Psalm 98
Notes
The day of judgment is often referred to as the “day of Christ” (Phil. 1:10; 2:16) or “Day of the Lord” (1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:10). The Gospels point to Christ as the agent who will judge mankind (Matt. 16:27; 19:28; 25:31; Luke 9:26; 17:24; 22:69).
The OT hope for the future included a vision of a new king like David, called “the anointed one,” or “the Messiah” in Hebrew (2 Sam. 7:16; 22:51). The Prophet Isaiah intensified the promises and pointed to the Messiah yet to come (Isa. 7:13–14; cp. Pss. 45; 110). The book of Daniel contains a vision of One to whom was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, One that all peoples, nations, and languages would serve. His dominion is everlasting and shall never pass away. His kingdom shall never be destroyed (Dan. 7:13–14).
When Jesus Christ was born, His birth was announced in these categories. His earthly ministry then amplified these themes (Matt. 4:17; Luke 1:32–33).
Jesus established His kingship through His sacrificial death as each of the Gospels shows clearly. Pilate recognized more than he knew when he created the sign, King of the Jews, for the charge against Jesus. Jesus’ kingship finds its highest exercise as He gives the blessings He secured for His people through His atoning work (Rom. 8:32; Eph. 1:3–11, 20–22). Jesus will continue to reign as the second Person of the Trinity. His God/man personhood will not cease. Jesus Christ, the King, will reign as the God-man and will forever exercise His power for the benefit of the redeemed and for the glory of His kingdom.
John R. W. Stott has a useful description of the psalm’s three parts: (1) “God the Savior” (vv. 1–3), (2) “God the King” (vv. 4–6), and (3) “God the Judge” (vv. 7–9).
In The Treasury of David Charles Spurgeon tells of a little church in the county of Tyrone where a small, ragged boy came every Sunday, placing himself in the very center of the pews opposite the pulpit. The minister frequently tried to speak to him after the service because he seemed so attentive, but the boy always slipped away quietly and the minister was never able to find out who he was. The lad was missing for some weeks, and one day a man came to the church to see the minister. He wanted him to visit his son, who was dying. “I am really ashamed to ask you to go so far,” he said, indicating that his home was about six miles distant. “But he is an extraordinary boy, and he is refusing to see anyone but you. He talks about things I do not understand.”
The minister started out, trudging along the rural road in drenching rain, and at last came to the home, a poor hovel tucked into a desolate mountain valley. The man who had come for him was waiting at the door, and when the minister went in he found the boy lying in the corner on a straw mat. When he saw the minister he raised himself up, stretched out his frail little arms and said, “His own right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory” (from v. 1 of our psalm). Shortly afterward he died.
How great a victory has been achieved for us by Jesus! How great that it produces conquering faith even in a child.
I think of the way C. S. Lewis developed this idea in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In the first section of that book, when Narnia was under the power of the wicked Witch of the North, the land was in a state of perpetual winter. Spring never came. But when Aslan rose from the dead the ice began to melt, flowers bloomed, and the trees turned green. It is poetical writing, but it describes something that will happen. The rivers will indeed clap their hands. The mountains will indeed sing. And we will all join in. Hallelujah!