Psalm 98 is a joyful celebration of salvation. “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.” The Psalm proclaims the salvation of the Lord, that He has remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel, and that all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. It calls the whole earth to make a joyful noise, sing, and rejoice before the Lord.
The spiritual center is the new song of salvation that the whole earth is invited to sing. The “marvellous things” are the mighty acts of God that have brought victory and revealed His righteousness.
Psalm 98 (LXX 97) - O Sing Unto the Lord a New Song
Psalm Metadata
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| NKJV / Masoretic numbering | Psalm 98 |
| Septuagint / Coptic numbering | Psalm 97 |
| Accepted author | No superscription in MT/NKJV; LXX attributes to David. |
| Period in author’s life | Not a precise life event; a liturgical celebration of salvation and victory. |
| Christ prophecy status | Strongly Christological. The new song of salvation, the mighty arm, the revelation of righteousness, and the call to all the earth point toward Christ, the Savior of the world. |
| Coptic lectionary/service use | Verified printed Psalm 98 rows include Psalm 98:1 at Feast of Nayrouz Matins and Thomas Sunday Liturgy, Psalm 98:1-2 on Friday of the sixth week of the Holy Fifty Days at Vespers, and Psalm 98:2-3 on the First Sunday of Toba at Liturgy. Embedded Scripture: Brenton LXX Psalm 97. |
| Numbering issue | This note embeds Brenton LXX Psalm 97. The local lectionary rows cited here preserve printed Psalm 98 references. |
Historical and Scriptural Context
The Psalm has no specific historical setting but echoes the Exodus and the return from exile as acts of salvation. The LXX attributes it to David, which fits the royal and liturgical character.
Scripturally, the Psalm stands beside Isaiah 52:7-10 (the beautiful feet of those who bring good tidings) and Revelation 15 (the song of Moses and the Lamb). The Church reads it as the new song of the redeemed in Christ.
Geographical Significance ⛰️
The geography is universal: all the earth, the ends of the earth, the sea, the world, and they that dwell therein. The salvation of the Lord is not hidden but revealed before all nations.
The Characters 👥
The Lord. The One who has done marvellous things, whose right hand and holy arm have gotten the victory.
All the earth / the ends of the earth. Those called to sing the new song and rejoice before the Lord.
The house of Israel. Those to whom God has remembered His mercy and truth.
The sea and the world. The whole creation joins in the joyful noise.
🕯️ Light from the Word
Psalm 97:1-3, the new song of salvation
97:1 A Psalm of David. Sing to the Lord a new song; for the Lord has wrought wonderful works, his right hand, and his holy arm, have wrought salvation for him. 97:2 The Lord has made known his salvation, he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 97:3 He has remembered his mercy to Jacob, and his truth to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
The Psalm opens with the call to sing a new song to the Lord. He hath done marvellous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gotten Him the victory. The Lord hath made known His salvation; His righteousness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
St Augustine says the new song is the song of the Gospel, the song of the victory of Christ. The marvellous things are the incarnation, the cross, and the resurrection.
Theodoret says the prayer is for those who see that the salvation of the Lord is not hidden but revealed before all nations. The new song is the song of the Church gathered from the ends of the earth.
Lesson Guide
- Key phrases: “O sing unto the Lord a new song”; “his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”
- Emphasize: the new song is the song of Christ’s victory.
- Avoid: treating the new song as merely emotional. It is the declaration of salvation.
Psalm 97:4-6, all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God
97:4 Shout to God, all the earth; sing, and exult, and sing psalms. 97:5 Sing to the Lord with a harp, with a harp, and the voice of a psalm. 97:6 With trumpets of metal, and the sound of a trumpet of horn make a joyful noise to the Lord before the king.
The Psalm continues: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.”
Augustine says the joyful noise is the praise of the redeemed. The harp, the trumpet, and the cornet are the instruments of the new song that the whole earth is called to sing.
Theodoret says the prayer is for those who see that the salvation of the Lord is not for Israel only but for all the ends of the earth. The new song is the song of the nations.
St Athanasius says the Psalms give the Church words for the soul’s own prayer, and St Gregory of Nyssa teaches that psalmody trains the soul toward virtue and that the end of the life according to virtue is blessedness. Psalm 98 is a celebration of salvation that teaches the soul to sing the new song by rejoicing in the marvellous works of the Lord.
Lesson Guide
- Key phrases: “make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth”; “sing unto the Lord with the harp.”
- Emphasize: the new song is not private. It is the public praise of the redeemed.
- Avoid: reducing the call to instruments only. The voice of a psalm is the heart lifted to God.
Psalm 97:7-9, let the sea roar and the fulness thereof
97:7 Let the sea be moved, and the fulness of it; the world, and they that dwell in it. 97:8 The rivers shall clap their hands together; the mountains shall exult. 97:9 For he is come to judge the earth; he shall judge the world in righteousness, and the nations in uprightness.
The Psalm ends with the call: “Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.”
Augustine says the sea, the floods, and the hills are the whole creation that rejoices in the coming of the Lord. The judgment is not only terror but the establishment of righteousness.
Theodoret says the prayer is for those who see that the creation itself longs for the revelation of the sons of God. The new song is the song of the new creation.
Lesson Guide
- Key phrases: “let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof”; “for he cometh to judge the earth.”
- Emphasize: the new song is the song of the whole creation renewed in Christ.
- Avoid: separating the joy of creation from the judgment that establishes righteousness.
The Church’s Voice in Worship 📖
Verified local rows for the printed Psalm 98 include Psalm 98:1 at Feast of Nayrouz Matins and Thomas Sunday Liturgy, Psalm 98:1-2 on Friday of the sixth week of the Holy Fifty Days at Vespers, and Psalm 98:2-3 on the First Sunday of Toba at Liturgy. These placements interpret the new song through resurrection, witness, and the visible salvation of God. Thomas Sunday hears the new song beside the confession of the risen Lord. Nayrouz hears it in the courage of the martyrs. The Holy Fifty Days hear it as the Church’s proclamation that the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Iconography Connection 🖼️
Psalm 98 connects with icons of the heavenly worship, the new song of the redeemed, and the Second Coming. The icon of the heavenly liturgy reminds the faithful that the new song is the eternal praise of the Lamb.
Spiritual Fruit 🍇
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Sing the new song of salvation. Let your life declare the marvellous things that God has done in Christ.
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Make a joyful noise before the Lord. The new song is not quiet. It is the loud praise of the redeemed.
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Let all creation join the praise. The sea, the floods, and the hills are called to rejoice in the coming of the Lord.
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Rejoice that the Lord cometh to judge. The judgment is the establishment of righteousness for which the creation longs.
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Worship with the harp and the voice of a psalm. The new song is both the music of the Church and the song of the heart.
Teacher's Notes
- Timing: 10 minutes for the new song of salvation, 15 minutes for the joyful noise of all the earth, 15 minutes for the creation that rejoices before the Judge, 10 minutes for lectionary and application.
- Where to linger: Psalm 97:1-3 and 97:7-9.
- Key phrase to say slowly: “O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things.”
- Pastoral warning: do not use this Psalm to promise the absence of judgment. The new song is the song of those who await the righteous Judge.
Glossary
- New song: The song of the redeemed in Christ, the song of the new creation.
- Right hand and holy arm: The mighty power of God that brings salvation.
- Marvellous things: The incarnation, cross, and resurrection of Christ.
- Floods clap their hands: The whole creation joins in the praise of the Lord.
Translation and Source Notes
Embedded Scripture is Brenton’s English Septuagint, Psalm 97. The study title uses NKJV/Masoretic numbering first, Psalm 98, with LXX 97 in parentheses. Local lectionary rows cited here preserve printed Psalm 98 references.
Sources
Primary sources: Brenton Septuagint, Psalm 97; Isaiah 52:7-10; Revelation 15:3-4; St Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 98 in the older English numbering tradition corresponding to LXX Psalm 97; Theodoret of Cyrus, Commentary on Psalm 98 in the Hill translation.
Coptic Orthodox / liturgical sources: Coptic Orthodox lectionary lectionary references, katameros readings, and copticchurch.net readings index for printed Psalm 98 rows.