Introduction to Psalm 98
Psalm 98 text: shiru l'YHWH shir chadash
Psalm 98 opens with the most characteristic liturgical invocation of the royal hymns of the Psalter: mizmor, shiru l'YHWH shir chadash ki nifla'ot asah, hoshi'ah lo yemino uzero'a qodsho — «A Psalm. Sing to YHWH a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him» (Ps 98:1 MT). The formula shir chadash («new song») does not designate a novel composition: in the biblical tradition, the new song is always the liturgical response to a new and definitive salvific act. The same incipit recurs in Ps 96:1 and Isa 42:10, and the Christian tradition sees in this theme the prefiguration of the eschatological song of Revelation (Rev 5:9). The text of Psalm 98 in the LXX version (Ps 97 LXX) is titled «A Psalm of David», confirming its placement in the Davidic collection.
Psalm 98 commentary: salvation revealed to the nations
The structure of Psalm 98 unfolds in three strophes: the saving action of YHWH (vv. 1–3), the universal invitation to praise with musical instruments (vv. 4–6), and the proclamation of cosmic judgment (vv. 7–9). Verse 2 is theologically central: hodi'a YHWH yeshu'ato, l'einei hagoyim gillah tzidqato — «YHWH has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations» (Ps 98:2 MT). The yeshu'ah is not private or tribal salvation: it is proclaimed l'einei hagoyim («before the eyes of the nations»), affirming the universal dimension of divine intervention. Verse 3 adds the covenantal dimension: zakhar chasdo ve'emunato l'veit Yisra'el, ra'u kol afsei aretz et yeshu'at Eloheinu — «He has remembered his hesed and his emunah toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God» (Ps 98:3 MT). The hesed and the emunah — steadfast love and faithfulness — are the two load-bearing attributes of the covenant theology.
The central section (vv. 5–6) invites instrumental praise: zammeru l'YHWH b'kinnor, b'kinnor v'qol zimrah, b'khatzotzrot v'qol shofar hari'u lifnei HaMelekh YHWH — «Make melody to YHWH with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody, with trumpets and the sound of the shofar make a joyful noise before the King, YHWH» (Ps 98:5–6 MT). The shofar is the covenantal instrument par excellence: its sound signals the Day of YHWH in prophetic tradition.
Psalm 98 explanation: judgment as cosmic joy
The final section of the Psalm transforms judgment into a joyful event: yiram hayam um'lo'o, tevel v'yoshvei vah, neh'aru yekhpe'u yachad, harim yeranenu — «Let the sea roar and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together» (Ps 98:7–8 MT). The mishpat («judgment») of YHWH is acclaimed by the whole creation, because yishpot tevel betzedek, ve'ammim bemeisharim — «he will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity» (Ps 98:9 MT). The tzedek of the Psalm resonates with the NT revelation: Paul affirms that in Christ «the righteousness of God has been manifested» (Rom 3:21) — the judge becomes part of the world he judges. The rabbinic tradition connects this cosmic vision to the principle that everything belongs to YHWH — as the blessing over food teaches: «the earth is YHWH's and the fullness thereof» (Ps 24:1), the foundation of the berakha before every meal.