I. RENDITION OF PRAISE (1a). The Exhortation. II. REASONS FOR PRAISE (1b-3). The Explanation. "For." The Salvation of God-'-Revealed. III. RENDITION OF PRAISE (4-9a). The Exhortation. 1. Summons to the Nation (4-6). (a) The People (4). (b) The Levites (5). (c) The Priests (6). 2. Summons to all Nature (7-9a). (Sea-World-Rivers-Mountains.) IV. REASONS FOR PRAISE (9bd). The Explanation. "For." The Administration of God-Righteous. SUPERSCRIPT.-A Psalm. PRIMARY AssocIATION.-See notes to preceding psalms of the group. Another anthem of praise for the deliverance of Israel. Pss. xcviii. and xcix. form a pair similar to xcvi. and xcvii., xcviii. being an echo of xcvi. and xcix. an echo of xcvii. This is the only psalm bearing the simple title without addition. PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-This is clear from the contents, which point to the period following the sec,md advent. The salvation of Israel is principally in view, the visible manifestation of Jehovah's faithfulness to His covenant. In contrast with preceding psalms, Q.
here the heavens are not smmnoned to join- the harmony of praise, but all nature is called upon to swell the chorus of rejoicing since the curse is re111oved. PERSONAL APPLICATION.-A song of salvation. Jehovah's working speaks even 111ore loudly than Israel's witness thereto (2). Salvation in all· its manifold aspects is the work of God alone (I). It is a good thing that God's memory is better than man's (3). Note three forms of worship in this group of psalms: (a) material presents; (b) vocal and instrumental praise, and (c) silent prostration; with xcvi. 8, cf. Rev. iv. 10; with xcviii. 4-6, c£ Rev. v. 9; with xcix. 5, cf. Rev. v. 14. VERSE NOTES I. "new song," cf. the old song, Exod. xv. 2, 6, II-12. (c) Br. "His own right hand . . . His own . . . " 3. (b) C£ Isa. Iii. IO. 4. Br. "Shout unto Jehovah all the land ... yea, psalm ( or, make melody);" shouts, music, trumpet-blast and hand-clapping (8) are appropriate upon a king's accession. Note fig. anadiplosis (4-5 ff.). 5. "Make melody (psalm) unto Jehovah with the harp; with the harp and the sound of melody." " H b "kh ah " d' XII " d f ' trumpets, e . atzotzer , see ppen ix ; soun o comet = blast of horn, Heb. "shophar,"; originally a ram's horn, later a metal instrumeĵt of the same shape, see Appendix XII; (b) hr. "shout aloud ... " 8 "Fl els " "hills " h d " fi f oo = nvers; = mountains; c ap an s = g. o waves striking against one another with a sound as of applauding palms. Rivers sym bolise· kinds of refreshment and channels of blessing from a source known or unknown.
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