Single lesson
Psalm 98: Sing to the LORD a New Song
Psalms 98:1–9
Psalm 98 is a praise poem that begins with Yahweh’s saving work and widens into a call for people and creation to rejoice. Children will notice who is speaking, who is being called, and how the poem builds to joyful praise.
Before you teach
Psalm 98 mostly speaks about Yahweh and calls others to respond to him. The poem’s voice tells people and creation to sing, make a joyful noise and rejoice before Yahweh because he has made known his salvation, remembered loving kindness and faithfulness, and will judge the earth with righteousness and equity.
Students will be able to identify the psalm’s speaking voice, trace its movement from Yahweh’s saving acts to worldwide praise, and explain why the poem ends with joy before his righteous judgement.
Welcome: listen for the speaking voice
4 minTell the class they will hear a poem where one voice calls others to praise Yahweh. Ask them to listen for three things: what Yahweh has done, who is being told to sing, and what pictures are used. Read the whole psalm aloud, then let children point out repeated words such as sing, joyful, salvation and righteousness.
Psalms 98:1, Psalms 98:4, Psalms 98:9
Read and explain: why sing a new song?
7 minLook at verses 1 to 3. The poem says to sing because Yahweh has done marvellous things, worked salvation, made known his salvation, and shown his righteousness among the nations. It also says he remembered loving kindness and faithfulness toward the house of Israel. Praise begins with what Yahweh has done and shown.
Psalms 98:1, Psalms 98:2, Psalms 98:3
Discuss: who is speaking, and who is called?
6 minHelp children identify the speaker’s role from the command words. The voice of the poem says, ‘Sing’, ‘Make a joyful noise’, and ‘Let’ creation rejoice. It is not mainly talking straight to Yahweh. It is calling others to respond before Yahweh: first singers, then all the earth, then the sea, rivers and mountains.
Psalms 98:1, Psalms 98:4, Psalms 98:7, Psalms 98:8, Psalms 98:9
Make and respond: instruments and creation join in
8 minExplore the praise images in verses 5 to 8. The poem names harp, melody, trumpets and the ram’s horn, then pictures the sea roaring, rivers clapping, and mountains singing for joy. Explain that these are poem pictures showing praise spreading widely. Children can draw one image and label it with a short line from the matching verse.
Psalms 98:5, Psalms 98:6, Psalms 98:7, Psalms 98:8
Closing: joy before the righteous King
5 minFinish with verse 9. The poem says Yahweh comes to judge the earth, the world and the peoples, and that he judges with righteousness and equity. In this psalm that is a reason for joy. Review the movement together: Yahweh’s saving acts, the call to wider praise, and creation rejoicing before the King.
Psalms 98:6, Psalms 98:9
Questions to explore
Who seems to be speaking in this psalm, and to whom are the commands directed?
Notice the command words like ‘Sing’, ‘Make a joyful noise’ and ‘Let’. The poem’s voice calls people and creation to rejoice before Yahweh.
Psalms 98:1, Psalms 98:4, Psalms 98:7, Psalms 98:8, Psalms 98:9
What reasons does the psalm give for singing a new song to Yahweh?
Look in the opening verses for what Yahweh has done and shown: marvellous things, salvation, righteousness, loving kindness and faithfulness.
Psalms 98:1, Psalms 98:2, Psalms 98:3
How does the poem grow wider from the start to the end?
Begin with the house of Israel, then notice all the ends of the earth, all the earth, and even the sea, rivers and mountains joining the praise.
Psalms 98:3, Psalms 98:4, Psalms 98:7, Psalms 98:8
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Psalm 98 Praise Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- coloured pencils or markers
- Bible text written on board or read aloud
- optional crayons
Try it together
- Ask each child to choose one image from Psalm 98, such as harp, trumpet, sea, river or mountain.
- Have them draw that image and copy one short line from the matching verse, with help as needed.
- Invite them to add a second small picture showing who is being called to praise, such as all the earth or those who dwell in it.
- Let volunteers show their card and explain how their image fits the psalm’s call to rejoice before Yahweh.
This activity helps children notice how Psalm 98 uses sound and picture language to call people and creation to praise Yahweh.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two or three image choices from the psalm and let them repeat a short phrase such as 'Sing to Yahweh' or 'Make a joyful noise'.
- For older children, ask them to sort the psalm into three parts: Yahweh’s acts, the call to praise, and creation rejoicing before righteous judgement.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: 'Yahweh, thank you for your salvation, righteousness, loving kindness and faithfulness. Help us understand this psalm and join in joyful praise before you.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 98
1 Sing to Yahweh a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 Yahweh has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp, with the harp and the voice of melody.
6 With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, make a joyful noise before the King, Yahweh.
7 Let the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together.
9 Let them sing before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.