O Sing To The LORD A New Song
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
O Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory ...
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it,
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands,
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
-- Psalm 98:1, 7-9a
Theme: Exuberant praise for our victorious God
Outline
1-3 -- Praise the Lord for the redemption of Israel.
4-6 -- Let all the earth praise the true king, Yahweh.
7-9 -- Let all nature rejoice at his coming!
Notes
• Kingship of God/Enthronement
• This psalm expresses the gratitude and jubilation of Israel for its return from exile in Babylon.
• An eschatological hymn praising God for the coming redemption of the world (including people and planet).
For Reflection
• Notice the exuberant praise of God calling for nature to join in! There is a real kinship felt with nature under a common creator, having its proper good place in the coming redemption. This creates a respect and a will to be good stewards of the creation about us, something sadly forgotten by many Christians. Let us rejoice for nature's redemption at God's hands, too.
• "He has done marvelous things" (v. 1). To study the Old and New Testaments enables one to begin to see the marvels in the otherwise rugged and bloody story of Israel, and in the gift of Jesus Christ and the Spirit's work with the apostles. The marvel is the grace, patience, and steadfast love of God and the glorious plans he has in store.
• It is sufficient reason to praise God every day, even on the worst days.
Prayer
Lord God, you are making all things new. Each song we sing of your praise is a new event, a foretaste of the glories to come, where, through the victorious death and resurrection of your beloved Son, we, with all nature, will jubilantly serve you in loving harmony forever. Amen.
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory ...
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it,
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands,
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
-- Psalm 98:1, 7-9a
Theme: Exuberant praise for our victorious God
Outline
1-3 -- Praise the Lord for the redemption of Israel.
4-6 -- Let all the earth praise the true king, Yahweh.
7-9 -- Let all nature rejoice at his coming!
Notes
• Kingship of God/Enthronement
• This psalm expresses the gratitude and jubilation of Israel for its return from exile in Babylon.
• An eschatological hymn praising God for the coming redemption of the world (including people and planet).
For Reflection
• Notice the exuberant praise of God calling for nature to join in! There is a real kinship felt with nature under a common creator, having its proper good place in the coming redemption. This creates a respect and a will to be good stewards of the creation about us, something sadly forgotten by many Christians. Let us rejoice for nature's redemption at God's hands, too.
• "He has done marvelous things" (v. 1). To study the Old and New Testaments enables one to begin to see the marvels in the otherwise rugged and bloody story of Israel, and in the gift of Jesus Christ and the Spirit's work with the apostles. The marvel is the grace, patience, and steadfast love of God and the glorious plans he has in store.
• It is sufficient reason to praise God every day, even on the worst days.
Prayer
Lord God, you are making all things new. Each song we sing of your praise is a new event, a foretaste of the glories to come, where, through the victorious death and resurrection of your beloved Son, we, with all nature, will jubilantly serve you in loving harmony forever. Amen.
