EXPOSITION, PSALM XCVIII. Ver. 4.-llake a Joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth. God is to be praised ANOTHER psalm of joy on the coming of God heartily-with a loud and ringing voice. to judge the earth (ver. 9). It is entitled The body is to unite with the soul in giving simply "a psalm," and has no 'l'ery peculiar him thanks, and to perform its part vigor- features. Metrically, it is best viewed as ously and with zeal (comp. Pas. v. 3; lxvi. composed of three strophes of three verses 1; lxxxi. l; xov. 1, 2; c. 1, etc.). And in the each. The first strophe gives the grounds praise of God theu:hole earth is to join. Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise; of praise (vers. 1-3); tile next describes rather, break forth, and sing for joy, and the method of praise (vers. 4-6); the third Bing prai8e (see the Revised Version). contains a call on ell nature to join in the Ver. 5.-Sing unto the Lord with the praise (vera. 7-9). harp; i.e. "with a he.rp accompaniment." It ie fitting that in the praises of God instrn- Ver. 1.-0 sing unto the Lord a new song ment.o.J. mueic should be joined with vocal (comp. Ps. xcvi., which opens similarly). melody (comp. Exod. xv. 20; 2 Sam. vi. 15; The faithful and wise steward is ever bring- l Chron. xv. 16, 28; xvi. 6; 2 Chron. v. 12, ing out of his treasures things which are 13; Ezra iii. 10; Neh. xii. 27, etc.). With at once old and "new." For he hath done the harp, and the voioe of a psalm; or, the n:.arvellollli things. The "marvelloue things'' roice of melody (Revised Version). which God has done for man constitute Ver. 6.-With trumpet and 1ound of the first ground for praising him. These cornet; rather, with clarions and voice of marvels may be either those of his ordinary trumpet. The chatsotstriJth are "the straight pro'l'idence, or special interpositions and trumpets, such as are seen on the Arch of deliverances. His right hand, and his holy Titue, need by the priests for giving signals" arm, hatb gotten him the victory; rather, (Kay). The shophar is the ordinary curved hath tcruugJ,t sab,ation for him ( see the or rounded trumpet or horn. Make a joyful Revised Version ; and comp. Isa. lix. 16 ; noise before the Lord, the King; literally, !xiii. 5). before th, King,Jehovah. (On the use of wind Ver. 2.-The Lord hath made known his instrumeuts in the temple service, see 1 salvation; i.e. "bas manifested his power Chron. xv. 24, 28; 2 Chron. v. 12; Ezra to save." The psalmist looks back upon the iii. 10.) deliverance of ver. 9, as though it were Ver. 7.-Let the sea roar, and the fu.lnass accomplished. Rill righteonsneSB hath he thereof (see above, Pa. xovi. 11, where the openly showed in the 1ight of the heathen. same phrase occurs). The call on the God has vindicated in the eyes of all the inanimate things of nature to rejoice is nations upon earth the righteousness of his grounded on man's sympathy with nature, rule over mankind. which makes him desire, and half believe, Ver. 3.-S:e hath remembered his meroy that nature may sympathize with him. and his truth towarda the house of Israel. The world, and thsy that dwell therein The judgment of the nations involves mercy (comp. Ps. xxiv. 1). and deliverance to Israel, which is O!Jpressed Ver. 8.-Let the fiooda olap their hands. by them ; and thus manifests God's faith• This bold metaphor ocours only here and fulnt:"6 towarrui them. All the ends of the in Isa. lv. 12, where the "trees" are aslced to earth have seen the salvation of our God "clap their hands." Let the hilll be joyful (cowp. ver. 2 and be.. lii. 10). together befcire th41 I.e>r4 i or, 1ing for joy I's. tavm. 1-9.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 341
togetl~r; i.e. join with the rest or nature in to judge it aright. With righteousneBB expressing gle.dness, ahe.11 he judge the world, e.nd the people Ver. 9,-l!'or he oometh to judge the with equity. "God by his righteous judg- earth. Ne.ture, ine.nime.te ond e.nimate, ment will bring the whole earth from a state may well be a.eked to rejoice when God of sorrow into a ste.te of salvation aod joy " ,omes to judgo the ee.rth-siuce he is sure (Hengstenberg),