With all the turmoil and trouble around us and through our own struggles, it's really hard to be joyful and sing praise to God all the time. Like waves crashing onto a pier, we often get hit with one thing after another. Some waves are bigger and some are smaller, but it often seems like there is no end to them. What are the waves in your life?
In Psalm 98, God encourages us to think differently. God invites us to sing a new song, to make a joyful noise and to sing praises to Him. We know these things, but how can we actually do them?
PSALM 98
1 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.
Our encouragement comes as God reminds us of what He has done, is doing and will do for you and for me. 1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things!
We get to sing because of what God has done. Notice all the past-tense verbs in verses 1-3. The best way to find God's encouragement during times of trouble is NOT to look at the trouble, but look back at what God has ALREADY done for you and me!
With God's undeniable grace and mercy in our minds, then we can join with all of God's creation in praising Him [vv 4-9]. Even the seas and the whales, the rivers and fishes, the hills and all the plants and animals, EVERYTHING God created praises the Creator! All of these verbs are present tense, present action, including in verse nine where God comes to us. You are God's child NOW; God loves you and lives in you! Yes, He comes to judge the earth but He has already come and saved the earth in His Son Jesus Christ. And, He will come again to judge a final time, but we do not fear God's final judgement. All those who believe and confess Jesus, who has given His righteousness to them, will be saved from punishment and our bodies will be resurrected to eternal life in heaven.
So, don't look at the waves, look to your God, who has already saved you! Then sing and dance and praise God like crazy. Maybe people around you will think you are odd, and maybe somebody will become curious, ...and then you can tell them!
