John Calvin Commentary Psalms 98:1

"Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song; For he hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought salvation for him." — Psalms 98:1 (ASV)

Sing unto Jehovah a new song: I have already remarked that the expression here used denotes an extraordinary, not a common, ascription of praise. This appears from the reason assigned for it, that God had manifested his salvation in a singular and incredible manner. For having spoken of marvelous things, he represents this as the sum of all: that God had procured salvation with his own right hand; that is, not by human means or in an ordinary way, but by delivering his Church in an unprecedented manner. Isaiah enlarges upon this miracle of God’s power:

The Lord looked if there were any to help, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation, and his righteousness sustained him. (Isaiah 59:16).

In both passages, the arm of God stands opposed to ordinary means. Although these means, when employed, detract nothing from the glory of God, they yet prevent us from discovering his presence as fully as we otherwise might. The language of the Psalmist amounts to a declaration that God would not save the world by ordinary means, but would come forth himself and show that he was the author of a salvation so singular in every respect.

He reasonably infers that such wonderful and, to us, incomprehensible mercy should be celebrated with no ordinary measures of praise. This is brought out still more clearly in the verse which follows, where it is said that his salvation and righteousness are shown to the nations. What could have been less expected than that light should have arisen in these dark and benighted places, and that righteousness should have appeared in the habitations of desperate wickedness?

Salvation is mentioned first, although it is, properly speaking, the effect of righteousness. Such an inversion of the natural order is often observed in stating divine benefits. Nor is it surprising that the means, which should be mentioned first, is sometimes placed last and follows as an explanation. I may add, that the righteousness of God, which is the source of salvation, does not consist in his rewarding people according to their works, but is instead the illustration of his mercy, grace, and faithfulness.