Sing A New Song

Psalm 98:1-9

A psalm.

1Sing a new song to the LORD,

for he has done wonderful deeds.

He has won a mighty victory

by his power and holiness.

2The LORD has announced his victory

and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

3He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.

The whole earth has seen the salvation of our God.

4Shout to the LORD, all the earth;

break out in praise and sing for joy!

5Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp,

with the harp and melodious song,

6with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.

Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!

7Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

Let the earth and all living things join in.

8Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!

Let the hills sing out their songs of joy

9before the LORD.

For the LORD is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice,

and the nations with fairness.

A young peasant girl named Mary had just gotten the shock of her life, and it would change her life forever. A being clothed in brightness appeared to her. After calming her fears, the angel announced that Mary would give birth to God’s own child, even though she was a virgin. “Nothing is impossible with God,” the angel told her.

It was all a bit much to deal with, but Mary was an extraordinary young woman. After conferring with her cousin Elizabeth (who was already miraculously pregnant with the child who would become John the Baptist), Mary composed a song of praise.

Nowadays a teenage minstrel would probably write something very introspective: “Something strange is happening to me.” But Mary understood that her situation was part of God’s great work in human history, and her song reflects this.

Perhaps the words of Psalm 98 inspired her. The psalm calls people to “sing a new song,” telling about God’s deeds, and Mary did just that. The psalm speaks of God’s “power and holiness,” and so does she. “He has remembered his promise,” says the psalm, and Mary adds, “He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful” (Luke 1:54). And there’s one more fascinating connection: The word for “victory” in Psalm 98:1 is related to the Hebrew word Yeshua. And that’s exactly what Mary named her son. It translates into Greek as “Jesus.”

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing.

ISAAC WATTS

Bible Networking

“Break out” in joyful praise (verse 4) is a favorite expression in Isaiah. (See Isaiah 44:23 and 55:12.) Also, this psalm is one great orchestra of praise, similar to that in Revelation 5:12-14.

Notable Quotable

“There are two levels to the scene; one, God’s day of power, at His coming; the other, its anticipation in every act of worship. The psalms we sing now are a rehearsal, and God’s presence among His worshipers is a prelude to His appearing to the world.”

DEREK KIDNER