Celebrating God's Salvation: A New Song of Worship

Devotional

Day 1: The New Song of Worship

Worship is not a static act but a dynamic expression of our relationship with God. Psalm 98 calls us to sing a new song, not merely in terms of melody or lyrics, but in the freshness and vitality of our worship. This new song reflects the ongoing work of God in our lives, celebrating His marvelous deeds with renewed passion and creativity. As we experience God's grace and power, our worship should be vibrant and alive, continually renewed by these experiences. This is a call to let our worship be a living testimony of God's active presence in our lives. [02:43]

Psalm 40:3 (ESV): "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."

Reflection: What is one new way you can express your worship to God this week, reflecting His ongoing work in your life?

Day 2: God's Salvation for All Nations

God's redemptive work transcends boundaries, reaching beyond a single people or place. Psalm 98 emphasizes that His salvation and righteousness are revealed to all nations, urging believers to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. This universal call to proclaim His salvation is both a prophecy and an exhortation, reminding us of the global nature of God's redemptive plan. As believers, we are invited to participate in this mission, sharing the message of hope and salvation with those around us and beyond. [06:29]

Isaiah 49:6 (ESV): "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Reflection: Who is one person outside of your immediate community that you can share the message of God's salvation with this week?

Day 3: Creation's Call to Praise

All of creation is invited to join in the worship of God. Psalm 98 poetically describes the sea, rivers, and hills as participants in this cosmic chorus, reminding us that God, as Creator, deserves praise from all He has made. This imagery invites us to see the natural world as a testament to God's glory and to join in this universal song of praise. As we observe the beauty and majesty of creation, we are reminded of our role in this grand symphony of worship, acknowledging God as the rightful recipient of all praise. [16:00]

Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

Reflection: How can you incorporate the beauty of creation into your worship this week, acknowledging God as the Creator?

Day 4: The Promise of Righteous Judgment

God's coming judgment is a reason for rejoicing, as it promises true justice and equity. In a world where justice is often flawed, the assurance of God's righteous rule offers hope and comfort to the oppressed. Psalm 98 anticipates this righteous judgment, not as something to fear, but as a source of hope and joy. This future judgment assures us that true justice will prevail, and God's fair and righteous rule will bring equity to all. As believers, we can find comfort in this promise, knowing that God's justice will ultimately be realized. [20:14]

Amos 5:24 (ESV): "But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

Reflection: In what area of your life or community do you long to see God's justice and righteousness prevail, and how can you pray for this today?

Day 5: Jesus as the Fulfillment of Psalm 98

Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 98. He has performed the greatest miracles, extends salvation to all, and will return to judge the world with righteousness. This psalm points to Jesus as the embodiment of God's marvelous works and the one who will bring about the promised righteous judgment. Our response should be one of eager anticipation and readiness for His return, living in a way that reflects His love and righteousness. As we await His return, we are called to live out the truths of this psalm, proclaiming His salvation and joining in the cosmic chorus of praise. [26:31]

Revelation 19:11 (ESV): "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war."

Reflection: How can you live in eager anticipation of Jesus' return, embodying His love and righteousness in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 98 is a powerful call to worship, celebrating God's marvelous works and His ultimate plan for salvation. This psalm, uniquely titled simply as "A Psalm," invites us to sing a new song to the Lord, recognizing His mighty deeds and the victory He has achieved through His right hand and holy arm. The concept of a new song is not just about singing something different but about expressing fresh, dynamic worship that reflects God's ongoing work in our lives. This is a reminder that our worship should be vibrant and alive, continually renewed by our experiences of God's grace and power.

The psalm progresses from a focus on Israel to a universal call for all the earth and creation to join in praise. God's salvation and righteousness are revealed to the nations, emphasizing the public and global nature of His redemptive work. This is both a prophecy and an exhortation for believers to proclaim His salvation to the ends of the earth. The psalmist envisions a time when all creation, from the seas to the hills, will join in this chorus of praise, acknowledging God as the Creator and rightful recipient of all worship.

The climax of the psalm is the anticipation of God's righteous judgment. This future judgment is not something to fear but to celebrate, as it promises justice and equity for all. In a world where true justice is often elusive, the assurance of God's fair and righteous judgment is a source of hope and joy. This psalm ultimately points to Jesus Christ, who embodies God's marvelous works, extends salvation to all nations, and will return to judge the world with righteousness.

Key Takeaways

1. The New Song of Worship: Worship should be a fresh and dynamic expression of our relationship with God. Just as the psalmist calls for a new song, our worship should reflect the ongoing work of God in our lives, celebrating His marvelous deeds with renewed passion and creativity. [02:43]
2. God's Salvation for All Nations: God's redemptive work is not confined to one people or place. The psalm emphasizes that His salvation and righteousness are revealed to all nations, urging believers to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. [06:29]
3. Creation's Call to Praise: All of creation is invited to join in the worship of God. The psalmist poetically describes the sea, rivers, and hills as participants in this cosmic chorus, reminding us that God, as Creator, deserves praise from all He has made. [16:00]
4. The Promise of Righteous Judgment: God's coming judgment is a reason for rejoicing, as it promises true justice and equity. In a world where justice is often flawed, the assurance of God's righteous rule offers hope and comfort to the oppressed. [20:14]
5. Jesus as the Fulfillment of Psalm 98: Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm. He has performed the greatest miracles, extends salvation to all, and will return to judge the world with righteousness. Our response should be one of eager anticipation and readiness for His return. [26:31]
** [26:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Introduction to Psalm 98
[01:00] - Parallels with Mary's Song
[01:54] - Singing a New Song
[03:19] - The Marvelous Works of God
[05:38] - Revelation of God's Victory
[07:30] - Proclaiming Salvation to the Nations
[10:11] - Joyful Praise with Music
[13:32] - Instruments of Worship
[15:46] - Creation Joins in Praise
[19:43] - The Coming Judgment
[24:50] - Psalm 98 and Jesus
[27:27] - Prayer and Conclusion

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Psalm 98

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 98
- Isaiah 42:10
- Revelation 5:9

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Observation Questions:

What does the psalmist mean by calling for a "new song" in Psalm 98:1, and how is this concept reflected in other parts of the Bible? [02:12]
How does Psalm 98 describe the progression of praise from Israel to all creation? [00:34]
What are the "marvelous things" mentioned in Psalm 98, and how are they connected to God's right hand and holy arm? [03:59]
How does the psalmist envision creation participating in the worship of God? [16:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

What might the psalmist be suggesting about the nature of worship when he calls for a "new song"? How can this idea be applied to modern worship practices? [02:43]
In what ways does Psalm 98 emphasize the public and global nature of God's salvation? How does this align with the Great Commission in the New Testament? [06:29]
How does the anticipation of God's righteous judgment in Psalm 98 provide hope and joy, rather than fear, for believers? [20:14]
How does the psalmist's vision of all creation praising God challenge or expand our understanding of worship? [16:00]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current worship practices. How can you incorporate the idea of a "new song" to make your worship more dynamic and reflective of God's ongoing work in your life? [02:43]
Consider the global nature of God's salvation. What are some practical ways you can participate in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth? [06:29]
In what ways can you find joy and hope in the promise of God's righteous judgment, especially in situations where justice seems elusive? [20:14]
How can you encourage others in your community to see worship as a vibrant and inclusive act that involves all of creation? [16:00]
Identify a specific area in your life where you can celebrate God's marvelous works. How can you express this celebration in your daily routine? [03:59]
Think about a time when you experienced God's mercy and faithfulness. How can you share this testimony with others to encourage them in their faith journey? [08:26]
How can you prepare yourself and your community for the return of Jesus Christ, as anticipated in Psalm 98? What steps can you take to live in eager anticipation of His return? [26:31]

Sermon Clips

The concept of the new song means that there should be something fresh, something dynamic about worship and the songs we sing to God. Now please understand, it's okay to sing songs that we've sung before, but they should also be included among songs that are new songs that are fresh expressions of what God has done for us. [00:02:38]

The new song has a reason to extol the great works of God, his marvelous things. It is an empty praise; it isn't singing for the sake of singing. The worship is connected to the life experiences of God's marvelous things, what we would just call the great miracles of God. [00:03:59]

The Lord has made known his salvation, his righteousness he has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his mercy and his faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. [00:05:44]

It's a prophecy of a coming day when all the earth will hear. Now we believe it, we believe that one day all the earth will know every tribe, every tongue, every language will have some from among them who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their savior. [00:07:02]

Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth, break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Again, verse 4 gives us this permission, so to speak, to give a joyful shout to God since the great news of God's marvelous things goes out to the ends of the earth. [00:10:14]

Let the sea roar and all its fullness, the world and all who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. Do you see that sense? The psalmist looks around him and sees the people of God joining in this joyful shout. [00:15:56]

The Lord God is the God of creation. Why should the sea add its roar to the sound of praise? Why should the rivers and the hills join the worship team? Because God created them, and we just need to come back to that understanding again and again. [00:17:33]

The strong and deep praise described in this psalm is not just for wonderful miracles that God may do in the sight of his people. That's the first sense of marvelous things mentioned in verse one, but God has also to be praised for the work he is about to do. [00:19:53]

The righteous rule and reign of God will be a welcome relief for all creation that has suffered under the sin and the rebellion of mankind. Brothers, sisters, it's a beautiful thing. God is going to return to this earth with righteousness. He shall judge the world and the peoples with equity. [00:21:01]

Jesus has done many marvelous things. Now we saw that phrase in verse 1, for he has done marvelous things, and we saw how essentially that meant miracles. God has done miracles. Let me tell you, no one has ever done more miracles or greater miracles than Jesus did, including the great miracle of his resurrection. [00:24:54]

In Jesus Christ, salvation goes out to the whole earth. Verse 3 tells us all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. We know that the heart of Jesus is that his people make disciples of all nations, even unto the ends of the earth. [00:25:32]

When there's judging to be done, it's Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who's going to be doing it. Jesus Christ will judge all the earth, so when it says there in verse 9, for he is coming to judge the earth, that's referring to the second coming of Jesus Christ. [00:27:00]

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