Psalm 98
"Sing to the LORD a new song"
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Psalm 98 calls for a new song because something new has happened: God's right hand and holy arm have won a victory. He has made His salvation known to the nations and remembered His love and faithfulness to Israel. The call goes out to all the earth — to burst into song, make music, shout for joy. And even the sea, the rivers, and the mountains are summoned to join in. He comes to judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Where it is in the Bible: Psalm 98
Before You Read
Who wrote it. Anonymous — "A Psalm."
What it is. A pure praise psalm — short, confident, expanding outward from Israel to all nations to all creation.
What it's about. Sing a new song. The LORD has done marvelous things. His salvation is now visible to the nations. The whole earth sings — then the rivers, the mountains, the sea.
When the church sings it. At Christmas and on Sundays in Ordinary Time.
Map of the Psalm
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sing to the LORD | 98:1–3 | Sing a new song — He has done marvelous things; all nations have seen |
| 2. Make a Joyful Noise | 98:4–6 | All the earth breaks out in song with harp and horn |
| 3. Let the Creation Sing | 98:7–9 | The sea roars, rivers clap, mountains sing — the LORD is coming to judge |
Section by Section
Section 1 of 3Sing to the LORD
"Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory" (98:1).
A new song for a new act. God's arm — His own power — has accomplished salvation.
"The LORD has proclaimed His salvation and revealed His righteousness to the nations" (98:2).
What God did for Israel is now visible to the whole world. The salvation is not hidden.
"He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (98:3).
The love and faithfulness were promised. Now they are fulfilled — and the ends of the earth are witnesses.
Section 2 of 3Make a Joyful Noise
"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth—let your cry ring out, and sing praises!" (98:4).
The call to Israel becomes a call to all the earth.
"Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, in melodious song with the harp" (98:5).
"With trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn shout for joy before the LORD, the King" (98:6).
Harp, voice, trumpets, horn — every instrument, every voice. The worship is total.
Section 3 of 3Let the Creation Sing
"Let the sea resound, and all that fills it, the world, and all who dwell in it" (98:7).
The invitation goes beyond humans to creation itself.
"Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy" (98:8).
Rivers with hands, mountains with voices — the whole created order is personified in its praise.
"before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity" (98:9).
The reason creation rejoices: He is coming to judge with righteousness and equity. A just judge is not feared — He is welcomed.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Sing to the LORD a new song" (98:1) | A new act of God calls for new praise — the old songs are not enough for what He has done. |
| "His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory" (98:1) | God saved by His own power, not through human effort or merit. |
| "all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (98:3) | What started as Israel's story is now visible to the whole world. |
| "Let the rivers clap their hands" (98:8) | Creation is not passive — it participates in praising its Maker. |
| "He will judge the world with righteousness" (98:9) | Judgment is not a threat to those who long for justice — it is the hope that everything wrong will be made right. |
Back Then
Psalm 98 is closely related to Psalm 96 — both call for a new song, both expand worship from Israel to all nations to creation. They may have been used at the same festival occasion.
"He has remembered His love and faithfulness" (98:3) — the Hebrew words are hesed (steadfast love, covenant faithfulness) and emet (truth, reliability). These are the two great attributes of God in the Old Testament, announced to Moses at Sinai (Exodus 34:6).
"Let the rivers clap their hands" (98:8) — Isaiah uses similar language in the new creation (Isaiah 55:12). The image of creation joining human praise is not poetry alone — it looks forward to a restored world.
Literal Reader Alert
"Rivers clap their hands" (98:8) — Rivers don't have hands. This is poetic personification — the same move as "the mountains melt like wax before the LORD" (97:5). It is a way of saying that praise overflows language and human capacity. All creation is caught up in it.
"He comes to judge" (98:9) — Why does creation rejoice at the prospect of judgment? Because creation has been subject to disorder, decay, and injustice (Romans 8:20–22). A righteous judge coming to set things right is not a threat — it is the answer to creation's long groan. The mountains and rivers are not afraid of this judge.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Israel | Astonished | God's salvation is now visible to the whole world (98:3) |
| All the earth | Joyful | Called to burst into song with every instrument (98:4–6) |
| Creation | Participating | Rivers, mountains, sea — all joining the chorus (98:7–8) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does this psalm speak into? Tap one.
I want to worship
Sing a new song. Shout for joy. Every instrument, every voice.
I feel like God's work is invisible
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
I'm longing for justice
He is coming to judge in righteousness and equity. Creation rejoices at that.
Praise feels small
Let the sea roar. Let the rivers clap. Let the mountains sing. Your voice is part of something enormous.
You Might Have Heard
"Judgment Day is something to dread."
What's true: Judgment is serious, and for those who have lived against God it is sobering.
What the passage is mainly about: Psalm 98 presents the coming judgment as the reason for the earth's joy. The mountains sing because He comes to judge. Creation has been waiting for a righteous judge to set things right. This is the hope, not the terror. Those who love justice welcome the one who judges with equity.
Where Jesus is: The early church read Psalm 98 as pointing to Christ. His salvation — accomplished by His own right hand and holy arm (the cross and resurrection) — has been revealed to the nations. He is the coming judge who will bring equity to the whole earth. Luke 2:30–31 quotes Isaiah's version of this same psalm: "My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all peoples."
Good News
"He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (98:3).
He remembered. He came through. What He promised — love and faithfulness — He delivered. And the whole world is invited to see.
Psalm 98: sing a new song — He has done wonders. All the earth sings, harp and horn. The rivers clap, the mountains rejoice — He is coming to judge the world with righteousness and equity.
Big Idea
Psalm 98: sing a new song — God's right hand has worked salvation, visible to all nations. All the earth, all instruments, all creation — sing. He comes to judge the world in righteousness and equity.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It appoints Psalm 98 on Christmas Day and on the Sixth Sunday of Easter in Year B.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Sixth Sunday of Easter Year BPsalm, Psalm 98
- Lectionary 32 Year CPsalm, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98
- Lectionary 33 Year CPsalm, Psalm 98
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Psalm 98, explained in plain words. Sing a new song — God's right hand has won the victory, visible to all nations. All creation sings. He comes to judge the world in righteousness. About 10 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/psalm-98/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church