The Lord Judges in Righteousness Psalm...

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Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Questions by John C. Sewell

The Lord Judges in Righteousness

Psalm 98-1-9

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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The Lord Judges in Righteousness

Commentary

By

Clyde M. Miller

Text: Psalm 98:1-9, 1. 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. 2. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 3. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5. make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6. with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. 7. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. 8. Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy; 9. let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. NIV Introduction: I. The emphasis here is on the lesson to be learned by the nations as they see God's deliverance of Israel.

A. Doubtless some particular historical event is in mind, probably the deliverance from Babylonian exile.




B. Surely, on this occasion the nations could see the handiwork of God, especially if the prophetic predictions concerning the return had reached the ears of Israel's pagan neighbors (cf. Isa. 41-42; 44:24-45:7).

1. Isaiah 41:1-29, "Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment. "Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow. He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before. Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD -with the first of them and with the last—I am he." The islands have seen it and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward; each helps the other and says to his brother, "Be strong!" The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer spurs on him who strikes the anvil. He says of the welding, "It is good." He nails down the idol so it will not topple. "But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you," declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. "See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,




and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel. "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it. "Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob's King. "Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear. But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is detestable. "I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes— one from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay. Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know, or beforehand, so we could say, 'He was right'? No one told of this, no one foretold it, no one heard any words from you. I was the first to tell Zion, 'Look, here they are!' I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings. I look but there is no one— no one among them to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them. See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion. NIV

2. Isaiah 42:1-25, "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my

chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter




or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope." This is what God the LORD says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the desert and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands. The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. "For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, 'You are our gods,' will be turned back in utter shame. "Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the LORD ? You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing." It pleased the LORD for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious. But this is




a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, "Send them back." Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come? Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law. So he poured out on them his burning anger, the violence of war. It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart. NIV

3. Isaiah 44:24-28,"This is what the LORD says— your

Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'It shall be inhabited,' of the towns of Judah, 'They shall be built,' and of their ruins, 'I will restore them,' who says to the watery deep, 'Be dry, and I will dry up your streams,' who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid."' NIV

4. Isaiah 45:1-7, "This is what the LORD says to his anointed,

to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no




God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. NIV

II. This psalm is composed entirely of praise.

A. All mankind, and even all nature, are encouraged to praise the Lord. B. Though this psalm does not specifically refer to God's reign, God is designated as king (Ps. 97:6) and judge (Ps. 97:9).

1. Psalm 97:6, The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. NIV

2. Psalm 97:9, For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. NIV

C. The past, present, and future reign of God is implied.

1. God has revealed His kingship in His past acts of deliverance

(Ps. 97:1-3).

a. Psalm 97:1-3, The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. NIV

2. God is king in the present (Ps. 97:6), and as king He will judge

the world in the future (Ps. 97:9).

a. Psalm 97:6, The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. NIV

b. Psalm 97:9, For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. NIV




The Victory of God Psalm 98:1-3, 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. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. NIV Psalm 98:1, 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. NIV I. A “new song” is appropriate to celebrate God's marvelous acts of deliverance (cf. Ps. 96:1). Psalm 96:1, Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. NIV II. God's “right hand” and “holy arm” signify His divine strength and the holy cause in which this strength is exercised (cf. Ps. 44:3; Isa. 52:10).

A. Psalm 44:3, It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. NIV

B. Isaiah 52:10, The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. NIV

Psalm 98:2, The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. NIV I. Psalm 98:2 employs synonymous parallelism in which “salvation” and “righteousness” are synonymous.

A. The latter word is frequently used in the enthronement psalms (cf. Pss. 96:13; 97:2; 98:9; 99:4).

1. Psalm 96:13, they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. NIV




2. Psalm 97:2, Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. NIV

3. Psalm 98:9, let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. NIV

4. Psalm 99:4, The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. NIV

B. Righteousness and salvation are frequently connected in the Psalms in

parallelism (Ps. 45:8; 51:5,6,8; 56:1; 59:17; 62:1).

1. Psalm 45:8, All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. NIV 2. Psalm 51:5-6, 8, Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. NIV

3. Psalm 56:1, Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. NIV

4. Psalm 59:17, O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. NIV

5. Psalm 62:1, My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

D. The basic meaning of “salvation” is deliverance, and the word

“righteousness” means to be put in the right.

1. The context sometimes suggests a specific kind of salvation or righteousness.




2. “Has made…known” is a causative verb form in Hebrew, emphasizing that God was the cause of the victory.

3. “Revealed” is an intensive verb form, suggesting some

noticeable act of God. Psalm 98:3, He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. NIV I. The reason for God's granting victory and vindication to Israel is twofold.

A. First, God “has remembered His love”, jesedh, covenant loyalty, and “his faithfulness” toward Israel.

1. These two covenant terms are frequently found together in the Old Testament (Gen. 24:27,49; 32:10; 47:29; Ex. 34:6; Josh. 2:14; 2 Sam. 2:6; 15:20; Ps. 25:10; 40:11; 57:3; 61:7; 85:10; 86:15; 89:14,24; 98:3; 100:5; 115:1; 138:2; Prov. 3:3; 14:22; 16:6; 20:28).

a. Genesis 24:27, 49, saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives." Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn." NIV

b. Genesis 32:10, I am unworthy of all the kindness and

faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. NIV

c. Genesis 47:29, When the time drew near for Israel to

die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, NIV




d. Exodus 34:6, And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, NIV

e. Joshua 2:14, "Our lives for your lives!" the men

assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land." NIV

f. 2 Samuel 2:6, May the LORD now show you kindness

and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. NIV

g. 2 Samuel 15:20, You came only yesterday. And today

shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your countrymen. May kindness and faithfulness be with you." NIV

h. Psalm 25:10, All the ways of the LORD are loving and

faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. NIV

i. Psalm 40:11, Do not withhold your mercy from me, O

LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. NIV

j. Psalm 57:3, He sends from heaven and saves me,

rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness. NIV

k. Psalm 61:7, May he be enthroned in God's presence

forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him. NIV

l. Psalm 85:10, Love and faithfulness meet together;

righteousness and peace kiss each other. NIV




m. Psalm 86:15, But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. NIV

n. Psalm 89:14, 24, Righteousness and justice are the

foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. NIV

o. Psalm 98:3, He has remembered his love and his

faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. NIV

p. Psalm 100:5, For the LORD is good and his love

endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. NIV

q. Psalm 115:1, Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your

name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. NIV

r. Psalm 138:2, I will bow down toward your holy temple

and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. NIV

s. Proverbs 3:3, Let love and faithfulness never leave

you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. NIV

t. Proverbs 14:22, Do not those who plot evil go astray?

But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. NIV

u. Proverbs 16:6, Through love and faithfulness sin is

atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. NIV

v. Proverbs 20:28, Love and faithfulness keep a king

safe; through love his throne is made secure. NIV




2. They emphasize previous commitment between the two parties to a covenant.

a. God has promised never to utterly forsake Israel, but that he would restore her when she repented (cf. Ezek. 18:30-32).

i. Ezekiel 18:30-32, "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! NIV

B. The second reason given for God's restoring Israel is that this deliverance may serve as an object lesson to the pagan peoples.

Let All Humanity Praise the Lord

Psalm 98:4-6, Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. NIV

Psalm 98:4, Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; NIV I. “Shout for joy” was used in an acclamation of a king (Zech. 9:9).

A. Zechrariah 9:9, Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. NIV

II. “Burst into jubilant song” is “break forth and sing for joy” (cf. NASB).




A. “Break” is used by Isaiah in anticipation of Israel's deliverance from captivity (Isa. 14:7; 44:23; 55:12).

1. Isaiah 14:7, All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing. NIV

2. Isaiah 44:23, Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has

done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel. NIV

3. Isaiah 55:12, You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. NIV

III. “All the earth” is equivalent to “the world” and “the peoples” (Ps. 98:9).

A. Psalm 98:9, let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. NIV

Psalm 98:5-6, make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. NIV

I. The kinnor is likely the small “lyre” (NASB) rather than the larger “harp”. II. “The sound of singing” is rendered “the voice of song” in Isa. 51:3 and is connected with songs of thanksgiving.

A. Isaiah 51:3, The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. NIV

III. The “trumpets” were silver instruments (Num. 10:2).

A. Numbers 10:2, "Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. NIV




Let All Nations Praise the Lord

Psalm 98:7-9, Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. NIV I. These verses should be compared with Ps. 96:11-13.

A. Psalm 96:11-13, Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. NIV

II. The inarticulate praise which nature renders to God results from the fact that nature does what God created it to do.

Psalm 98:7, Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. NIV

I. The natural roaring of the sea is equated with the articulate praises of men. Psalm 98:8, Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy; NIV I. The slapping of the waters against the banks of the rivers or the shores of the seas is likened to the clapping of the hands in joyous acclamation of Israel's king (cf. 1 Kings 1:39; 2 Kings 11:12, 14), the God of the earth.

A. 1 Kings 1:39, Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" NIV B. 2 Kings 11:12, 14, Jehoiada brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped




their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!" She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, "Treason! Treason!" NIV

II. The whispering of the wind in the hills suggests the figure of joyous songs. Psalm 98:9, let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. NIV I. All this chorus of praise is offered in anticipation of the coming of the Lord in judgment. II. “Righteousness” and “equity” are synonyms.

EXCURSUS

The Redemption of the Earth In Romans 8:18-25 (Romans 8:18-25, consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. NIV), Paul anticipates the complete redemption of creation, including the human body. The creation was subjected to futility by God as the result of the entrance of sin into the world (cf. Gen. 3:1-24, Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will




die.'" "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. NIV), and it was subjected in hope of sharing the glory of God.




Since we are not given specific information as to how this transformation will occur, the subject should not be allowed to degenerate into idle speculation. We know there will be a new environment in which righteousness will dwell (2 Peter 3:10-13, But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. NIV; Revelation 21:1-4, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." NIV). Present nature is not the world that God created, but the world rendered degenerate through sin. The eternal abode of the righteous will be in an atmosphere cleansed of all evil and enshrouded with the holiness of God for all eternity (Rev. 7:13-17, Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." NIV; Rev. 21:27, Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. NIV). Application I. God’s revelation of His salvation and righteousness call for the praise of men.




A. Even inanimate creation is figuratively represented as praising the Creator. B. Certainly, God has a right to expect that animate creation, especially man made in His image, would spontaneously praise Him.

C. A failure to do so indicates a lack of appreciation for the daily blessings that God bestows upon the evil and the good, on the righteous and the unrighteous (Mt. 5:45, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. NIV).




QUESTIONS

Psalm 98: 1-9

(Questions based on NIV text)

1. “_____________ to the ____________ a __________ _________, for he has done ____________ things; his ____________ _________ and his __________ ___________ have __________________ for him. The ___________ has made his ____________ to the ___________. He has __________ his _________ and his ____________ to the ____________of the _________ have seen the ______ of our __________.” 2. “_________ for __________ to the ________, _____________ the _______, ________ into _____________ ____________ with ________________; make _______ to the _____________ with the ___________ and the _____________ of _______________, with __________ and the ___________ of the _______’s ______________ - __________________ for _____________ before the _____ ______________.” 3. “Let the _____________ ____________, and ___________ in it, the ______ and _______ who ___________ in it. Let the ___________ ____________ their _____________, let the ____________ __________ ___________ for _______; let them ___________ before the __________, for he ___________ to _______




___________the ____________ in ____________ and the ___________ with ______________.” 4. What is the emphasis of Psalm 98: What did Isaiah say that related to this emphasis? _______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. All _____________ and _______ are encouraged to __________ the ______ who is designated as ____________ and ____________. __________ is ______ in the _________, and as king he will _________ the _________ in the ______. 6. Outline Psalm 98. See the sectional headings of the lesson commentary. ___ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. God’s “_________ _________” and “_________ ____________” signify his __________ __________ and the ______________ ____________ in which this ______________ is _____________. 8. Give examples of how salvation and righteousness are used in the psalms.__ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




9. What are God’s right hand and holy arm used to signify in the psalms? ____ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. What is the basic meaning of salvation and righteousness as used in the psalms? _________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Why did God grant victory and vindication to Israel? __________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. How does Isaiah use the word break? Give examples to illustrate your answer. _________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. Compare Psalm 98:7-9 and Psalm 96:11-13. ________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. How does the inanimate nature praise God? Reply literally and figuratively. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




15. What is meant by “the complete redemption of creation? _______________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Extra credit questions: How can we praise God? How can we better praise God? ________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



The Lord Judges in Righteousness Psalm...

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