Make a Joyful Noise

Psalm 98 calls God’s people to joyful worship in anticipation of the Lord’s coming, celebrating His past salvation, present presence, and future return. The psalm unfolds as a royal hymn proclaiming God’s mighty acts—His salvation, faithfulness to Israel, and revelation of righteousness to the nations—culminating in a cosmic call for all creation to rejoice. This joy is rooted in the historical reality of God’s faithfulness, especially fulfilled in Christ’s incarnation, who has come, is present, and will return to judge the world with righteousness and restore all things. The sermon emphasizes that this praise is not confined to joyful seasons but is a faithful response in every circumstance, even amid sorrow, because the Christian’s hope is both historical and eschatological—a present reality and a future consummation. Ultimately, worship is both a rehearsal of God’s coming kingdom and a living expression of faith in a God who has already acted, is acting now, and will act again to make all things right.