Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Scripture

If you have your Bible with you, I would implore you to open it to Psalm 98.

It is vitally important for you to see it because God reveals His glory in His Word producing God-centered worship in us.

Place in Psalms

Introduction - Psalms 1-2

Book 1 - Psalms 3-41

Book 2 - Psalms 42-72

Book 3 - Psalms 73-89

Book 4 - Psalms 90-106

Psalm 93-100 - Celebrating Yahweh’s Kingship

Book 5 - Psalms 107-145

Grand Doxology - Psalm 146-150

Purpose of Book

Yahweh is the King and He rules over all therefore strive for faithful obedience to His teachings waiting for the Messianic King

Main Point

Worship the faithful Lord as we eagerly anticipate His greatest act of deliverance at the final judgment

Outline

Psalm 98:1-3 - The Lord Delivers

Psalm 98:4-6 - Praise the Lord

Psalm 98:7-9 - The Lord will Judge

Psalm 98:1-3 - The Lord Delivers

1a Oh sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things!

Oh sing to the Lord a new song

The psalmist is COMMANDING the congregation to celebrate the Lord’s victory, but the details of the victory are not specified

The reason for the ambiguity is because the Lord has saved them multiple times

The Exodus

Sennacherib

Return from captivity

A new song describes the reality of His people experiencing the salvation of God afresh leading to passionate worship

For he has done marvelous things

Supernaturally saving His people

Only He can save in the way the psalmist describes

1b His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

Metaphorical language revealing His power as the Divine Warrior

Deliverance could have only been done by Yahweh Himself

Salvation here does not refer to saving grace from sin, but military victory

2 The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

The deliverance of Israel by God was not meant simply for Israel

God saving Israel was meant to be observed by all the nations

Righteousness is putting right what is wrong - God would right the wrong done to Israel revealing His righteousness to the nations

3a He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.

The driving force for God’s salvation for Israel is His love and faithfulness

Remembered means to act on the covenant promises He made to His people

Love and faithfulness are one idea revealing God’s faithful covenant love towards His own

3b All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Christ Connection - God has miraculously delivered you!

James Boice

The single greatest problem you and I have is our sin, not a lack of self-esteem or accomplishment or anything else.

Sin both separates and destroys.

It separates us from God, who is the source of all good, and it destroys relationships.

In the end it will bring us to that final place of all separation, hell.

Remember as the Israelites remember

Psalm 98:4-6 - Praise the Lord

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Make a joyful noise - command

Call for a festal jubilation as Yahweh is depicted as the One coming for salvation and judgment

All the earth

God delivering Israel is meant for the sake of all the people and all of the people are commanded to worship the Lord as the true King

Break forth - command

Sing praises - command

5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!

Sing praises - command

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Make a joyful noise - command

Why does the author call the entire earth to joyous praise of God?

Because He is the all-sufficient Savior

The praise of the congregation was so loud and enthusiastic that it could be heard from a great distance away

Christ Connection - Worship Jesus as the true and only King of kings and Lord of lords

John Wesley exhorted the early Methodists: “Sing lustily, and with good courage.

Beware of singing as if you were half dead or asleep; but lift up your voice with strength.”

Half-hearted worship reveals a heart who has no share in the Kingdom of God

The shout of worship is in response to the Lord saving you and bringing you into the New Covenant!

Psalm 98:7-9 - The Lord will Judge

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!

8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9a before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

9b He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Righteousness

The highest standard of rightness

Understood by Abraham regarding Sodom and Gomorrah

Why is a new song necessary?

Future judgment riding creation of evil, corruption, and sin

Christ Connection - Jesus is the great Judge who will execute justice at the end

Psalm 98 will Become a Reality at the End

Main Point

Worship the faithful Lord as we eagerly anticipate His greatest act of deliverance at the final judgment

How Should We Live in Light of Psalm 98?

All creation sits under the weight of sin, but we long for the fulfilment of Psalm 98 where Christ, the One True Righteous King, wars against His enemies freeing us from sin, evil, and corruption so worship the One who has eternally delivered you from the bondage and weight of sin