Psalms 98:1-4 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. 2 The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
Psalm 98 is a victory psalm — a call to lift up a “new song” because the Z’roah, the holy arm of the LORD, has brought decisive triumph. In Hebrew thought, the arm is the active extension of the will, the power that brings intention into reality. To call it “holy” is to declare that it is set apart, dedicated fully to God’s purpose, incapable of corruption. The psalmist celebrates that salvation is not a hidden act, but an open demonstration — God’s righteousness revealed before the eyes of the nations.
The Z’roah here is not simply about a moment in history; it is the ongoing, covenant-keeping power of God. The psalm ties His victory directly to His mercy and faithfulness toward Israel — reminding us that every act of deliverance is anchored in His unchanging promises. His arm moves in perfect alignment with His covenant love, ensuring that His people’s salvation is never an afterthought but the goal of His mission.
The imagery points forward to the Messiah, the Arm of the LORD revealed in human form. Yeshua’s (Jesus’) death and resurrection were the ultimate “marvelous things” — the victory that disarmed the powers of darkness and opened salvation to every nation. The psalm’s vision of “all the ends of the earth” seeing God’s salvation finds its fulfillment in the global proclamation of the gospel and will reach its climax when He returns to reign openly.
This psalm also shows us that God’s victories demand a response. We are not called to observe quietly but to join the chorus — to “shout joyfully,” “rejoice,” and “sing praises.” The Z’roah has acted, the victory is won, and the whole earth is summoned to celebrate. Worship becomes the public testimony of the redeemed, declaring to the world what God has done.
For us today, Psalm 98 is both a celebration and a prophecy. We sing because the Z’roah has already secured our salvation, and we sing because we know the day is coming when every voice will join the song. This is not just Israel’s story; it is the world’s invitation.
The holy Arm has accomplished what no power on earth or in hell could ever do. His salvation is not hidden in shadows but blazes in the light for all to see. Lift your voice now in praise, for the Arm that won the victory is the Arm that upholds you still. And just as He rested when His work was finished, so you are invited into His Shabbat — the rest secured by His triumph. This rest will be your song now, and His victory will be the anthem of eternity.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy Devotions. This devotional was originally published on Worthy Devotions and was reproduced with permission.
How to display the above article within the Worthy Suite WordPress Plugin.
[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]In the mid 1850's a troubled teenager from Northfield, Massachusetts moved to Boston to try to find work. He hadn't gone to school beyond the fifth grade; he couldn't spell, his grammar was awful and his manners were brash and crude. Thankfully, an uncle took him on as a shoe salesman--on condition that he be obedient and that he attend church.
The prophet Elijah, through his dramatic demonstration of the LORD’s authority and power, inspired repentance in the people of Israel, calling them to exercise His judgment on idolaters by slaying 450 prophets of Ba’al and 400 prophets of Asherah on Mount Carmel. Yet this spiritual victory was followed by a severe demonic reprisal through the woman Jezebel.
The Hebrew calendar month of Elul began on Saturday night. Each day during the month of Elul, a shofar blast is sounded to announce the coming month of Tishrei – wherein the festival of Yom Teruah – the feast of trumpets– takes place, calling for all people to repent. Elul, therefore, is identified as a month during which a serious emphasis is placed on personal self-examination and repentance, an end-of-the-year opportunity to set our lives in order before Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashana), the Days of Awe, and finally, Yom Kippur.
As Joshua is about to enter the promised land, God reassures him and affirms the promise that was given to Moses, saying, “Wherever you place your feet – it shall be given to you!” God reveals His will, makes an amazing promise, then gives His servant a practical principle for working the promise out and claiming it, telling Joshua to literally step into His will. This is true for every believer. Our mandate is to know, understand and step out into the will of God. How can we know God’s will?”
The world loves the extraordinary, the spectacular. It relishes on the big, bright, grand and expensive. I remember when we traveled through Las Vegas years ago, to speak at a church in Carson City. Uyy! The lights, the size of everything -- crazy! But all I could think as we rolled down Sunset Strip was how sad it is that this is what the world finds extraordinary. The bigger, the brighter, the more expensive -- the more the world worships it.
Since my wife and I just celebrated our 7,000-day wedding anniversary, it reminded me of when my wife and I were initially married in Jerusalem -- before our major wedding in the States.
When Yeshua (Jesus) was attacked by Satan during His temptation in the wilderness, He countered every attack with the Word of God. But notice in Satan’s second attack – the enemy himself quoted the Scriptures, saying, “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, ‘He shall give his angels charge over thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’” (Matthew 4:6 was a quote from Psalm 91:11, but the phrase, “to keep thee in all thy ways” was absent from Satan’s quote).