Psalm 98 - The ends of the earth

Read: Psalm 98 vs 1-9

Every day is a new day. Every morning we step into a day that we have never been in before. The life of faith is a living thing. Jesus doesn’t call us to stand still, He calls us to follow Him. So it makes sense that time and again the book of Psalms invite to sing ‘a new song’ to the LORD, and to find new ways of expressing our thankfulness to the LORD for what he has done, what he is doing, and what we trust He will do. It’s an amazing thought that even at the end of all things we find God’s people still singing new songs to Him (Revelation 5:9, 14:3).

Psalm 98 is one of these ‘new song’ Psalms (see also Psalm 33:3, 40:3, 96:1). God’s people never tire of singing to Him and they never tire of singing of His ‘salvation’. That word as it is used in the Bible is a very personal word. Being ‘saved’ is something that transforms us in the very core of who we are (Acts 16:31). But that word is also a very big word in the Bible, a very expansive word, a word that is always reaching beyond who we are and where we are.

When Jesus called His first disciples to follow Him, He immediately made it clear to them that he didn’t only want to save them, He wanted to save others through them. So He said:

‘Come, follow me … and I will send you out to fish for people.’

From beginning to end in the Bible God saves people so that He can save more people. Psalm 98 catches this with its declaration (vs 2) that ‘The LORD has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations.’

Yes, in the Old Testament context, God showed His love to one people (Israel) but this was always done with the ‘ends of the earth’ in view (vs 3).

Harps, trumpets, ram’s horns, the mighty oceans, rivers ‘clapping their hands’, mountains ‘singing for joy’, there is nothing in all creation that is not embraced by, and that cannot respond to God’s steadfast love; and so another song is written and sung praising God for all that He is and for all that He does.

Prayer: Father, what a wonderful thought today to imagine all of creation singing new songs of praise to You. May You be glorified today in my life and in the world around. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.