Psalm 98--Make a Joyful Noise to the LORD

Psalm 98
English Standard Version

Make a Joyful Noise to the LORD
A Psalm.
98 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.
2 The LORD has made known his salvation;
    he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 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.

4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
    let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the LORD, for he comes
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity.

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We are to sing and make a joyful noise unto the LORD with our voices and all kinds of musical instruments!  We have been made not only to sing and play musical instruments, but God has gifted some men (like David and Asaph) to compose music.  Nothing else in nature can do that.  We sing because of the miraculous and mighty works of our God--most notably our salvation.  "With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm," the LORD saved His people from their slavery in Egypt, and He has also saved us from our sins.  Once again, it is the steadfast love of the LORD that is the focal point of our praise.  All the ends of the earth have seen it, but only the people of God have experienced it in a personal way that makes them sing and shout for joy.

The psalmist gives commands to praise the LORD with stringed instruments and horns.  Specifically with the lyre and trumpets.  These are the trumpets they would use to announce the coming of the king, for He is coming again, and He will come will the blast of a heavenly trumpet.

All of creation joins the song.  The sears roar and the rivers "clap their hands" to become the percussion section of the orchestra.  The hills sing for joy and all the peoples of the earth sing together.  All this will happen to welcome the LORD before He comes to judge the world--before He comes to reign and righteousness and judge with equity.