Psalm 98 (97):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Recall the Gospel reading, where we witnessed God's marvelous actions. The lone son of a widow was carried out as dead; but with compassion, the Lord commanded him to rise, saying, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise" (Luke 7:12-14). Truly, the Lord has accomplished marvelous things. What are these wonders? Hear this: His right hand and His holy arm brought healing. What is the holy arm of the Lord? It is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Reflect on the words of Isaiah: "Who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1). Accordingly, His holy arm and right hand refer to Himself. Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ embodies the power and salvation of God.

He remembers His mercy to Jacob and His faithfulness to Israel (Psalm 96:3). What is meant by His remembrance of mercy and truth? His compassion leads Him to make promises; as He fulfills these promises, truth is manifested. Mercy comes before the promise, and the promise is realized in truth. To Israel, who is included in this remembrance? Make no mistake; it is not just a singular nation of Jews, for it is said that all ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God. It does not merely state the entire world, but identifies all the ends of the earth, indicating that this is a universal promise meant for all. Let no one divide or scatter this unity; the strength of Christ’s oneness encompasses all creation.

Since they have seen, “Cry out to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:4). You already understand what it means to offer a joyful shout. Exult and express your feelings. If words cannot convey your joy, then let a shout declare your happiness; joy ought to be vocal. Ensure your heart is not silent regarding your Creator or His gracious gifts. When you reflect on His goodness, you heal your spirit. If His right hand has brought healing, let Him know for whom you have been restored. Sing, rejoice, and create melodies.

Sing to the Lord with stringed instruments; with the psaltery and the voice of song (Psalm 96:5). Praise Him not just with words, but also through your actions, integrating song with your deeds. He who sings and labors harmonizes on the stringed instruments of life. We also must explore the various instruments mentioned: with elastic trumpets and the strong voices of horns (Psalm 96:6). What are these pliable instruments of brass? They are shaped through pressure; if you endure trials and are refined, you become like the pliable trumpet whose strength emerges through tribulation. Job exemplified this when faced with profound loss, declaring, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). How beautiful was his proclamation! That pliable trumpet continues to be shaped; we have heard it refined, now let us discern its sweet sound. Shall we accept the good from God and not the bad? O compelling sound! Who would not awaken to such a message? Who will not have faith that God will rouse them to boldly confront evil, finding strength not in themselves, but through Him who tests them? For it is the trials that shape us.

Look closely; even the Apostle underwent the refining process: "A thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). This is his shaping; let us listen to his account: "For this cause, I implored 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." The Maker desires to create a perfect instrument; He does this through refinement, for in weakness, strength is perfected. Listen now to how the pliable trumpet resonates: "When I am weak, then I am strong."

What is the call of the trumpet? The horn transcends the flesh; to rise above the flesh requires strength to endure and to communicate. Where does its sound originate? It emerges from the experience of overcoming the flesh. What does it mean to surpass the desires and lusts of the flesh? It signifies focusing your heart on heavenly matters, which means setting your desires on higher things. The individuals to whom He addressed Himself were not yet spiritual hornpipes; therefore, He stated, "I could not address you as spiritual, but as carnal, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not meat; for you were not able to bear it, nor indeed are you still" (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). They lacked the essence of horned instruments, having remained grounded in earthly priorities. A horn is rooted in the earthly but transcends the earthly; while it originates from the flesh, it ascends beyond it. If you find yourselves embodying a spiritual nature, moving beyond the carnal, recognize that though you operate in the flesh, you walk in the spirit, thus ascending to heavenly realms.

Brethren, let us temper our rebukes toward those still in their fleshly state; understand that, in doing so, you partake in their earthly nature. A trumpet pleasing to God is not one that boasts; arrogance will lead to futile conflict. Instead, let the sound of the joyful trumpet embolden your spirit against the enemy; do not allow the trumpet of pride to incite conflict among brethren. Raise a joyful shout in the presence of the Lord God.

As you celebrate and enjoy the sound of the trumpets and the call of the horns, what follows? Let the sea roar and all that fills it (Psalm 96:7). Brethren, when the Apostles, like flexible trumpets and horns, proclaimed the truth, the seas trembled, waves surged, and storms arose, resulting in the Church’s persecution. When did this turmoil begin? It commenced when joyful sounds greeted the heavens and psalms of gratitude arose; the Lord's ears were delighted, and thus the seas began to swell. Let the oceans and all who dwell within be stirred up. Let the rivers clap their hands (Psalm 96:8). As the seas roar and the rivers rejoice, persecutions may arise, but the saints revere God amidst trials. The rivers clap joyfully, indicating the delight of their deeds. To clap hands symbolizes rejoicing. Together, these waters flow from those whom God has made into torrents by imparting this Living Water, His Holy Spirit. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37-39). Rivers will express their joy through works and bless God. The mountains will also burst into praise.

Before the Lord, for He has come to judge the earth (Psalm 96:9). The hills symbolize those of great stature. The Lord arrives as judge, and they express their joy. Yet, certain hills will shake in His presence on that day of judgment. Thus, there are righteous hills and those born of pride; the former symbolize spiritual exaltation, and the latter signify arrogance. Let the righteous hills exult together before Him, for He has come to judge. How will He come? He will judge with righteousness, His justice is unwavering (Psalm 96:10). Hence, let the righteous hills rejoice; He will not render unfair judgments. When a human judge comes who lacks discernment, even the innocent might tremble at the prospect of receiving justice or facing condemnation. However, when the unerring Judge arrives, let the righteous hills celebrate fearlessly; they will be enlightened by His wisdom rather than condemned. Let the righteous rejoice, while those who are unrighteous ought to fear. But lo, He has not yet come; they have no reason to tremble yet. Let them amend their paths and find joy.

It is within your power to choose how you await Christ’s return. His delay serves as mercy to prevent your condemnation upon His arrival. He is not yet here, seated in heaven while you remain on earth; do not be sluggish in wisdom. His coming poses difficulty for those hard of heart, yet is a blessing for the faithful. Therefore, assess your condition; if you are hardened, you can become tender; if gentle, rejoice in His anticipated return. For you are called a Christian. You profess belief and pray for His kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10). You yearn for the arrival of the very One of whom you fear. Adjust your lives, so your prayers align with His will.

Observe the significance of these two trumpets: the silver trumpet represents eloquence, while the horn embodies virtue. Have you ever wondered why the horn is consistently used in a favorable manner? In Leviticus, it states, ‘Let no animal but a horned animal be sacrificed.’ Three types are designated for this offering: the horned calf, the horned ram, and the horned goat. Is it merely coincidental that only horned animals are to be offered? Therefore, when we possess horns, we, too, are deemed worthy to be sacrifices unto God. Should our horns be broken, we would be akin to the disabled and unable to partake in the priesthood of God.

They offered a silent lamb, whereas we offer the Lamb of redemption, who removes the sins of the world (John 1:29). While they sounded physical trumpets, we proclaim with living voices. Our trumpets are the holy Apostles, the divinely enlightened Prophets, and those who have inherited the gift of teaching thereafter. Raise your trumpet before the King of the Lord. Sing a triumphant song to the Sovereign and Lord of all.

Theodoret notes how Scripture frequently refers to a trumpet straightforwardly; for example, in stating, "when you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you," meaning do not proclaim it aloud. Forged trumpets are identified as brass trumpets, and horned trumpets are made from actual horns, traditionally used by the Jews during celebrations of victory. Thus, in this context, our trumpets are the divine apostles, prophets, and teachers. Athanasius explains that the copper-forged trumpets symbolize the zeal and strength of Gospel proclamation, while the horned trumpet signifies royalty; as kings are anointed with horns, they utilized these horned trumpets to announce their rise to power. According to Nyssa, the trumpet of the law represents the Word; it is likewise appropriate during the feast of Tabernacles to raise voices akin to trumpets—that is, the voices of prophets, labeled as horned since their authority is derived from the true unicorn. Eusebius remarks that the teachings of the apostles of our Savior are considered forged trumpets due to their steadfast and passionate faith and horned trumpets due to their works. Horned trumpets are crafted from the horns of oxen, animals known for their labor, and Paul reflects on this when he asks, "Or does God care for oxen? Or is it certainly for us that he speaks thus?"

Therefore, the prophet attributes a sound to the gospel, stating, “With the voice of a trumpet are the horns of the gospel.” Even though many have interpreted the gospel narrative, a singular voice of the one gospel emerges, as all have conveyed the sacrament in harmony.

The aggression of the Gentiles against God's chosen people symbolizes a direct challenge to God Himself; thus, it is fitting to portray Him as ‘Himself’ providing assistance. Various Greek manuscripts also present αυτον. The help provided is evident to all (v.2) and characterized by grace (v.3). This expression of thanksgiving ought to be global (v.4) and as grand as possible (vv.5-6). The mention of pipes signifies a crafted instrument. The act of splashing hands is a joyful gesture often seen in royal receptions (2 Samuel 11:12). The phrases regarding coming and going should imply an ongoing, perpetual state; even the natural world, in its entirety, must engage in this celebration (v.8), as the Judge of all creation receives glory (v.9).

This aligns with the prophecy of Ezekiel, who proclaimed long after David: "And I will raise up to them a shepherd, My servant David" (Ezekiel 34:23). The new song serves as a gratitude for the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ, marveling at how He has restored humanity from sin through His Precious Blood. The "right hand" and "muscle" symbolize the divine power of Christ, through which He triumphed over death and reigns. By His immense humanity, the right hand and muscle of the Holy Father, Christ redeemed the sinful and lost servant through His sufferings.