Lord, we sing
to You a new song, for Your victory is ever new. In the empty tomb You have
given us a glimpse of Your future and in Your victory over death You have shown
us how we shall overcome the last enemy.
As the seas roar and the hills sing together, we too will praise You for
Your great triumph; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen[1]
As we turn our sights toward Bethlehem's manger we
prepare ourselves to celebrate once again the coming of the Christ child into
our heats at Christmas. Mary upon hearing that she was chosen to bear the Son
of God responded in a song of praise call the Magnificat.
This was not the first time such a hymn was sung. In fact, our Psalm for this evening, Psalm 98
is such a hymn of praise.
As we remember all of the tender mercies, which the
Lord has showered down on us let us too join with the Psalmist offering to the
Lord our praise and thanksgiving.
1. The Lord's might (Psalm 98:1-2)
A.
The Song of the
Lord -O SING to the Lord a new song, for
He has done marvelous things. The
idea of a new song is found throughout the Scriptures. Each was a message of the
LORD’s redeeming grace – which never grows old. “And they sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your
blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation
5:9)
The new song has a reason. To extol the great works of
the LORD. His marvelous deeds. Remember, this isn’t empty praise or singing for
the sake of singing.
Worship is always connected to a life experience of
the LORD’s marvelous deeds – which are His miracles. His wonders. (Psalm 96:3)
What He has done in entering our world to be our Savior.
B. The Strength of the Lord - His right hand and His holy arm have wrought
salvation for Him. His right hand and His holy arm these are the only
instruments available capable of working your deliverance.
C.
The Song of the
Lord - The Lord has made known His
salvation. The marvelous things have been published. His righteousness has He openly
shown in the sight of the nations.
The psalmist’s prediction of a coming day when all the world would hear
were fulfilled in the coming our Savior into this world.
Simeon of old declares upon seeing the LORD’s Christ –
Lord, now You are letting Your servant
depart in peace according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation
that You have prepared in the presence of all people.(Luke 2:30-31)
You pray that prayer after receiving the LORD’s gifts
at His table. This prayer is offered on the deathbed of so many – it is a
commendation of hope – having seen the LORD’s salvation in Christ you can
confidently depart in peace according to Christ’s word.
2. The Lord's mercy (Psalm 98:3-6)
A. The remembrance of that mercy - He has [earnestly] remembered His mercy and
loving-kindness, His truth and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel; all
the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.
One of the LORD’s marvelous things is His unending
mercy and faithfulness to His people of old. He displayed mercy to His covenant
people of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How strange to think that some believe that
the LORD has forgotten His mercy and faithfulness to the House of Israel. The
LORD will never renege. He will never break His word. He will never break a
promise. (Acts 13:47; 28:28.)
B.
The result of
that mercy - Vv. 4-6 Make a joyful noise
to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises! Sing
praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the voice of melody. With
trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the
Lord!
This is simply music to our ears.
Since the great news of the LORD’s marvelous things
goes to the ends of the earth. It is right for all the earth to praise the
LORD.
1.
This was spoken
by the angels that first Christmas night. “Behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all people. Unto you
is born this day, in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” Such good news has changed the world.
3. The Lord's majesty (Psalm 98:7-9)
The jubilation of the earth - Vv. 7-9a Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, the
world, and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; together let
the hills sing for joy. Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge [and rule]
the earth.
The LORD comes to judge the earth. With
righteousness He shall just the world. That was the purpose for Christ’s
coming.
In his book, “The Lion, the Witch and
the Wardrobe” CS Lewis describes a world which was, “always winter and never Christmas.” And why? Because the land was
under the power of one where the land was in a state of perpetual winter.
Spring never came. But when the Savior rose from the dead the ice began to
melt. Flowers bloomed. The trees turned green. Lewis paints a picture of
something that will happen. The rivers will indeed clap their hands. The
mountains will indeed sing. And we will all rejoice.
The judgment of the earth - With righteousness will He judge [and rule] the world, and the peoples
with equity.
The Lord will rule faithfully. In this world justice may be rare. Which have
lead some to conclude that Ebenezer Scrooge was right all along. The LORD is the Author and Giver of life, as
well as a consuming fire of judgment against all, “who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy
in the gate.” (Amos 5:12) “Seek the
LORD and live,” therefore, by hating what is evil, loving what is good, and
doing what is just and right according to His Word. “And so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you.” (Amos 5:6,
14-15)
Know and understand that “no one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18) The life that you
are called to live is found neither in your great possessions, nor in your good
works - but only in Christ alone.
The Lord promises He will rule fairly. The LORD comes
with His sure promise. He will judge with equity. What relief. Especially for
those who are oppressed and denied justice. All will be made right when the LORD comes to
visit His people. Thus we can sing.
Hail to the LORD’s anointed, Great David’s greater
Son!
Hail, in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, To set the captive free,
To take away transgression And rule with equity.[2]
Passive Sentences –10 %
Readability –80.9 %
Reading Level – 5.0
[1]
Collect for Psalm98 For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the Church,
Year 2: Advent - Pentecost American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Delhi, NY © 1995
[2]
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed, Stanza one, Lutheran Service Book © 2006,
Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis
No comments:
Post a Comment