18. O Sing Unto the LORD
Hymns: RHC 143 O Holy Night, 314 Near, Still Nearer, 106 Christ Liveth In Me, 147 Away in a Manger
PSALM 98
1 <A Psalm.> O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Ps. 98:1-9 KJV)
O Sing Unto the LORD
OUTLINE
(1) For He Saves! (v 1-3 )
a. Because He is Able to Save (v 1 )
i. By His Marvelous Works (v 1a )
ii. By His Favour (v 1b )
iii. By His Holiness (v 1c )
b. Because His Salvation is Make Known (v 2 )
i. Openly (v 2a )
ii. To the Nations (v 2b )
c. Because He Remembered Us (v 3 )
i. By His Mercy (v 3a )
ii. By His Faithfulness (v 3b )
(2) For He Rules as King! (v 4-6 )
a. By Our Worship – Submit to His Rule (v 4-5 )
i. With Praises (v 4a ,6b )
ii. With Rejoicing (v 4b )
iii. With Singing (v 4c )
iv. With Instrument (v 5a ,6a )
v. With a Psalm (v 5b )
(3) For He Sovereign Judge (v 7-9 )
a. By His Fearful Disposition (v 7 )
b. By His Joyful Creatures (v 8 )
c. By His Righteousness (v 9a )
d. By His Impartiality (v 9b )
INTRODUCTION
This is the only psalm with the title “A Psalm”, a song set to music, a song of praise. The theme of praise is the psalmist’s LORD, the covenantal name of God, addressed only by His children. It describes the blessedness of this relationship. How many times is the LORD, Jehovah used?
The Psalmist gives to us the cause for praise. He addresses the authority and works of His LORD. He saves! He rules! He judges! Do you know Him personally is the question before us! How well is that relationship you have with Him?
(1) For He Saves! (v 1-3 )
a. Because He is Able to Save (v 1 )
- i. By His Marvelous Works (v 1a )
- ii. By His Favour (v 1b )
- iii. By His Holiness (v 1c )
b. Because His Salvation is Make Known (v 2 )
- i. Openly (v 2a )
- ii. To the Nations (v 2b )
c. Because He Remembered Us (v 3 )
- i. By His Mercy (v 3a )
- ii. By His Faithfulness (v 3b )
1 A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
The psalmist by an emphatic voice sing to the LORD a new song – a song of praise for the goodness of God manifested in his life once again. Indeed, we have a new song to sing as we walk with our LORD. It is such a blessed walk as we pray, our Father in heaven answers and we praise Him for bringing us through yet another impasse in life’s pathway.
The word “victory” is the verb “to save” or “to deliver”. The experience of God’s deliverance is a marvelous testimony of His ability to help us. His right hand is His favour to help and His perfect holiness is the only remedy for our sinfulness.
The psalmist extols God’s works in his life and the life of His people. He is confident of his LORD performing the good work that has begun in his life. He puts in descriptive poetic language God’s working that it is marvelous – amazing, astonishing, magnificent, superb even breathtaking. This was shepherd’s experience when the angel appeared to them at our Saviour’s birth.
Luke 2:8-15 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
Truly, the LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly show in the sight of the nations. The spread of the gospel over the ages is unstoppable, this redemption plan of God to save sinners. For we cannot save ourselves except by His righteousness! Remember the Chinese character for “righteousness”?
The Chinese character (word) for righteousness (yi) is formed by putting two other characters on top of each other. The top character (yang) means lamb. The bottom character (wo) means me, self or I. When they are put together, the word righteousness (yi) is formed. True righteousness is gained therefore by putting self under the lamb Christ Jesus.
[http://foundationsforfreedom.net/Topics/Righteousness/Righteous18.html]
(2) For He Rules as King! (v 4-6 )
a. By Our Worship – Submit to His Rule (v 4-5 )
i. With Praises (v 4a ,6b )
ii. With Rejoicing (v 4b )
iii. With Singing (v 4c )
iv. With Instrument (v 5a ,6a )
v. With a Psalm (v 5b )
4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
Our LORD’S rule is not like human rulers. He is Merciful and He is Faithful. We can rely on Him to help us through life. Hence He is worthy of our worship, our total submission.
Worship is the best expression of love for our Master. He rules with a heart of love for God is love. Therefore we can submit to Him. Even in chastening, it is out of love so as to mould us to be like Him.
Hence, the psalmist praises His King with great joy in the heart, an overflowing of gratitude and gratefulness.
(3) For He Sovereign Judge (v 7-9 )
a. By His Fearful Disposition (v 7 )
b. By His Joyful Creatures (v 8 )
c. By His Righteousness (v 9a )
d. By His Impartiality (v 9b )
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
Verse 7 , the roaring of the sea speaks of God’s anger. We recall December 26, 2004 that Indian Ocean undersea earthquake, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing more than 225,000 people in eleven countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves of up to 30 meters (100 feet). It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand were hardest hit. With a magnitude of between 9.1 and 9.3, it is the second largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph. It triggered other earthquakes as far away as Alaska. It is a wake up call.
The Bible speaks clearly that before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, there will be earthquakes in diverse places. The warning sign intensifies and provides a constant reminder that His Second Coming is soon and He is returning as Judge. There is only one solution for men to escape the wrath of the LORD of hosts. It is in the ark of Jesus Christ. The LORD of hosts speaks to you today, “Turn ye unto me…and I will turn unto you.”
The creation groans as a result of God’s curse. One day, the curse will be lifted when the Judge of all judges returns, Romans 8:22-23 “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
Verse 8 ,there will come a time of full redemption but for now, when we observed the wonders of nature, we can see too the wonders of God’s finger crafting out the beauty of His Creation. Truly, we must bow in worship.
Verse 9 announces the LORD coming as Judge. We cannot earn our own righteousness. It is a gift!
CONCLUSION
May we therefore come with sacred joy! Amen.