O Sing Unto the LORD

Cantate Domino (Sing Unto the LORD) Psalm 98:1-8 The 98th Psalm is a psalm of pure joy. It is a favorite it “high” churches where it is often sung in Latin as the “Cantate Domino.” In broader circles, the psalm serves as the basis for the well known Advent/Christmas carol “Joy to the World.” This psalmbrings us to joyful worship before the LORD our God. We don’t know who originally wrote the psalm. The simple prescript to the psalm simply says “psalm”, although the Latin and Greek translations say “A Psalm of David.” Even if it were written by David, it would be difficult to speculate on what occasion it was written. What is does seem to be is a psalm written on the occasion of a great military victory in Israel, as it is similar to victory hymns written in ancient Ugarit and other places in the Near East. The other hymns gave praise to their gods for victory as compared to this giving glory to Yayweh, the God of Israel for victory. The reason it seems to be the occasion is the attribution of victory to the right arm of the LORD which would be the arm used to carry the weapon in war. This is because most people are right handed, and even left-handed warriors would have to conform in military formation to rith handed people or serve in their own unit like some of the Benjamite slingers. Even though, actual soldiers fought the battle, it was always considered proper to attribute the victory in battle to God who made the men strong for battle and kept them brave, It was somewhat different in Israel than for the nations. In many cases, the men of Israel did not fight at all. We see this in Exodus 15 when God drowned Pharaoh’s chariots in the Red Sea. The Israelites simply watched Yahweh defeat the enemies in single combat. All they did was to compose a new song in worshipful response to Yahweh’s victory where they joyfully sung “Horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. In Exodus 15, the occasion for this new song is clear. It is not clear in Psalm 98. Nevertheless, this Psalm was a new song probably sung as a victory psalm. But there are other occasions of a song of vindication like this which was not occasioned by military victory such as Hannah’s song when she was vindicated of her barrenness. The generic nature of this psalm allows it to be adapted to many occasions. Perhaps the psalmist here speaks better than he knew. This is what makes it so useful to Christian worship. Even considering that it may have originated to commemorate a past victory in Israel, the Holy Spirit also inspires the text to point to a far greater victory in a battle fought by the LORD Himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ gained this victory over Satan by His death on a cross. The Israelite victory was but for a moment. More distresses would come to her. It was not the war to end all wars. But what Jesus has done for us will become the end of all war upon His return. Then we shall all burst out in praise: “Joy to the world, the LORD is come. Let earth receive her king!” It is hard to see how such marvelous victory could be achieved on a cross. Many of you have heard the taunt of a bully when he says “I can beat you up with one hand tied behind your back.” But here, one who was buffeted and bullied publicly in Jerusalem defeats the enemies with both hands nailed to the cross. How marvelous is this victory! Here in sight of the heather, the Romans who crucified the Lord of Glory watched as He even forgave those who impaled Him upon the cruel cross. Even the old crusty Centurion, seeing the calm repose of the divine warrior had to exclaim: “Surely, this man is the Son of God!” Not Caesar who the centurion who had given an oath of fealty to. The Caesars had brought great victories to the people of Rome. The Romans made their odes to these victorious Caesars. As gods, they attributed the might of Roman arms to them and Dea Roma, the goddess Rome herself. But in this confrontation between Caesar and Christ, Christ shall prove Himself victorious. The crucified God rose on the third day and ascended back into heaven on the 40th. The Apostles would not testify of Casear rising into heaven to sit at the right hand of Jupiter (translated, God the Father by the way). Rather it was this crucified peasant who was convicted of treason against Rome who ascended to God the Father and who now site at His right hand.. This word of deliverance of the true Israel went out into all lands. God’s triumph is proclaimed in all four corners of the earth. This word of the victory needs to be joyously proclaimed in the sight of the heathen even today. They need to see the salvation of our God. What is new here is not to exult over the enemies of God in their defeat, but rather to invite them to join the chorus of praise due to the LORD our God. It is a call to the earth to abandon all other gods and to be reconciled to Jesus Christ. All the people of the earth are invited to clap their hands and shout. Let all the musical instruments render praise to God. Let the music of God swell the breeze who is the true author of freedom, the freedom which no man or government can bring. Let the entire universe join in procession. Even the waves of chaos will have to bow before Him and confess as will every knee shall bow. They shall join the hills in praise, or they shal be eternally separated from Him who is the source of all joy. We must remember that the LORD is returning to judge the world in righteousness and will treat all the people with equity. Originally, Israel may have seen this as God’s extending His wrath and vindication of Israel before the nations that oppressed her. Here judging righteously would lead to the condemnation of them. Judging with equity means giving them what they truly deserve for their folly, while at the same time giving Israel good rewards for being his faithful people. But there is something different about this “new song.” If everyone was treated righteously and fairly, we would all equally stand under the eternal condemnation of God. We all fall and fail before a God who gives us what we deserve for our sinful rebellion against His majesty. But Jesus offers the world grace and reconciliation to all who believe and come to Him. The God who should have best received His rebellious son back should have received him as the lowest slave on the plantation. He should not have come in person but sent a servant to announce this to his lost son. He should not have run to meet him and shamed himself by embracing his son in the swine-soiled rags he was wearing. But he did! And not only tis, he held a great feast for him. The fatted calf, suitable for royalty is instead offered to this prodigal. What praise should we offer when we realize that the one wearing the swiney clothing is us. We have been redeemed by the work of Jesus who suffered our rejection and the rejection of the Father in a sense and turned it into our acceptance and reconciliation. How much we should be motivated to sinf this song of triumph in the sight of unbelievers. Let them jin our chorus that they too might sing in liberating joy! We don’t go out and fight evil with carnal weapons like swords and spears, but we fight by proclaiming the LORD’s victory! We fight not to slay but to save. The joy of the LORD is the strength by which we fight this battle. In the earthly battles like the one this psalm originally celebrated, men probably fought and died. The news of their deaths would not be seen so joyous to their next of kin. But even if we fall in battle for the word of the Prince of Peace, like him we shall rise again and be united with Him in glory. Lets us take time to consider these things and sing like we have never sung before. Amen.