Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 98

by Don R. Hender

This particular Psalm seems to be very scripturally or prophetically based and is assuredly a singing of one of the Prophecies of the Prophets. It would have little appreciation to the mindset of the Jews, who considered but themselves as God's chosen and elite people and the rest of the world as but 'dead stones' and dross. But with the influence of the Spirit of God, even a worthy Jew could have seen in it a universal application to the coming salvation of the promised Messiah, that all the world would be brought into God's salvation through Him.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

          CHAPTER 98
Sing unto the Lord—All the ends of the earth shall see his salvation—He cometh to judge all men with equity and righteousness.
This is a very Messianic Psalm which sings praises to the Salvation of the Lord which is to come in 'new' times unto all the ends of the earth—This prophetic Psalm speaks to the Messiah's mission of salvation, and eventual judgment applied to the whole earth—It is very panoramic in it perspective and likely beyond the grasp of the hardened Jew.

A Psalm

1 O ^aSING unto the LORD a new song^a; for he hath done marvellous things: his right ^bhand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The LORD hath made ^aknown his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the ^bsight of the ^cheathen.
3 He hath remembered his ^amercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth^a have seen the ^bsalvation of our God.

The LORD's Right Hand In the Old Testament, that God which the Hebrews did worship was Jehovah. But many understood, as did David, that his Lord Jehovah, had a 'Most High' LORD above him, that being God the Father of Spirits. Jehovah was his representative and did all things in his name and in his stead. Thus it is not always easy to divide the two out. But here, like in Psalms 110, it seems clear that it is speaking of God the Father of Spirits as the LORD and of course of Jehovah as Jesus Christ as being his 'Right Hand'. 1^a a new song Certainly this Psalm speaks of a 'new' disposition toward the nations of the earth. During the days of Israel, the 'heathen' of he land were ripened in iniquity unto destruction. And the Lord's command to Israel was to destory them. But this gave Israel and particully the Jews an exculsive attitude concerning themselves and all other people. They were God's chosen people and head and shoulders above all other people. They were the sons and daughters of Abraham. Thus to them the 'new song' that Jesus Christ would sing of redeeming love and salvation to all men who would come unto him, was a foriegn policy and actually not placed into effect until after the atonement was made and the Apostles where then also sent out to all the world, including the highly despised 'Gentiles' and 'Stangers'.
3^a the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth This verse seems to be a bit at cross concepts, as the house of Israel to the Jews would be but one select people, and all the ends of the earth would be everybody. Perhaps with one added enlightened phrase the verse could achieve a great meaning unto understanding. That is 'the house of Israel will be through whom all the ends of the earth' have seen or come to the salvation of our God. This of course make the verse directly applicable to that specific house of Israel, the tribe of Ephraim, upon whom that responsibility and the fulfillment of the covenant of the Father's and of Abraham has fallen particularly in the latter-days in relationship to the work of the atonement of Jesus Christ. And with such an application, it almost cries to have Christ included in that particular tribal affiliation through whom which this salvation to the worlds come, Ephraim. (See Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph) 4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5
   ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah
5^a TG Nature, Earth
   ^b TG Spirit Creation
   ^c TG Creation
   ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of
   ^e Moses 3:5

4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: ^amake a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5
   ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah
5^a TG Nature, Earth
   ^b TG Spirit Creation
   ^c TG Creation
   ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of
   ^e Moses 3:5

7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to ^ajudge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the ^bworld, and the people with equity. 4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5
   ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah
5^a TG Nature, Earth
   ^b TG Spirit Creation
   ^c TG Creation
   ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of
   ^e Moses 3:5

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 98 Sing unto the Lord—All the ends of the earth shall see his salvation—He cometh to judge all men with equity and righteousness.	This is a very Messianic Psalm which sings praises to the Salvation of the Lord which is to come in 'new' times unto all the ends of the earth—This prophetic Psalm speaks to the Messiah's mission of salvation, and eventual judgment applied to the whole earth—It is very panoramic in it perspective and likely beyond the grasp of the hardened Jew.
A Psalm
1 O ^aSING unto the LORD a new song^a; for he hath done marvellous things: his right ^bhand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made ^aknown his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the ^bsight of the ^cheathen. 3 He hath remembered his ^amercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth^a have seen the ^bsalvation of our God. The LORD's Right Hand In the Old Testament, that God which the Hebrews did worship was Jehovah. But many understood, as did David, that his Lord Jehovah, had a 'Most High' LORD above him, that being God the Father of Spirits. Jehovah was his representative and did all things in his name and in his stead. Thus it is not always easy to divide the two out. But here, like in Psalms 110, it seems clear that it is speaking of God the Father of Spirits as the LORD and of course of Jehovah as Jesus Christ as being his 'Right Hand'.	1^a a new song Certainly this Psalm speaks of a 'new' disposition toward the nations of the earth. During the days of Israel, the 'heathen' of he land were ripened in iniquity unto destruction. And the Lord's command to Israel was to destory them. But this gave Israel and particully the Jews an exculsive attitude concerning themselves and all other people. They were God's chosen people and head and shoulders above all other people. They were the sons and daughters of Abraham. Thus to them the 'new song' that Jesus Christ would sing of redeeming love and salvation to all men who would come unto him, was a foriegn policy and actually not placed into effect until after the atonement was made and the Apostles where then also sent out to all the world, including the highly despised 'Gentiles' and 'Stangers'. 3^a the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth This verse seems to be a bit at cross concepts, as the house of Israel to the Jews would be but one select people, and all the ends of the earth would be everybody. Perhaps with one added enlightened phrase the verse could achieve a great meaning unto understanding. That is 'the house of Israel *will be through whom* all the ends of the earth' have seen or come to the salvation of our God. This of course make the verse directly applicable to that specific house of Israel, the tribe of Ephraim, upon whom that responsibility and the fulfillment of the covenant of the Father's and of Abraham has fallen particularly in the latter-days in relationship to the work of the atonement of Jesus Christ. And with such an application, it almost cries to have Christ included in that particular tribal affiliation through whom which this salvation to the worlds come, Ephraim. (See Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph)	4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5 ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah 5^a TG Nature, Earth ^b TG Spirit Creation ^c TG Creation ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of ^e Moses 3:5
4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: ^amake a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.		4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5 ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah 5^a TG Nature, Earth ^b TG Spirit Creation ^c TG Creation ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of ^e Moses 3:5
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to ^ajudge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the ^bworld, and the people with equity.		4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5 ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah 5^a TG Nature, Earth ^b TG Spirit Creation ^c TG Creation ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of ^e Moses 3:5