Psalm 98

Psalm 98
Psalm 98, the second Psalm about His millennial reign, celebrates the result of the Lord’s setting up His authority on earth. A new song is mentioned seven times in the Old Testament: twice in Book 1 of the Psalms (33 and 40); twice in the Fourth Book (96 and 98), and twice in the Fifth Book (144 and 149); once in Isaiah 42. Twice in the New Testament (Revelation 5:9,9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9) and 14:3) is this expression found. In these passages the song is of praise to God on amount of His victorious power. In Psalm 40:3,3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:3) the Lord Jesus as the obedient man is heard; but in the other five psalms mentioned, it is the believers, redeemed Israel —that are prompted to sing a new song.
The 98th Psalm calls for a new song, because of what the Lord Jesus has done,— i.e., since His taking the throne of Israel. Wondrous indeed will be the change in this poor world when He shall have taken over its government. There will be then a display of power coupled with holiness (verse 1), and righteousness (verse 2) such as has never been seen on this earth, “Salvation” (or deliverance) as ‘the glad portion of all who accept the last offer of free grace is now known; those who will have believed the Jewish messengers bringing the Word of God, and warned of the wrath to come, suffer shame and contempt, cruel persecution, and, perhaps, imprisonment because of their trusting in the Lord, will now be seen to be the truly blessed.
The house of Israel (not only the Jews, but the long lost 10 tribes), God’s earthly people, though they have long slept in the dust of the earth, will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:22And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)).
In dealing with these and with the nations (Matthew 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46)), His righteousness will be openly shown in the sight of the world (see Isaiah 53:1111He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)). Israel will thankfully own that His loving kindness and faithfulness, and nothing of their doing, are responsible for the favor and blessing which will have become theirs un the Lord’s return.
These considerations bring out the joyous expressions found in verses 4 to 9. Judgment there will necessarily be, but it will be of a character not before known by the world; with righteousness and with equity. There will be no partiality then; the rich and poor will fare alike, and no mistakes will be made, as man makes now.