December 31, 2023 - Psalm 98

Here on the last day of 2023, amidst all the uncertainties and troubles of the past year, may I simply quote the psalmist (Psalm 98, from the KJV, of course 😊.)?  Indeed, the Lord has done marvelous things.  Let us join the floods and the hills and clap our hands and be joyful together!

1 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Let all the world in every corner sing,

“My God and King!"

The heav’ns are not too high,

God's praise may thither fly;

the earth is not too low,

God’s praises there may grow.

Let all the world in every corner sing,

“My God and King!”

Let all the world in every corner sing,

“My God and King!”

The church with psalms must shout:

no door can keep them out.

But, more than all, the heart

must bear the longest part.

Let all the world in every corner sing,

“My God and King!”   -- George Herbert (1865)