Psalm 98:1 O sing to the LORD a new song; for he has done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, has gotten him the victory. His right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. This is to be treated as a joy song of the returned Exiles, who regarded themselves as delivered and restored, because their God had fought for them, overcome all their foes, and mastered all their hindrances and difficulties. It was not their right hand that had gotten them the victory. It was God's right hand that had gotten him the victory, of which they were permitted to reap the full benefit. This victory quickened thought, and brought to mind the assurances of the Prophet Isaiah, e.g. "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (Isaiah 52:10). And the victory brought to view the older Israelite history, from the great Red Sea victory and onward. It was plain enough that God had been always getting the victory, always redeeming, always recovering, rescuing, and restoring, always the Saviour. The type of the Divine relations with the people is given in the redemption from Egypt, and then Israel lifted a joy song, acknowledging concerning Jehovah, "Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power; thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces thine enemy." For a chorus to their song the women sang, "Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." I. THE VICTORIES WHICH THE LORD HAS WON. Illustrate: 1. Those won in the older ages, and kept on record in the Old Testament. 2. Those won in the times of Christ, and kept on record in the New Testament. 3. Those won in the ages of the Christian Church, especially in the missionary ages. 4. Those of which we have personal experience, as bearing relation to our past distresses. II. THE FIGHT IN WHICH THE LORD IS NOW ENGAGED. It is not enough to say that it is with evil in all its forms; it is also with the consequences of evil in all their varieties: as these affect the race, the nation, the society, the family, or the individual. We recognize the fight, we do not always see that it is the Lord fighting - the Lord with us in the fight. III. THE VICTORIES WHICH THE LORD WILL WIN. "His bow ever abides in strength;" "He goeth forth conquering and to conquer." He will conquer in the one. He will conquer in the many. One day the final Victor over all evil will "deliver up the kingdom to the Father, and God shall be all in all." - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: {A Psalm.} O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. |
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