“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” (98:1). Out of his own loving character, God accomplishes salvation on earth. Salvation is personal – his “love and faithfulness” for Israel (98:3) and the “villages of Judah” (97:8) – and universal: “the ends of the earth” see and rejoice when God comes to help us. When the Lord is in charge, the whole earth celebrates (97:1), because his rule is one of justice, goodness, mercy, and kindness.

“All peoples see his glory” (97:6). God’s desire is that all people see his glory and love him, because we were made to live under his care.