“A PSALM CELEBRATING THE REIGN OF THE LORD” PSALM 98:1-9

What an awesome psalm of praise we have for our study.  This psalm gives us a grand invitation to praise the name of our God.  May I ask this thought-provoking question – “Is He worthy of our praise?”  As I look back over my life, I want to “bless His name” for blessing my life with the gift of salvation; and for that reason, I am going to join in with the psalmist in blessing the name of the Lord, when he said – “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;  so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1-5).  The word “bless” means “to speak well of.”  And we who are saved, have plenty to say about the Lord’s abundant blessings He has provided to us.

In this wonderful psalm, mainly in verses 1-3, the psalmist exhorts his audience to render praise to God because of His awesome power in providing salvation.  He enthusiastically enjoins us to rejoice by saying “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” (v. 1).  The Lord provided His salvation because of His mercy and His faithfulness demonstrated toward His people.  As it relates to our salvation, I am thankful for God’s rich mercy, for Ephesians 2:4-5 states: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).”

Yes, we need to thank the Lord for His mercy and His grace as it relates to our salvation!  Having praised God for His power in salvation, the psalmist calls upon the earth to rejoice loudly in anticipation of the Lord’s Kingship (vv. 4-8).  Verse 4 begins with the exhortation – “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”

The psalmist calls upon the stringed instruments, the brass instruments, and finally nature to rejoice.  During Christ’s reign in the Millennium, nature will rejoice because it will be released from the bondage it is under (Romans 8:20). The psalmist concludes this psalm by giving a reason why people should praise the Lord, for verse 9 states:  “Before the LORD; for He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity.”

May God Bless!