Psalms 98 · The Lantern

A psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wonders; his right hand and his holy arm have won salvation for him.

Along with my prayers I now add book 10 to the Church History and dedicate it to you, my most consecrated Paulinus, and blazon you as the seal of the whole work.

His own right hand has saved for him. What he says is this: He saved men — not another's work, but his own; that is, what he had made for himself, he himself saved for himself. He had made man for salvation, who by his own fault had perished: this One died, that he might save man for himself by his own right hand. Here 'right hand' is put for power, and 'arm' for strength.

"O sing unto the Lord a new song" [Psalm 98:1]. The new man knows this, the old man knows it not. The old man is the old life, and the new man the new life: the old life is derived from Adam, the new life is formed in Christ. But in this Psalm, the whole world is enjoined to sing a new song.

Sing to the LORD a New Song

The LORD has made known his salvation; before the eyes of the nations he has revealed his righteousness.

He has remembered his loyal love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out and sing aloud and make music.

Rejoice in God, all the earth. Not Judea alone, but all the earth — rejoice in the Lord. Send forth the standards of the victorious army. Sing and exult and make melody. Sing — in thought; but make melody — that is, with all your members. Let the hand make melody in almsgiving, let the foot make melody by going about in good work.

"Sing joyfully to God, all the earth." What is it that an understanding of this great joy is likely to make clear? Why is it that, after God gave commandments so great, so terrifying and so awesome, he now invites the earth to a shout of joy? "Sing joyfully to God, all the earth," the text reads.What other reason is there than the following?

The phrase "Sing and exult and play the lyre" follows. Although these words seem to be similar, nonetheless they are separated by some distinction. Singing is shouting the praises to the Lord, as is befitting for the mouth of a serious Christian to do. Exulting is declaring the vows of the mind with great affection.

Make music to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the voice of a song.

With trumpets and the voice of the horn, shout before the King, the LORD.

Let the sea thunder, and its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it.

Let the rivers clap the palm; together let the mountains sing aloud

before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with uprightness.

It is prophesied here that the coming of the Lord will be the cause of great benefits to the nations, which have been proved to have actually accrued to them, through the manifestation of our Savior.

He shall judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in equity. Righteousness is set down, and equity. If righteousness is set down, and afterward equity, it is properly called εὐθύτης (euthytēs), 'straightness,' which makes the crooked straight. So he comes to judge in his righteousness, that what is crooked may in him be made straight.

"Before the Lord, for He has come; for He has come to judge the earth" [Psalm 98:9]. "The hills" signify the great. The Lord comes to judge the earth, and they rejoice. But there are hills, who, when the Lord is coming to judge the earth, shall tremble. There are therefore good and evil hills; the good hills, are spiritual greatness; the bad hills, are the swelling of pride.

Psalms98

Sing to the LORD a New Song