Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Day Mass · Year B
Psalm 98:1, 2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6 (3c)
Sing to the Lord a New Song
December 27, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.” (Psalm 98:1)
Most of this psalm of Yahweh’s kingship is comprised of calls to praise (vv. 1a, 4–8), along with substantiating reasons that look to Yahweh’s past (vv. 1b–3) and future (v. 9) actions. Like Psalm 96, it opens with a general call for all the earth (v. 4; 96:1) to sing a new song (v. 1; 96:1) about Yahweh’s marvelous things/deeds (Hb. niplāʾôt , v. 1; 96:3) and salvation (v. 2; 96:2). It similarly contains three verses of commands to the human world to join in a ritual celebration of “the LORD, the King” (vv. 4–6; 96:7–9), and a closing section inviting the natural world to join in applauding his coming to judge the earth (vv. 7–9; 96:10–13).
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Commentary
Commentary on Psalm 98 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary commentary on the new song for the Lord's marvelous saving deeds, sung on Christmas Day.
Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 98 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on singing a new song because the Lord has made known his salvation to the nations.
Psalm 98:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentary on the new song and the Lord's right hand working salvation.
Background & Word Study
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why Psalm 98 or Psalm 78?
Psalm 98 calls for a new song to the Lord who “has done marvelous things,” his saving victory seen to the ends of the earth; Psalm 78 rehearses God’s deeds so the next generation will not forget. Both frame the cross as God’s marvelous, saving work to be proclaimed.
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