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Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day Proper 3 · Year A

Psalm 98

Psalm 98

December 25, 2025

The Concert of Angels (Isenheim Altarpiece, left of the Nativity panel), Matthias Grünewald
The Concert of Angels (Isenheim Altarpiece, left of the Nativity panel), Matthias Grünewald, 1512-1516Musée Unterlinden, Colmar
A great angel kneeling at the front with a viol across its knee, and behind it, inside a gothic canopy crawling with carved prophets, a crowd of smaller angels playing, with a figure of light at the right. This is the left half of one panel; the right half, not shown here, is the Nativity.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.Matthias GrünewaldGrünewald, who gave the angels real instruments and real hands, and lit the whole thing from inside the canopy.Musée Unterlinden, ColmarThe Musée Unterlinden in Colmar.Musée Unterlinden, Colmar
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelJohn 1:1-14Jn 1:1-14
EpistleHeb. 1:1-4, (5-12)Heb 1:1-4, (5-12)
Old TestamentIsa. 52:7-10Is 52:7-10
PsalterPs. 98Ps 98

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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Take it further: Psalm 98

Commentary

Psalm 98Ps 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 98Ps 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 98Ps 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

Psalm 98 in Hebrew, with Jewish commentaryPs 98 in Hebrew, with Jewish commentary Sefaria

The Hebrew with translation and Jewish commentary, weighing 'new song,' 'salvation' and the imagery of God's right hand and holy arm.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 98, patristic commentaryPs 98, patristic commentary Catena

Patristic comment reading the 'new song' and the ends of the earth seeing salvation as fulfilled in the coming of Christ.

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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