INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 98 A PSALM. This is the only psalm throughout the whole book which is so called, without any other additional word, epithet, or inscription. The Targum calls it a psalm of prophecy, or a prophetic psalm, as indeed it is; for it respects time to come, as Jarchi observes, even t... [ Continue Reading ]
O SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG,.... An excellent one unto the Lord Christ, on account of the great work of redemption and salvation wrought out by him; and because of the new and living way opened by him, and because of the new dispensation of the Gospel, which takes place through him, and for the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH MADE KNOWN HIS SALVATION,.... Which was appointed him, he undertook, came to perform, and has effected; this, though wrought out, is unknown to men, especially to the Gentile world, who had no prophecy, promise, or revelation of the Messiah, and salvation by him; but now this is made k... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH REMEMBERED HIS MERCY AND HIS TRUTH TOWARD THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL,.... His mercy promised them, in raising up a Saviour to them, one that should be the glory of them; and his truth, in fulfilling that and every other promise concerning him; see Luke 1:72, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH HAVE SEEN THE... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE UNTO THE LORD, ALL THE EARTH,.... That is, all the inhabitants of the earth, as the Targum, to whom the joyful sound of the Gospel comes; Psalms 95:1, MAKE A LOUD NOISE, REJOICE, AND SING PRAISE; exalt and extend the voice to the highest pitch, in the most musical and melodious... [ Continue Reading ]
SING UNTO THE LORD WITH THE HARP,.... Playing upon that at the same time: here and in the following verse is an allusion to Old Testament worship, and the manner of performing that; not that this should be done in New Testament times, only New Testament worship is expressed in Old Testament language... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH TRUMPET AND SOUND OF CORNET,.... The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions, render it WITH DUCTILE TRUMPETS, such as were made of silver, as the two trumpets for the calling of the assembly, Numbers 10:2 to which the allusion seems to be here, called "asosra" by Josephus c according... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE SEA ROAR, AND THE FULNESS THEREOF,.... Psalms 96:11, THE WORLD, AND THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN; men, the inhabitants of the world; that is, let them rejoice because this glorious King has taken to himself his great power, and reigns, Revelation 11:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE FLOODS CLAP THEIR HANDS,.... Or "rivers" e, dashing against their banks, as they pass along; a prosopopoeia, as the preceding and following, expressing great joy on account of the Messiah, the reigning King. Aben Ezra interprets this of men that are in rivers, as the sea; in the preceding ve... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE LORD, FOR HE COMETH TO JUDGE THE EARTH,.... Psalms 96:13, WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL HE JUDGE THE WORLD, AND THE PEOPLE WITH EQUITY; both at his first and second coming, and during the intermediate time; see the note as before. The only difference is, that in Psalms 96:13, it is said that... [ Continue Reading ]