Connect
Stream
Psalms 98 is one of the enthronement Psalms used at festivals to celebrate God as the King.
This Psalm calls for a joyful celebration of the Lord’s righteousness.
The Psalmist requested the people to sing a new song to God for he has done marvelous deeds, wrought by his right hand and holy arm.
These wonderful deeds as the exodus, the wandering in the wilderness, and the conquest of Canaan imply their salvation, which is now made known to the whole world
The Psalmist expands his call for God’s praise from the community of Israel to the whole earth, and to the melodious songs, add musical instruments, for a joyful symphony to the LORD, the King
This praise of God should also be embraced by the realm of nature- the sea, rivers, and hills- for he is coming to judge the world with justice and fairness
In the second lesson, Mark narrates the coming of Jesus to Jerusalem as King during the Passover
As they approach Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of his disciples to the village ahead to fetch a colt tied but unused
It is symbolic that the colt should be released for the Lord’s use, yet again, being unused makes it appropriate for the royal and divine
There were plenty of people in Jerusalem for the festival, and when they learned Jesus was coming, a great crowd went out to meet him, taking palm branches in their hands.
They welcomed Jesus as their Messianic deliverer, not knowing that his way of being the Messiah was radically different from the political one they envisaged.
Jesus fulfilled the ancient prophecy as the people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Hosanna is a shortened form of “LORD, save us,” and the other part is of the royal thanksgiving Psalms for the fulfillment of victories promised