Shout to the Lord
before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:9 · Berean Standard Bible
All of this celebration happens because God is coming to judge the earth fairly—He will make decisions with perfect justice and treat everyone with equity.
The psalmist reveals why this joyful noise matters: God is coming as a judge. But this isn't bad news for those who trust Him—it's wonderful news. His judgment means the end of injustice, the setting right of wrongs, and the fair treatment of all people. That's worth celebrating.
The psalmist, tying the whole psalm together and pointing to God's future coming.
This points forward to a central theme of Scripture: God will come to judge and to make all things right. In the Old Testament it's presented as hope; in the New Testament, Jesus is that coming Judge. Either way, His judgment is good news for those who belong to Him.
God comes as judge of all creation, establishing righteousness among nations and equity among peoples through His just judgment.
The final verse pivots from doxological celebration to juridical theology: 'before the LORD, for He comes to judge' (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה כִּי בָא לִשְׁפֹּט). The preposition 'before' (לִפְנֵי, lifnei) suggests spatial orientation—all creation faces the judge. 'Judge' (שׁפט, shafat) means both to render judgment and to govern; the verb encompasses forensic and political dimensions. 'With righteousness' (בְצֶדֶק, betzedeq) and 'with equity' (בְמִישׁוֹרִים, bemishorim) parallel terms emphasizing moral rectitude and fair dealing. Notably, God judges 'the earth' (הָאָרֶץ, ha'arets) and 'the peoples' (הָעַמִּים, ha'ammim)—plural, emphasizing multiple nations subject to singular divine standard. This is eschatological judgment language, not merely historical retribution. Gerhard von Rad observed that such judgment is not vindictive but restorative—it establishes justice where injustice has prevailed.
The psalmist concludes with prophetic announcement, declaring God's imminent juridical action.
This finale grounds all preceding celebration in theology of divine justice. The entire psalm moves from commemoration of past victories (verse 1) through present proclamation (verses 2-3) to future expectation (verses 7-9). Matthew 25:31-46 and Revelation 20:11-15 employ similar juridical eschatology. Notably, this is judgment that establishes righteousness, not mere condemnation—God's coming vindicates the righteous and restores moral order. The Psalter's trajectory culminates in Psalm 150's unqualified praise precisely because Psalm 98 and its companions ground that praise in a cosmos where justice ultimately triumphs.
7Let the sea resound, and all that fills it, the world, and all who dwell in it.
8Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy
9before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Read all of Psalm 98 — Rivers clap their hands, mountains sing together. All creation celebrates a salvation the whole world will see.
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