Psalm 98 is another of the “royal songs” about Yahweh, the King (6). Its stanzas can be divided into past (1-3), present (4-6) and future (7-9) aspects. This song encourages me to get excited about a future event – the coming of the LORD to judge the earth (9). It calls me right now to “sing to the LORD a new song” (1a), “make a joyful noise,” and “break forth into joyous song and sing praise” (4). If I could play a musical instrument, I could “sing praises to Yahweh” with them (5-6). All creation is called to “roar” and “clap their hands” and “sing for joy” because of this future event of King Yahweh coming to set everything right (7-9). But how can I do this? If I’m honest, there are times when I don’t FEEL like singing. The joy is not there. The lips are silent because the heart is heavy. But these royal psalms help me to recalibrate my heart. So how can I sing anew and get excited about some future event that only God knows when it’s going to happen? I can do so by looking at what the LORD has done in the past. “He has done marvelous things” (1b) and “worked salvation” or victory all by himself (1b). He has “made his salvation known” and “revealed his righteousness” to the nations (2). “He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness” to his people with the result that “all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (3). When did he do that? The best display of God’s victorious salvation for his people Israel was in their deliverance or “salvation” from Egypt that, at the same time, was God’s victory over Pharaoh & his army. But I have an even greater “exodus” to look back to. My exodus happened at the cross of Calvary when Jesus died BOTH to set me free from sin and “work” salvation for me so that I wouldn’t have to work for it, but also to gain victory over Satan and his demonic powers. (See Colossians 2:13-15). Mine is indeed the victory of the blood-bought salvation that only Jesus Christ, God’s “right hand” and “holy arm,” could accomplish. As I meditate upon the events of this Holy Week and the victorious salvation Jesus Christ accomplished, I can’t help but sing!
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