A New Year.  A New Song.  

Psalm 98 – 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.
² The LORD has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
³ He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

⁴ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵ make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
⁶ with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

⁷ Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
⁹ let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity. (NIV)

Today’s reading is a familiar passage to many Christians.  Some scholars tell us that it was written to celebrate deliverance from captivity, while others tell us that it was prophetic in that it looked to Jesus.  I believe it is both.  Because of Jesus we have been delivered from captivity!  Let’s take a look at some of the verses from this great Psalm.

Verse 2: “The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.” Biblically speaking, righteousness refers to the things of God.  This verse tells us that the things of God have been revealed to the nations. They have revealed through the Good News of Jesus Christ! The word we often translate as nations might be better translates as ‘people’.  However, the thought behind the word is to describe all the different types of people.  In the Greek the word is ‘ethnos’, from which we get the word ethnic.  God’s offer of salvation through Jesus (the Good News) is offered to all the people of the earth.  We are told in Titus 2:11 – “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.”  God’s grace is for all people, and we must do what we can to get the word out to all people!

Verse 3: “He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel.”  Remembering that we who call on Jesus are part of the new Israel, this verse speaks of God’s promise to all people that was made throughout the centuries. The prophets said: people from many lands will come and honor you (Micah 7:12); and, my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night (Malachi 1:11).  The Apostle Paul said: God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures (Romans 1:2).  We should rejoice, for God is faithful to God’s promises! 

The remainder of the psalm speaks of all creation worshiping and celebrating what God has done.  Verse one, however, speaks to me in a powerful way: “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things.”  When I was a child, if I found myself talking to my mother in a way that was somewhat disrespectful (surely a rare occasion!), my mother would say, ‘you better change your tune, young man!’  This verse reminds me that I have good reason to change my tune – today and everyday!  The song in our hearts should be a song of praise.  The victory has been won, salvation is here, and we are made right with God!  That’s Good Stuff! 

Here is a great New Year’s Resolution – let the Good News of Jesus Christ change your tune.  Today, let’s sing a new song!

Posted by Ramón Torres