Sing For Joy – Psalm 98

The Israel-centric aspect of Scripture is explained by Paul in Romans 11.  Israel is the natural branches of the vine God has planted and is growing into His kingdom, but Gentiles have been grafted in.  Yet when Israel comes to her senses and receives her Messiah it will be like life from the dead for all the world.  Israel’s conversion will be the blessing of the whole world.  All the promises of Scripture to Israel will be fulfilled and all nations will be blessed through her, as well.

A Psalm.

Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!  His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.  The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.  He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.  All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!  Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!  With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!  Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.  (Psalm 98 ESV)

Yahweh has performed a marvelous salvation for Israel and this has become known to all the nations, proving His covenant faithfulness to Israel.  All the earth, not just Israel, should join in the joyous song of praise to Him, even nature itself, because this anticipates Yahweh’s coming rule in righteousness over all the earth.  As the ESV Study Bible note says, “Human beings were made to submit to God’s rule and to govern the creation in wisdom and love; when they acknowledge God’s kingship, they and the rest of the creation will flourish.”