Psalm 98
Today’s Passage: Psalm 98
Psalm 98 was probably written after Israel had a major victory—perhaps a battle with another nation. In this physical victory, the Lord “has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” Psalm 98 continues in an amazing call for God’s people to worship and to celebrate the victorious King with a joyful noise.
Something to consider while studying the Psalms is not only when individual psalms were written, but when they were entered into the Psalter. Psalms in our Bible’s is a collection 5 books used for Temple worship. Our passage today is within book 4, which was compiled late in the Babylonian Exile. At the time this book was compiled people increasingly had a clear sense of expectation for God’s deliverance in the coming Messiah.
The original author likely had in mind celebrating the Lord’s glorious victory from some unknown engagement. However, those who added it to the Psalter understood that these words were far truer than the author even realized. Finally, we can look back at the Old Testament through the lens of the New and see Jesus has fulfilled these verses in an ultimate sense. This Psalm should drive our knees to the dirt and our hands to the sky in light of what God has done, is doing, and will still yet do.
Although a physical victory might have been in view, we understand that, through Christ, our spiritual victory is assured. Verse 2, “The Lord has made known His salvation” (The Hebrew word is yeshua, which is where we get the English name Jesus if you didn’t know what Jesus’ name meant), and we are now able to meet God standard of perfect righteousness, because of his lovingkindness (hesed, covenant love) in Jesus’ sacrificial atonement.
More than that, all of creation sings at what God has done (7–8). For those of us in Christ, we no longer need to fear God’s coming judgment, Christ has made a way for us to be in fellowship with God for eternity.
In the comments tell us what verse stood out and what most excites you about what God is doing in your life.
Written By: Tyler Short
Psalm 98 was probably written after Israel had a major victory—perhaps a battle with another nation. In this physical victory, the Lord “has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” Psalm 98 continues in an amazing call for God’s people to worship and to celebrate the victorious King with a joyful noise.
Something to consider while studying the Psalms is not only when individual psalms were written, but when they were entered into the Psalter. Psalms in our Bible’s is a collection 5 books used for Temple worship. Our passage today is within book 4, which was compiled late in the Babylonian Exile. At the time this book was compiled people increasingly had a clear sense of expectation for God’s deliverance in the coming Messiah.
The original author likely had in mind celebrating the Lord’s glorious victory from some unknown engagement. However, those who added it to the Psalter understood that these words were far truer than the author even realized. Finally, we can look back at the Old Testament through the lens of the New and see Jesus has fulfilled these verses in an ultimate sense. This Psalm should drive our knees to the dirt and our hands to the sky in light of what God has done, is doing, and will still yet do.
Although a physical victory might have been in view, we understand that, through Christ, our spiritual victory is assured. Verse 2, “The Lord has made known His salvation” (The Hebrew word is yeshua, which is where we get the English name Jesus if you didn’t know what Jesus’ name meant), and we are now able to meet God standard of perfect righteousness, because of his lovingkindness (hesed, covenant love) in Jesus’ sacrificial atonement.
More than that, all of creation sings at what God has done (7–8). For those of us in Christ, we no longer need to fear God’s coming judgment, Christ has made a way for us to be in fellowship with God for eternity.
In the comments tell us what verse stood out and what most excites you about what God is doing in your life.
Written By: Tyler Short
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