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.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]The Bible speaks of a great falling away in the last days (2 Thessalonians 2) before the end of the age arrives, and it seems that we’re seeing it on a grand scale all around us. Virtually everywhere we look we’re watching the decline of morality and ethics — in government, entertainment, and social culture. It seems hard to deny…
Continuing our study on prayer I want to emphasize the confidence we can have as we approach the Lord. The exact moment we move toward Him to pray, we are exercising faith….which immediately pleases Him. He knows that we need His mercy and grace, and because He constantly intercedes on our behalf, we can be assured He will hear us and respond. Our approach is not based on our own merits, but on His righteousness and mercy. Having been tempted at all points as we are [Hebrews 4:15], His identification and understanding enable us to approach His presence with bold confidence.
One of the most important aspects of prayer is understanding how God Himself is interceding for us in ways we cannot fathom or comprehend. While Yeshua’s (Jesus) atonement was completed on the cross 2000 years ago, His continuing work of intercession rests soundly on the basis of it. He now lives … to make intercession for us! As our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever [Hebrews 13:8], He is “faithful and true” and will always intercede according to the Father’s will, both in personal, individual matters, and also as we take up battles in prayer for others, including every arena of spiritual warfare.
When David was anointed king over Israel, he didn’t take his place at the throne immediately. He had to wait, and bide his time, until Saul was removed from power, before arriving at his destined place as King. Like His father David, Yeshua (Jesus) was received as Israel’s king/messiah at the triumphal entry, (often called “Palm Sunday”), and then, “anointed” King of the Jews, ironically receiving His true title from the Romans, while hanging on a cross. But He is still waiting to reveal His identity as King on earth, during the Millennial reign when His kingdom will replace the kingdoms of this world at His second advent. [Rev. 11:15].
In today’s world of Smart Phones, tablets and instant Internet access, there are many things that we can “know.” “How long is the Golden Gate Bridge?” Pop out your iPhone, ask “Siri”, the golden-voiced digital encyclopedic genius, and you’ll have the factual answer in seconds.
The Jewish leaders of His time rejected Yeshua (Jesus) when He first came. He didn’t meet their expectations. They were expecting a Messiah who would bring relief from the Romans, restore the Kingdom of David, and usher in an era of tranquility throughout the world. It is probable that their intense jealousy of Yeshua blinded them to the numerous passages in the Tenach (OT) which describe Messiah as a suffering servant, since they were certainly aware of those passages.
As thousands of believers around the world will celebrate Palm Sunday, I thought I’d offer some additional historical insight into the day Yeshua (Jesus) entered Jerusalem. Most people associate Palm Sunday with the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass”. But there is another significant detail associated with this beautiful fulfillment…