A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 98
PSAL. XCVIII.
THis Psalme is an exhortation to Jew and Gentile, to rejoyce and blesse the Lord for Christs coming, to set up his Kingdome in the world. The exhortation is thrice pressed. 1. In proper termes, requiring the Church to sing for joy, with reasons adjoyned, ver. 1, 2, 3. Then it is repeated, and musical instruments called for, to shew that by humane voice the matter of the joy which is in Jesus Christ, is inexpressible, ver. 4, 5, 6. 3. To shew that neither voice of man, nor musical instruments are sufficient to expresse the joy which cometh by Christs Kingdome: the whole creatures are called unto this work of rejoycing, and setting forth his glory, ver. 7, 8. And the reason is given, because Christ cometh to set up, and exercise his Kingdome in righteousnesse, ver. 9.
Ver. 1. OSing unto the LORD a new song, for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand and his holy arme hath gotten him the victory.
2. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousnesse hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3. He hath remembred his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
The exhortation to sing unto the Lord, who is Christ, hath five reasons adjoyned. The first is, because he hath wrought the work of Redemption wonderfully. The next is, because he hath done his work by conflict with his enemies, and hath gotten the victory, ver. 1. The third, because he hath caused to preach his salvation to the Gentiles, ver. 2. The fourth, because he hath performed his promises made to the Jewes. And the fifth, because he hath made all the earth to see the salvation, which God in Covenant with his Church hath wrought for his people, ver. 3. Whence learne, 1. The joy which Christ doth bring, can never waxe old: but because mercies through him are everlasting, and the persons who have share in this joy, are made new, and all things unto them are made new; therefore the song and joy also shall be made new: O sing unto the Lord a new song. 2. Salvation brought by Christ, and the work of Redemption wrought by him, is a most wonderful work; for it is brought about by the incarnation of God, by the painfull suffering and shamefull death of God inearnate; by whose stripes we are healed, and by whose death and resurrection we have life, and immortality given unto us: For he hath done marvellous things. 3. It is by battell against the enemies of our salvation that we are delivered: for Christ hath wrestled with the guilti, nesse, merit, and punishment of our sins; wrestled with the curse of the Law, with Satan, death and hell; and whatsoever could hinder our Redemption and Salvation, and hath gotten unto himselfe the victory to our advantage; His right hand, and his holy arme hath gotten him the victory. 4. No creatures help hath our Lord used in this work, but done all immediately by his own divine power, being God Omnipotent; His right hand, and his holy arme hath gotten him the victory. 5. The glory of the salvation of man, by this meanes is most justly to be ascribed to him alone, and to be called his salvation; because he devised it, and brought it about immediately by himself, and causeth to proclaime it in his own Name to the world by the preaching of the Gospel: so it is in all these respects his salvation: The Lord hath made known his salvation. 6. The way how Christ maketh known his salvation, and maketh us partakers of his salvation, is by making known his righteousnesse, or the righteousnesse of faith; and making us partakers thereof by the preaching of it among the Gentiles; His righteousnesse hath …e openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 8. Whatsoever promise he hath made to the Jewes, he doth not forget it; but whatsoever cloud is come upon that Nation, all the mercies and promises made to them, shall all be performed: He hath remembred his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel. 9. The fulnesse of the Gentiles shall be made partakers of the Covenant of Grace, with the true Church of the Jewes; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Ver. 4. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoyce, and sing praise.
5. Sing unto the LORD with the harp: and the voice of a Psalm.
6. With trumpets and sound of cornet: make a joyful noise before the LORD the King.
From the repeating of the exhortation to the whole earth, Jewes and Gentiles, and calling formusical instruments to expresse this joy, whereby the paedagogie of the Church under the ceremonial law, (which now is abolished) taught them the greatnesse of the spiritual joy of Christs coming. Learn, 1. The joy of faith, the joy allowed unto beleevers in Jesus Christ, is unspeakable and full of glory, which cannot be exp essed by words or humane voice; for this the varie y of musical instruments in Gods praise, at the offering of the sacrifices, did shadow forth under the law; and here it is signified by this exhortation; to sing with the harp, trumpet a…d cornet; and that with special relation to Christ, as King in Sion: Make a joyful noise before the Lord the King.
Ver. 7. Let the sea roare, and the fulnesse thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein.
8. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.
In the exhortation directed to the dumb creatuees, sea, floods and hills, that they should utter Songs of joy; …, 1. The setting forth the praise of Christ for the Redemption of sinners, may not only furnish work to all reasonable creatu…s, but also if every drop of water in the sea, and in every river and flood, every fish in the sea, every fowle of the aire, eve…y living creature on the earth, and whatsoever else is in the world: if th…y all had reason and ability to expresse themselves; yea, and if a… the hills were able by motion and gesticulation to communicate their joy one to another; there is work for them all to set out the praise of Christ; for, Let the sea roare, and the fulnesse thereof: the world, and they that dwell therein: Let the floods clap their hands, &c. doth import so much. 2. As the Lord can never be sufficiently praised for salvation through Christ: so cannot any hearers dutifully, and as becomes them, hear this doctrine without great jov or stirring up themselves to rejoyce therein: for if senselesse creatures in their own kinde be called upon to rejoyce, much more sinful men, to whom the graçe of Christ is offered, and for whom the work of Redemption is wrought.
Ver. 9. Before the LORD, for he cometh to judge the earth: With righteousnesse shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
The reason of all this joy is rendered in this, that Christ is coming to judge the earth and the world righteously, and to judge his own people in special. Whence learn, 1. All the joy conceived for the Redemption and Salvation wrought by Christ, and all the joy which floweth from his righteous Government, should be offered unto God in sincerity, as a part of worship and thankful acknowledgement of his gracious gift: for the exhortation is not to rejoyce simply, but, to rejoyce before the Lord. 2. Christ is very God, essentially JEHOVAH, before he be incarnate: and when he cometh into the world, by assuming our …ature, he is the same: Rejoyce before the Lord or Ichovah, for he cometh to judge the earth: that is, Christ who is Iehovah cometh to judge the earth. 3. It was soretold, that the work of governing the Church, and of …uling the whole earth for the Churches behoof, is committed unto Christ incarnate, or to Christ coming into the world; He comcth to judge the earth. 4. Christ shall guide the whole world, so as all wrongs shall be condemned, and be taken order with: his own people shall have injuries done to them avenged, and themselves directed, protected and comforted; With rightcousucsse shall he judge the world. 5. As Christ shall reward every man according as his works have been, and do no man wrong: so shall he make his own people righteous, and followers of the rule of equity; With righteousnesse shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.