Psalm 98 (97):9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just recently, we heard the Gospel proclaiming the miraculous works of the Lord. He raised the son of a widow from the dead, halting their sorrow with compassion, and declaring, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.” (Luke 7:12-14) Truly marvelous are the works of the Lord. And what sorts of works? His powerful and holy hand healed him. What does the holy hand of the Lord represent? It is our Lord Jesus Christ. Recall the words of Isaiah: “Who has believed our hearing, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1) Therefore, the Lord’s holy hand, or right hand, refers to Himself. Consequently, our Lord Jesus is both the arm of God and His right hand, which is why it is said that He healed for Himself. This does not indicate merely that His right hand healed the world, but rather that healing is done for Him. Many receive healing but do so for their own sake and not for Him. Observe how numerous seek physical restoration and receive it from Him; they may be healed by His power, yet not for His glory. How is healing received by Him but not for Him? When they recover, they often indulge in immoral behavior; those who maintained chastity during their illness may become unfaithful upon recovery; those who caused no harm while suffering may turn to oppress the innocent once restored. They are healed, but not for His honor. Who, then, is truly healed by Him? The one who undergoes an inner transformation. Who is transformed inwardly? The one who places their trust in Him, believing that once healed internally and renewed as a new creation, even their weakened mortal flesh may ultimately be restored to its fullest health. Let us strive to be healed for His sake. To be healed for His sake, we must trust in His mighty hand.

The Lord has disclosed His salvation (Psalm 96:2). This right hand, this divine strength, this very salvation is our Lord Jesus Christ, respected in the words: “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:6). The same man Simeon, who held the child in his arms, declared: “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation.” (Luke 2:28-30) The Lord unveiled His salvation. To whom did He reveal it? Not to parts but to all. No one should falsely proclaim, “Look, Christ is here or there!” (Matthew 24:23). Those who make such claims refer to specific places. To whom did the Lord reveal His salvation? Listen carefully: He publicly demonstrated His righteousness before the nations. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ embodies the right hand of God, the might of God, the salvation of God, and the truth of God.

He remembered His mercy toward Jacob and His faithfulness to Israel (Psalm 96:3). What does it mean to remember mercy and truth? He had compassion, thus He made a promise; as He fulfilled His promise, truth naturally followed: mercy was the precursor to the promise, and truth fulfilled it. And His faithfulness to Israel—who is Israel? Do not merely think of the Jewish nation; consider this: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. It does not simply state the whole earth, but all ends, emphasizing from edge to edge. Let no one diminish it; let no one scatter it; the unity of Christ is strong. He paid a great price, redeeming all to Himself— all the ends of the earth.

“Cry unto the Lord, all the earth!” (Psalm 96:4). You already know what true joy sounds like. Rejoice and express your joy! If you cannot articulate your joy, let your shout give voice to it—joy must not remain silent; do not allow your heart to be quiet about your God or His gifts. If you speak to yourself, you find healing. If His right hand has healed you for His sake, acknowledge the One for whom you have been healed. Sing, rejoice, and craft a melody.

“Sing to the Lord on a harp, play the harp and with the voice of a psalm.” (Psalm 96:5). Praise Him not just vocally; engage in deeds, combining song with work. The one who sings and works performs on both the harp and the voice of the psalm. Let us now examine the next instruments mentioned: “with the sound of trumpets and the horn.” (Psalm 96:6). What are these trumpets and horns? The trumpets are instruments fashioned from brass, requiring hammering to form them. If through trials you embrace refinement, like the trumpets shaped by hammering, you will be raised to God’s glory, improving through hardships—tribulations serve as the hammer and spiritual improvement as the molding process. Job exemplified this truth; after experiencing profound loss and the death of his children, he became a vessel of praise despite suffering, proclaiming, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21). How uplifting is the sound of his declaration! That trumpeting voice still resonates amidst challenges.

Let’s listen to this uplifting tune in the spirit of reflection: Shall we accept good from God and not also face adversity? Such a commendable sound! Who among us will not be stirred to wakefulness by this proclamation? Who would not desire to trust that God will invigorate them to courageously engage in spiritual battles, not relying on their own strength but on Him who tests them? God is the one hammering, as the hammer cannot shape the trumpet on its own. Even the Apostle encountered trials through this very hammer, saying, “A thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Here he stood against the hammering; let us hear his words: “Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” And He replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The Creator desires to perfect this trumpet; it cannot be achieved without the hammering; in weakness, strength is fully realized. Now, learn how this pliable trumpet resonates: “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

What does the voice of the trumpet represent? The horn rises above mere flesh; to do so, it must be sturdy, enduring, and capable of voicing true sound. What is the source of its strength? It transcends the flesh. If one aims to be a trumpet, they must overcome the flesh. To surpass the desires and lusts of the flesh is to rise above it. Hear the clarion call of the trumpets. What is meant by focusing your desires on higher things? It signifies prioritizing divine over the earthly; do not let your thoughts dwell solely on material concerns. To those who were not yet prepared to hear, He stated: “I could not address you as spiritual people, but as fleshly, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were unable to receive it...” Do not be deceived, they were not spiritual trumpets because they had not yet transcended the flesh. The horn remains attached to the flesh yet also surpasses it; those who are spiritual rise above the everyday struggles while acknowledging their earthly existence. Though we live in the flesh, we do not conduct our battles according to it... Brothers, do not chastise those who have yet to experience the grace of God; recognize that in doing so, you too are acting from a worldly perspective. It is not the trumpet of self-promotion that pleases the Lord but a courageous trumpet that lifts up your spirits against evil, rather than fueling pride against your brother. Lift up a joyful noise in the presence of the Lord, the King.

As you celebrate and enjoy the sound of the trumpets and the voice of the horn, let the sea roar and all its inhabitants rejoice (Psalm 96:7). When the Apostles, as trumpets and horns, proclaimed the truth, the sea was stirred, its waves surged, and the storms of persecution rose against the Church. The agitation of the sea occurred when praises of thanksgiving were offered to God; His ears were delighted, causing the waves to swell. Let the sea and all that dwell within it be moved! Let the rivers clap their hands (Psalm 96:8). The sea is stirred, and the rivers joyfully applaud; as persecution arises, the saints rejoice in God. Where do the rivers find their joy? What does the clapping of hands signify? To rejoice in action. To clap hands represents joy in works. What are the floods? The faithful, transformed by the Holy Spirit's living water. The Lord invites, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink,” and “Whoever believes in Me, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-39). These rivers will shout praises, rejoicing in good deeds while blessing God. The hills will also rejoice together.

Before the Lord, for He has come; He comes to judge the earth (Psalm 96:9). The hills represent the great ones. The Lord arrives to judge the earth, and they rejoice. Yet, some hills may tremble when judgment approaches. There are righteous hills, symbolizing spiritual greatness, and there are prideful hills. Let the hills rejoice before the Lord, as He arrives to judge the earth. How will this judgment occur? He will bring justice to the universe and humanity with righteousness (Psalm 96:10). So let the hills rejoice; He will not judge unjustly. When an unworthy judge approaches, even the innocent may fear, uncertain if goodness will be rewarded or if condemnation awaits. Yet when the infallible Judge arrives, let the hills rejoice courageously; they will be enlightened in the light of His coming, and not condemned. They will celebrate because the Lord comes to judge the world righteously; if the righteous hills rejoice, the wicked will tremble. However, behold, He has not yet come; why tremble? Rather let them amend their ways and rejoice. The manner of your waiting for His coming is in your hands; He delays so that when He comes, He need not bring condemnation upon you. He is not yet here; He resides in heaven, while we are of the earth; He postpones His coming, so be wise. His coming is arduous for the hard-hearted but gentle for the pious. Examine yourself now: if you are hard-hearted, you may soften; if gentle, rejoice as you await His coming. For you are a Christian. Yes, you respond, I believe, and pray for His kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10). You yearn for the arrival of the one whose coming you also dread. Correct your heart, lest your prayers work against you.

14:10), so that each individual may receive recompense for what they have done in the body, whether good or evil (2 Cor. 5:10). Furthermore, the Prophet said: “God has spoken once; I have heard these two things: that power belongs to God, and your mercy, O Lord; for you will repay each man according to his deeds” (Psalm 61:12-13).

For He comes to judge the earth, administering judgment with justice and evaluating humanity righteously. This is further clarified at the conclusion of Psalm 95 (Psalms 95:13). It states: "and the nations by their truth," which correlates to "the nations by righteousness"; thus, it becomes evident that truth and righteousness are intertwined, for he who embodies truth is inherently righteous, and likewise, he who is righteous is true. As Theodoret notes, Christ's initial advent was marked by immense mercy, yet His second coming will be characterized by justice. We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due to us, based on our deeds during our earthly existence, whether good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10).

Therefore, let us steer clear of unrighteousness and deception; let us not engage in duplicity or succumb to greed. All of these actions are unacceptable in the sight of God’s judgment and will lead those who commit them to condemnation.

His help is evident to all (v.2) and abundant (v.3). This expression of gratitude should be universal (v.4) and conducted with utmost grandeur (vv.5-6). The term "pipes wrought" refers to metal instruments, while the act of clapping hands symbolizes joy, often seen in royal greetings (4 Samuel 11:12). The phrases about coming and going imply a persistent and ongoing celebration; even the irrational aspects of nature must participate (v.8), as the Judge of the entire earth is exalted (v.9).

The new song is an expression of gratitude for the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ, celebrating the magnificent way He has restored humanity from sin through His Precious Blood. The right hand and strength of Christ represent the divine authority by which He triumphed over death and now reigns. In His immense humanity, the right hand and strength of the holy Father, Christ redeemed the sinful and lost servant through His sufferings.