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Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Day Mass · Year C

Psalm 98:1, 2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6 (3)

Sing to the Lord a New Song

December 25, 2027

Music Making Angels, Peter Paul Rubens
Music Making Angels, Peter Paul Rubens, about 1628Bildergalerie, Sanssouci, Potsdam
Angels on cloud either side of a burst of light: a viol bowed at the lower left, a lute at the lower right, a lute and a bassoon above them, flutes at the edge, and in the middle small children singing from a songbook held open across their knees.O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King.Peter Paul RubensRubens, who painted the players warm and solid and let the light do the singing.Bildergalerie, Sanssouci, PotsdamThe Bildergalerie at Sanssouci in Potsdam.Bildergalerie, Sanssouci, Potsdam
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 1:1-18Jn 1:1-18 orJohn 1:1-5, 9-14Jn 1:1-5, 9-14
Second ReadingHeb. 1:1-6Heb 1:1-6
First ReadingIsa. 52:7-10Is 52:7-10
Responsorial PsalmPs. 98:1, 2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6 (3)Ps 98:1, 2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6 (3)

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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Take it further: Psalm 98:1, 2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6 (3)

Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 98Commentary on Ps 98 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary noting that Isaac Watts turned this psalm into Joy to the World.

Psalm 98 Commentary: A New Song of SalvationPs 98 Commentary: A New Song of Salvation Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse reading of the new song and the Lord's marvelous salvation.

Psalm 98:1 CommentariesPs 98:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on the new song and the Lord's right hand working salvation.

Background & Word Study

Psalms 98 | Sefaria LibraryPs 98 | Sefaria Library Sefaria

Hebrew text alongside English weighing new song and the imagery of God's holy arm.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 98 - Catena Bible & CommentariesPs 98 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment reading the new song and the ends of the earth seeing salvation in Christ.

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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