God the Victor and Judge
Psalm 98
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.
God, who has won the victory, is coming. The victorious God is coming as the judge who will rule with equity and righteousness. (Compare Psalm 96:13 with Psalm 98:9 – similar ideas bring rejoicing.) And the arrival of this victorious judge brings joy, celebration – not just from human beings who use a wide range of instruments to make their joyful noise (vs. 4 and 6) – but also from creation vs. 7 and 8. For both creation and human beings have experienced injustice, have been oppressed, know the impact of those who bring destruction.
The language of victory – (vs. 1, 2, 3) – makes us a little nervous. But the victory of God is victory over the forces of war and violence, of victory over fear and anxiety, of victory over injustice and self-centeredness. The only way those things will be removed from the earth is that they are defeated, that war will be no more, that anxiety will be removed from the face of the earth. And that those persons who trade in war and violence, in fear and destruction will be forced to change their ways and patterns. Yes, the only way the world will actually be changed to a place where all people are treated with equity, is in a world where those who bring destruction and despair are defeated. Only in that way will their reign of terror be brought to an end.
God, the victor and the judge, is coming and we join with all creation in joyful noise welcoming God’s arrival. All of creation – even to the very ends of the earth – will be witness to God’s victory. For that victory we wait with eager expectation and hope.
PRAYER:
O Lord God, you are victor and judge, come and set the world to rights, end the terror wrought by those who seek to destroy and bring despair. Come and judge all the peoples of the earth, including us, with righteousness and equity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.