whatever happened was not done quietly, and the audience specified is not Israel.
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 Psalms 98:3.
The two halves are the psalm's whole theology of mission. What God did he did for Israel, in fulfillment of promises made to Israel — and the whole earth watched it happen. The particular is the means and the universal is the audience.
Mary's song at the annunciation draws on this verse, speaking of God helping Israel in remembrance of mercy Luke 1:54, and Simeon in the temple calls the child a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel Luke 2:32, which is this verse in two clauses.
Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy Psalms 98:4.
The instruments are named next — harp, trumpets, ram's horn Psalms 98:5–6 — and the ram's horn is not a musical instrument at all. It was used for alarms and for coronations, which tells the singers what kind of occasion this is.
Let the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein. Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together Psalms 98:7–8.
Rivers clapping is the image the psalm is remembered for, and it is exact: a river running over stones sounds like applause, and anyone who has stood by one has heard it.
For he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity Psalms 98:9.
The same ending as the ninety-sixth psalm, almost word for word, and the same claim — that the arrival of a judge is what the rivers are applauding.
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