Psalm 98 (97):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just now, we listened to the Gospel and heard of the Lord’s marvels. The only son of a widow, who had died, was carried away; moved by compassion, the Lord halted the procession and said to the young man, “Young man, I say unto you, Arise” (Luke 7:12-14). Truly, the Lord has performed mighty acts. What are these mighty acts? Behold, His right hand and His holy arm have brought healing. What is the holy arm of the Lord? It is our Lord Jesus Christ. Consider the words of Isaiah: “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1). Thus, His holy arm and His right hand refer to Himself. Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ embodies the arm of God and the right hand of God, as indicated by the fact that He healed for Him. It does not merely state, “His right hand healed the world,” but rather healed for Him, since many are healed for their own purposes and not for Him. Look at how many desire physical healing and receive it from Him; they are healed by Him, but not for His glory. How do they receive healing by Him yet not for Him? Once they regain health, their moral integrity fades; those who maintained purity during illness may indulge in immorality when restored; those who caused no harm when unwell might harm the innocent upon recovery: they are healed, yet not for Him. Who is the one truly healed by Him? It is the one transformed from within. And who is the one inwardly healed? It is the one who believes that, through their internal healing and transformation into a new creation, even this mortal body, which has suffered for a time, may be restored to perfect health. Let us, therefore, seek healing for His sake, and to do so, let us trust in His right hand.

The Lord has made His salvation known (Psalm 96:2). This very right hand, this very arm, this salvation is our Lord Jesus Christ. It is said that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6). Simeon, who held the child in his arms, proclaimed, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:28-30). The Lord revealed His salvation to whom? Did He reveal it to a faction or to all? He did not make it known to any specific part. No one deceives or misleads by saying, “Behold, Christ is here or there” (Matthew 24:23). To whom has the Lord disclosed His salvation? Hear the continuation: He has made His righteousness evident to the nations. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the right hand of God, the arm of God, the salvation of God, and the truth of God.

He has remembered His mercy to Jacob and His fidelity to the house of Israel (Psalm 96:3). What does it signify that He has remembered His mercy and faithfulness? He showed compassion, which led to a promise; as He promised, His fidelity followed: mercy came before the promise, and the promise was fulfilled in truth. And His fidelity extends to the house of Israel. Who is Israel? Do not limit Israel to merely one nation of Jews; bear in mind that all the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God. It does not simply say the entire earth, but all the ends of the earth, as clarified from one end to the other. No man can diminish it, no man can disperse it; the unity of Christ is formidable. He who paid the ultimate price redeemed all things—the ends of the earth.

Because they observed, “Cry out to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:4). You know what a joyful noise is. Rejoice and raise your voice. If you cannot articulate your joy, let your shout express it, as silence is unworthy of the joy in your heart regarding your God and His blessings. When you speak to yourself, you bring healing; if His right hand has healed you for His glory, declare whom you are healed for. Sing, celebrate, and create a melody.

Sing to the Lord using the harp; play the harp skillfully, along with the voice of psalms (Psalm 96:5). Praise Him not just with words; engage in actions that demonstrate your commitment. The one who sings alongside works is harmonizing with the harp and the strings. Let us now explore the instruments mentioned in the imagery: “and with the sound of joyful trumpets and the horned trumpet” (Psalm 96:6). What do joyful trumpets and horn pipes signify? Joyful trumpets are crafted from metal; they are shaped through the hammering process. If you are willing to be molded through trials, akin to a joyful trumpet, your tribulations will serve as the hammer, and your improvement will follow. Job was a joyful trumpet when he faced profound loss and the death of his sons; despite his afflictions, he exclaimed, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). How beautifully he articulated this! That joyful trumpet is still being shaped. We have heard it being hammered; let’s listen to the melodious sound produced. What! Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not evil? O how sweet the sound! Who will not awaken from slumber at this call? Who does not wish to find strength in God to fearlessly engage in spiritual warfare against the devil, relying not on their own power, but on the One who tests them? For He shapes us; the hammer cannot shape alone. Look, even the Apostle experienced this hammering, as he wrote, “A thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Behold, he was under the hammer; listen to his response: “For this reason, I sought the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” And He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” His Maker desires to perfect this trumpet, yet cannot do so without the hammering process; in weakness, strength finds its realization. Listen to how the joyful trumpet resonates: "When I am weak, then I am strong."

What does the sound of the trumpet signify? The horn rises above the material; it must be firm to endure and vocalize. This ascension above the flesh is essential; to be a horn, one must conquer their desires and overcome carnal inclinations. Attend to the joyful trumpets... What does the call to elevate your affections signify? It means to transcend earthly concerns; do not be consumed by worldly matters. They were not yet joyful trumpets when He addressed them as follows: “I could not speak to you, brethren, as to spiritual matters but as to carnal; I fed you with milk, and not with solid food, for you were unable to bear it, and even now you are still carnal.” Hence, they were not yet joyful trumpets, for they had not surpassed their baser inclinations. The horn both intertwines with the flesh and surpasses it; though it originates from the flesh, it elevates beyond it. Therefore, if you are now spiritual, having previously been carnal; even though the flesh grounds you to the earth, the spirit allows you to ascend to the heavens; though we walk in the flesh, we do not fight according to the flesh. Brethren, do not rebuke those among you whom the grace of God has not yet transformed; understand that as you do so, you share in the flesh. It is not the trumpet of jubilation that delights God’s ears; the trumpet of boastful pride renders spiritual warfare futile. Let the joyful trumpet inspire courage against the evil one, and do not let the flesh incite your pride against your brethren. Raise a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

As you rejoice and relish the sounds of the trumpets and the joyful horn, what follows? “Let the sea roar, and all its fullness” (Psalm 96:7). Brethren, when the Apostles, acting as joyful trumpets and horns, preached the truth, the sea stirred; its waves swelled, storms arose, and the Church faced persecution. When was the sea agitated? It was when joyful shouts erupted, when songs of thanksgiving were offered to God; the ears of God were pleased, and the waves of the sea surged. Let the sea and all its inhabitants tremble: the entirety of creation and everyone within it. Let the sea roar with its persecution. “Let the rivers clap their hands” (Psalm 96:8). Let the sea be stirred, and let the rivers rejoice; challenges arise, yet the saints find joy in the Lord. Where do the rivers clap their hands? What does clapping signify? It represents rejoicing through actions. The act of clapping denotes joy; hence, hands signify work. What are the floods? They are those made torrents by receiving this Living Water, the Holy Spirit. As He proclaimed, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37-39). Those who believe in Him will have rivers of living water flowing from within. These rivers will rejoice, delighting in acts of service and praising God. The hills will celebrate together.

Before the Lord, for He has come; indeed, He comes to judge the earth (Psalm 96:9). The hills symbolize the mighty. The Lord arrives to judge the earth, and they rejoice. However, some hills will tremble at His coming. There are virtuous hills and those that symbolize prideful excess. Let the hills rejoice in unison before the Lord, for He has arrived; He comes to judge the earth. How will He approach, and with what intention? He will judge the nations and humanity with equity (Psalm 96:10). Hence, let the hills rejoice; He will not judge unjustly. When a judge comes whose conscience remains hidden, even the innocent may shudder, fearing a reward for virtue or the peril of condemnation. But when the One who cannot be deceived approaches, let the hills rejoice without fear; they shall be illuminated by Him, not condemned; let them rejoice, for the Lord will judge the world with righteousness; if the righteous hills rejoice, the ungodly will tremble. Yet behold, He is not yet present: why tremble? May they amend their ways and celebrate. It is within your control how you await His arrival. This is why He delays; when He does come, may you not face condemnation. Regard that He has not yet come: He is in Heaven, while you are on earth; He tarries; do not be slow to seek wisdom. His coming may prove difficult for the obstinate but gentle for the faithful. Assess your state: if hardened, seek transformation; if gentle, rejoice now in His impending return. For you identify as Christians. Indeed, you affirm your belief; you pray, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10), longing for the coming of the One whose arrival makes you anxious. Amend your ways, lest you inadvertently pray against yourselves.

The assistance is shown to be evident to all (v.2) and characterized by grace (v.3). The spirit of thanksgiving should be widespread (v.4) and expressed in the most exalted manner possible (vv.5-6), with imagery of pipes crafted from metal. The clapping of hands is a joyful gesture, often seen in royal greetings (2 Samuel 11:12). The notion of coming and going reflects a perpetual state of existence; even the forces of nature, despite their reluctance, are compelled to participate in this celebration (v.8) as the Supreme Judge of all creation is exalted (v.9).

This aligns with the prophecy of Ezekiel, who proclaimed many generations after David: “and I will raise up to them a shepherd, My servant David” (Ezekiel 34:23). The new song expresses gratitude for the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ, celebrating how remarkably He has redeemed humanity from sin by His Precious Blood. The right hand and strength refer to the divine power of Christ, through which He conquered death and reigns. According to His profound humanity, the right hand and might of the Holy Father—Christ saved the fallen and the lost through His sufferings.