Patrick Comerford
Before this day begins, I am taking some time this morning to continue my reflections in this season of Easter, including my morning reflections drawing on the Psalms.
In my blog, I am reflecting each morning in this Prayer Diary in these ways:
1, Short reflections on a psalm or psalms;
2, reading the psalm or psalms;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary.
Psalm 98:
Psalm 98 is sometimes known by its Latin name Cantate Domino , and many people are familiar with this is as a canticle in Anglican liturgy. In the slightly different numbering system in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate, this psalm is counted as Psalm 97.
Psalm 98 is the sixth in a series of psalms (Psalms 93-99) that are called royal psalms as they praise God as King. Like Psalm 33 and Psalm 96, it calls for singing ‘a new song.’
According to the Midrash Tanchuma, Psalm 98 is the tenth and final song that the Jewish people will sing after the final redemption.
Grammatically, the reference to a shir chadash (שיר חדש, a new song) in verse 1 is a masculine construction, in contrast to the shira (שירה, song) mentioned throughout the Hebrew Bible, a feminine construction. Thus, the Midrash teaches that the shir chadash is a song of the future.
Psalm 98 is an invitation to sing ‘a new song’ marking new evidence of God’s rule. With truth, or his right hand, and power, he has won the victory for his people Israel. Note how the word victory word occurs three times in the first three verses.
God has triumphed over all who seek to overthrow his kingdom. All peoples can see that Israel is right in trusting him. Then, as when the people groaned in their oppression in Egypt (see Exodus 2: 24), he recalls his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and his promise to lead them and protect them. All peoples will see his saving acts.
The earth, sea, floods, hills and all creation are to acknowledge God’s rule and be joyful. People of all lands are invited to join in. God’s coming to judge the world will be a truly marvellous event. He will judge us, but his judgement will be perfectly fair and equitable, for he is righteous.
In Jewish tradition, Psalm 98 is the fourth of six psalms recited during the Kabbalat Shabbat or Welcoming the Shabbat service. It is one of the additional psalms recited during the morning prayer on Shabbat in the Sephardi tradition.
Psalm 98 (NRSVA):
A Psalm.
1 O sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvellous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gained him victory.
2 The Lord has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication 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 victory 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 live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Today’s Prayer:
The theme in this week’s prayer diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) is ‘Global Day of Parents.’
The USPG Prayer Diary this morning (1 June 2022, Global Day of Parents) invites us to pray:
We pray for parents across the world. May they be given any support they need to raise their children in a healthy and happy environment.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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