Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day Proper 3 · Year A
Psalm 98
Psalm 98
December 25, 2025
Overview & Insights
“All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.” (Psalm 98:3)
The Saving Righteousness of the Divine King and the Cheers of Nature and the Nations 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
Psalm 98 Working Preacher
Notes that Isaac Watts turned this psalm into 'Joy to the World,' inviting all creation to sing a new song at the Lord's coming to judge with equity.
Psalm 98 Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed reflection on the psalm's summons to sea, rivers and hills to make joyful noise, good for a Christmas call to praise.
Psalm 98 Enduring Word · David Guzik
Evangelical verse-by-verse reading of the new song and the Lord's marvelous salvation seen by all the nations.
Background & Word Study
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why does Psalm 98 have the rivers clapping their hands?
Because the victory it celebrates is not only Israel’s. The sea roars, the floods clap and the hills sing together, creation joining the new song because the God who is coming to judge the world with righteousness is its maker as well as Israel’s.
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