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]While the mighty men of David were warriors and could fight with the best of them — they also took time to relax and feast with King David.
One minister tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even! Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has hurt me!"
An Indian was walking in downtown New York City alongside a resident friend. As they approached a busy street corner in the center of Manhattan, the Indian seized his friend's arm and whispered, "Wait. I hear a cricket." "Come on!", the city boy sneered, "This is downtown New York -- how could you possibly hear a cricket?" His friend persisted however, "No - seriously, I do!"
When the children of Israel were enslaved under Pharaoh, they were forced to labor seven days a week, working relentlessly without a break. Can you imagine doing hard labor for years on end without a break? This was Israel’s reality in Egypt.
Many cultures thrive on foods that ferment for months or sometimes years. For foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, even a great wine or fine cheese, time is a critical factor. The tastiest, and many times most beneficial for our health take TIME. And those who have learned to appreciate it are blessed.
The world of social media produces a constant flow of profound debates. For example, last night a decorated journalist on Twitter offered a joy-rave that finally, dogs live in the White House again. Earlier rants about ice cream or the color scheme of Air Force One have now yielded to the political significance of pet dogs!
When I spoke in London last year it was on the very same street that William Booth had launched the Salvation Army, a movement that continues to impact the world around us today. However, in the early days of the movement a renowned biologist and skeptic Thomas Huxley known as “Darwin’s bulldog” wrote a scathing article in the Times accusing Booth of ‘religious fanaticism, prostitution of the mind, and exacting blind obedience to unlimited authority.’