Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Psalm 98:1 ESV

CONSIDER
Wonder can wear off. A Grand Canyon tour guide to whom the canyon has become a mere weekday office, was once a first-time visitor whispering in awe of its stunning scenery. Did this breathtaking landmark lose its magnificence? Of course not. And that’s why we’re commanded in Psalm 98:1 to sing a new song. Because this imperative is not necessarily regarding an original song; it means to sing as a response to a fresh or new awareness of God’s grace. When we come with “fresh eyes” to our Savior and his marvelous works, we resist the propensity to lose the wonder of our salvation. For more on responding again in wonder to what has already been done for us, listen (or re-listen) to Sunday’s message. And as this week’s video encourages us… “May we find ourselves being renewed in the wonder of his joyous kingdom.”

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How will I commit to respond to God’s work in a whole new way?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Psalm 98:1 ESV

HEBREW
נִפְלָא֣וֹת/nip̄·lā·’ō·wṯ: that which is extraordinary; impossible things

CONSIDER
In 1719 Isaac Watts sat with Psalm 98 in front of him and composed a masterpiece of poetry and theology. His retelling of the Psalm from a Christological perspective is now the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. Watts penned Joy To The World as the first of several poems in a collection celebrating the wonder of Christ’s work in the pages of the Psalms. And as he looked at life through the lens of Jesus, Watts began to see him everywhere.
The earliest references to Psalm 98 were connected to celebrating the Exodus. God was to be worshipped with a new song because he has done nip̄·lā·’ō·wṯ (extraordinary, miraculous, impossible things). He worked freedom for his people despite the unrelenting anger of their Egyptian oppressors and the unending shoreline of the Red Sea. This Hebrew word is a reminder that God hasn’t simply done the difficult – he has done the impossible! And Watts saw that God didn’t stop at rescuing his people from Egypt, but has worked salvation through his Son Jesus. This truth was why Watts instructed Heaven and nature to sing. Now, which would be the more nip̄·lā·’ō·wṯ to occur, splitting a body of water so that millions of people could escape their captors on dry land, or exchanging your sinful, self-serving heart for the beauty of the new creation that Jesus’ work has completed on your behalf? Those who know themselves best recognize that the answer is obvious. Psalm 98 points backward to the nip̄·lā·’ō·wṯ of the Exodus, and at the same time looks ahead to the nip̄·lā·’ō·wṯ that Jesus accomplished to rescue you.

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How will I commit to respond to God’s work in a whole new way?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” – Psalm 98:1 ESV

HEBREW
הוֹשִֽׁיעָה/hô·šîʹ·ʿā(h): help, save; receive, accept help; be victorious

CONSIDER
We like the idea of being referred to as “self-made.” It’s almost a badge of honor in our culture. It means you’ve put in the work and, against all odds, you’ve been victorious, you’ve succeeded. But what is success? Have you arrived at the destination you wanted or did you get there only to discover that it’s simply a mile-marker causing you to strive for the next? No matter what we achieve in this world, we’re desiring more. It is the human condition, and it only stands to reason that we would apply the same logic to our spirituality. We want to hô·šîʹ·ʿā(h) (help, save; receive, accept help; be victorious) ourselves! But we are incapable of being good enough or following the rules enough to be without sin and save ourselves. So on our worst days we’re crushed by guilt and shame, all too aware of our inability. On our best days we are filled with pride over what we’ve accomplished, only to realize our pride is sin! Psalm 98 reminds us of the good news of the Gospel. Jesus came to hô·šîʹ·ʿā(h) (save, be victorious)! He lived the sinless life we couldn’t and died the death we deserve. The victory has been secured! Because Jesus has worked salvation for us, the striving can cease, and we can live with a new perspective, in response to what God has done.

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How will I commit to respond to God’s work in a whole new way?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. Psalm 98:2 ESV

CONSIDER
It’s the start of a new week!

When you read that, what happened internally? Excitement for the possibilities the week holds, or dread as you head “back to the grind”?
It’s really a matter of perspective, and the good news is that your outlook on it can change if you find yourself dreading another week. If you’re struggling to know what can possibly create that shift, be reminded that the transformation comes as your mind is renewed by time in God’s word and in his presence. If you’re a Christ-follower reading this, you’ve likely heard that before, but don’t miss the hope of that! Take, for example, one phrase from this week’s text in verse 2: “revealed his righteousness.” The closest English word we can come by to explain what’s being revealed is “beneficent act.” A generous, merciful act has been revealed and this revelation has implications on our spheres of influence, our present, our eternity, and, yes, even on how we perceive another Monday. This generous, merciful act secures our identity as child of God, removes the striving, undoes the feelings of loss, and produces great joy. And it should remind us that this week is one where we get to be on mission to generously share the love of God because of his generosity toward us.
We are called to be the Church seven days a week (and that includes Mondays!), so take a moment right now to pray, asking the Holy Spirit to reset your heart and mind. Because if you’re excited for the week, he’ll remind you of the mission and make you more aware of opportunities to be generous with your life. And if all you can see is another mundane week ahead of you, he’ll reset your perspective, allowing you to see this week in a new light. May we all be filled with wonder and the joy of knowing Jesus, God with us.

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What is one way God is asking me to live generously?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. Psalm 98:2 ESV

HEBREW
גִּלָּ֥ה/gil·lāh: uncovered, exposed

CONSIDER
By the time they saw the lights and heard the sirens, it was too late. The Columbian drug cartel was about to ship out $500 million of cocaine to parts unknown, until the authorities – who had been staking out the area for months – moved in and unearthed it. By the time they had finished digging out all 27 tons of drugs from a large estuary, the police knew they had enacted the largest drug bust in the history of their country. The Columbian authorities knew there was illegal activity happening, and they knew the exact area in which it was happening. But until they were able to expose the illegal product itself under the soft earth at the mouth of a river, there was no perceivable action and no change.
Plans, dreams, and wishes are all great to have, but until action takes place, change is stifled. This is what the Psalmist is indicating by his use of the verb gil·lāh (uncovered, exposed) in Psalm 98:2. God is to be praised because he has done the work to uncover his righteousness to the nations. Notice that he did not begin to be righteous or create more righteousness for the nations to see; the Lord gil·lāh what had been there all along! This is an action that only God could achieve, and from our vantage point on this side of the cross, we know that he completed this work when Jesus stepped out of the tomb. So as we reflect on the generosity of Christ’s presence in our world this Advent, may we also celebrate and respond to the active power of the Lord’s goodness and righteousness through him.

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What is one way God is asking me to live generously?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

“He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” – Psalm 98:3 ESV

HEBREW
זָ֘כַ֤ר /zā·ḵǎrʹ: name, mention, remember; take to court, make known, profess, praise

CONSIDER
At a plain reading of verse 3, one could conclude that God forgets. That at some point God had steadfast love and faithfulness towards Israel, but must have… forgotten them? As humans when we forget, it’s because we were neither steadfast nor faithful in our attention toward a particular thing. So what is happening here? How can God be both steadfast and faithful towards Israel but also need to “remember” them?
The clarity comes as we consider the Hebrew word: zā·ḵǎrʹ (name, mention, remember; take to court, make known, profess, praise). In context, we see that zā·ḵǎrʹ may best be translated as “make known or profess.” This has significant implications for our lives, which is uniquely hopeful during the holiday season. It’s no surprise that this time can be difficult, especially with the current state of our world. But realize that you are not forgotten by God! He also hasn’t “remembered” you, as if you are forgettable. Because of the person and generous work of Jesus, the steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel has now been extended to all those that call upon him! You are intimately known and loved. God is for you, and that should result in a life generously lived toward others – today, during the holidays, and everyday.

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What is one way God is asking me to live generously?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Psalm 98:4 ESV

HEBREW
הָרִ֣יעוּ/hā·rî·‘ū: to shout, raise a sound, cry out; to shout a war-cry or alarm of battle; to sound a signal for war or march; to shout in triumph

CONSIDER
Make a joyful noise! Would you ever have guessed the meaning of that Hebrew phrase? Though rightly translated “make a joyful noise,” its full intent is that we would shout a war cry and sound the signal for battle, that we would raise our voice in declaration.
As you devote time to the Lord today, it’s important to remember a few things from Sunday’s message that can set the tone for the week. Our worship is a weapon; lifting up a joyful noise to the Lord is spiritual warfare. Isn’t it good news that our “battle plan” is breaking out in song?! Praise and worship is an act of obedience to put the name of Jesus on our lips on the mountaintop and in the valley. We can sing over the trials, the disappointment, and the pain. When we do, things change! It could be that our circumstances change, but more importantly we know for certain that change will happen in us as we worship. And the name of the One who is worthy to be praised will get the honor due him.
Today, declare a war cry and lift up a joyful noise! Consider what “song” your life is singing. Take inventory of the words you speak and sing. Because of Jesus, there can be a “thrill of hope” that rises up in every weary heart and spills over into those in our spheres of influence.

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How can I make my joy evident to those in my sphere of influence?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Psalm 98:4 ESV

HEBREW
פִּצְח֖וּ/piṣ·ḥū: to be unable to contain a song; spillover into song

CONSIDER
There are moments when the events of life cause waves of emotion to flow through us. We’ve all experienced this, from getting a better grade on a test than we thought we would, to our favorite team losing in the final moments of a game, to the rush of excitement that a welcomed surprise at Christmas brings. When we feel the sense that we can’t contain our emotions because of what has happened to us, it can be overwhelming. But this Psalm uses language to express an experience that goes further than anything this life can produce.
As we’ve been studying, the acts of worship that are encouraged in this Psalm are in response to the wonders that the Lord has worked. We’re not simply asked to sing; we’re commanded to let our experience of joy piṣ·ḥū – spillover into song! This is one of only three times this Hebrew verb is found in the Bible (Isaiah has the other two), and all three occurrences are in response to God’s work of salvation. Our hearts are designed to experience joy, but it’s like the Bible is telling us that God’s saving grace is too much for our hearts to contain! The joy produced by truly experiencing Christ’s forgiveness will cause piṣ·ḥū to be our natural reaction. Yes, there are times when we have to make the conscious decision to worship, and we all have days when a song is far from our first choice of activities. But when we draw near to God and authentically seek his presence, his goodness, love, and salvation will cause joy that cannot be contained by a silent and restrained soul. May piṣ·ḥū be our experience this Advent season!

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How can I make my joy evident to those in my sphere of influence?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! – Psalm 98:5 ESV

HEBREW
זַמְּר֣וּ /zǎm·merûʹ: sing, praise, play an instrument

CONSIDER
VHS recorder. Okay, you are either flooded with memories and currently smiling or Googling what in the world that is! As we all know, they’ve given way to our phones, and now those memories are at our fingertips. Regardless of the medium used, home movies/videos are enjoyed by all of us. At times embarrassing for sure, but they capture honest, sweet moments as well. During this Advent season, whether with family or alone reflecting, it’s typical that those videos surface. Often the moments captured include a child deciding to zǎm·merûʹ (sing, praise, play an instrument). What may be entertainment to their siblings and friends, is treasured by their parents. Watching a video of a child choosing to zǎm·merûʹ without restraint likely reminds us of a time in our own lives that we didn’t care who was watching (or recording). We were happy, so we sang loudly and maybe even beat on some pots and pans! As we get older we become more concerned with, well, everything! And yet the psalmist is commanding us to zǎm·merûʹ to the Lord. Our worship is no more a performance than a child singing and dancing before their parents. God doesn’t desire quality in our song; he treasures our willingness to set aside our worries and allow the joy of his salvation to flood our hearts. It’s only when we determine to worship the Lord in this way (and even when things aren’t going our way) that we will experience true joy in his presence. And that becomes evident to everyone around us.

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How can I make my joy evident to those in my sphere of influence?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

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 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:7-9 ESV

CONSIDER
It’s the start of a busy week. You may have even been tempted to skip devoting time to God today. Great decision opening this! We’ll keep it short and sweet and kick off the week with a challenge for which we all have time… just a few minutes!

Set a timer for three minutes (or longer if you wish) and do these three things as a way to apply the text!

1. Spend one minute thanking God that you’re on the receiving end of an “unfair Gospel.” (That is, we deserve hell, yet a sinless savior took our place and our punishment, rescuing us from what we deserve and giving us what we don’t – amazing!)

2. Spend one minute offering God your worship… don’t withhold it, don’t redirect it to lesser things. Worship him and remind yourself of all the ways you can worship this week.

3. Spend one minute asking God for an opportunity to share your story. Pray for people you’d love to see come to know Jesus. If sharing your story feels like too big of a next step, consider inviting someone to the Christmas Gathering or to church in January as a way to share God’s story with them.

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How will I use my platform to share my story this season?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! – Psalm 98:7 ESV

HEBREW
יִרְעַ֣ם/yir·‘am: to boom; to make a loud sound like thunder

CONSIDER
How will I use my platform to share my story this season? If you’re the Psalmist, there’s nothing in creation that is exempt from answering this question! In response to the salvation of God, the sea is instructed to yir·‘am(to make a loud and booming noise). Makes sense – that’s what the sea does! When given the platform to do something for an audience, the sea will yir·‘am. So then why does the rest of the verse encourage the whole world to yir·‘am in praise? Because Jesus’ invitation to salvation is universal and its impact is worldwide! If the whole world were to get together and worship, the sound would certainly be booming. And you, too, have a specific platform that can contribute to that yir·‘am! How you use it is up to you, but by bringing your “yes” to God, you will be contributing to the shout of all creation that his salvation has warranted.

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How will I use my platform to share my story this season?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

“Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together” – Psalm 98:8 ESV

HEBREW
כָ֑ף /ḵāp̄ʹ: hollow or flat of the hand; whole hand; sole; bowl

CONSIDER
Reading this verse, are we to believe that rivers clap with hands they obviously don’t possess? Of course not. So then is it nature being personified to paint a picture? Upon closer inspection, we learn this goes beyond figurative language. It actually reveals that the rivers clap their ḵāp̄ʹ (hollow or flat of the hand; whole hand; sole; bowl). This Hebrew word is not the word for hand (יָד֗ yāḏʹ), but rather an attribute of a hand. It’s saying the rivers clap (or strike) their “hollow” or “bowl.” So this verse is quite literal. While flowing, lapping and raging, the river water naturally strikes its ḵāp̄ʹ and, in doing so, worships the Lord! All of creation expresses worship; it was created to that end. And so it stands to reason that we, as part of creation, ought to use our voices, hands, feet – and our entire life story – to express worship to God!

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How will I use my platform to share my story this season?

To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!