Psalms 98:7
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just about nature joining in; it's a powerful declaration that even the vast, untamed sea and the entirety of humanity are summoned to praise God. It highlights that God's reign isn't limited to a specific people or place, but encompasses all of creation, both animate and inanimate.
This psalm is a vibrant celebration of God's victory and coming kingship, echoing themes of praise found in earlier psalms. Following calls for all the earth to shout joyfully and make music, the psalm expands its scope to include the entirety of creation. This verse, along with the ones that follow, calls on the natural world itself—the sea, rivers, and mountains—to join in the enthusiastic praise of God as He comes to judge and reign over the earth.
Have you ever felt a deep connection to the natural world, as if it could express its own awe? This psalm suggests it can!
The psalmist calls on the sea, the world, and all its inhabitants to join in a mighty chorus of praise. This isn't just poetic flair; it's a profound theological statement.
The Whole Creation Rejoices
When God's reign is celebrated, it impacts everything. The natural world isn't a passive backdrop to human events; it's an active participant in God's unfolding plan. The sea is invited to 'roar,' and the world to 'dwell' in praise. This reflects a biblical worldview where creation groans and longs for redemption (Romans 8:22) and will ultimately share in the glorious liberty of God's children.
A Universal Symphony
This call for universal praise highlights the scope of God's kingdom. It’s not just for humanity or a select people, but for the entirety of creation. Every part of God's magnificent design has a role in proclaiming His glory.
Why does the psalmist demand such a powerful response from the entire creation? It all comes down to who God is and what He's doing.
The roaring sea and the bustling world are called to celebrate because God is actively establishing His reign. This psalm is a declaration of God's kingship, especially in light of His redemptive actions.
God's Mighty Reign
This particular psalm (Psalm 98) bursts with the joy of God's deliverance and victory. The call to praise isn't abstract; it's a direct response to God's 'wondrous works' and His 'right hand and holy arm' securing victory (Psalm 98:1). This divine intervention is the very reason for the earth and its inhabitants to 'roar' and rejoice.
A King Comes to Judge
The climax of this celebration is found in verses 7-9, where the reason for this universal acclamation is explicitly stated: 'for he cometh to judge the earth; with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with uprightness' (Psalm 98:9). God's perfect justice and righteous rule are the foundation of this joyous, all-encompassing praise.
This passage shares the phrase 'the world and those who dwell in it,' linking the entirety of creation to God's presence and sovereignty.
Psalms 96:11This verse is directly alluded to, repeating the command for the sea and the world to rejoice, emphasizing the ongoing theme of creation's praise.
Isaiah 55:12This verse describes a similar scene of natural rejoicing, where mountains and hills break forth into singing, mirroring the personification of nature in Psalm 98:7.
Revelation 11:15This New Testament passage speaks of God's kingdom coming and the great voices in heaven proclaiming, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,' connecting the joyful roar of creation to God's ultimate reign.
pulpitPsalms 98:7: "Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
Verse 7. - Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof (see above, Psalm 96:11, where the same phrase occurs). The call on the inanimate things of nature to rejoice is grounded on man's sympathy with nature, which makes him desire, and half believe, that nature may sympathize with him. The world, and they that dwell therein (comp. Psalm 24:1).
ellicottPsalms 98:7: "Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
(7) See Psalm 96:11 . “Listen! the mighty Being is awake And doth with His eternal motion make A sound like thunder everlastingly.” WORDSWORTH.
This isn't just about nature joining in; it's a powerful declaration that even the vast, untamed sea and the entirety of humanity are summoned to praise God. It highlights that God's reign isn't limited to a specific people or place, but encompasses all of creation, both animate and inanimate.
This psalm is a vibrant celebration of God's victory and coming kingship, echoing themes of praise found in earlier psalms. Following calls for all the earth to shout joyfully and make music, the psalm expands its scope to include the entirety of creation. This verse, along with the ones that follow, calls on the natural world itself—the sea, rivers, and mountains—to join in the enthusiastic praise of God as He comes to judge and reign over the earth.
This psalm is a vibrant celebration of God's victory and coming kingship, echoing themes of praise found in earlier psalms. Following calls for all the earth to shout joyfully and make music, the psalm expands its scope to include the entirety of creation. This verse, along with the ones that follow, calls on the natural world itself—the sea, rivers, and mountains—to join in the enthusiastic praise of God as He comes to judge and reign over the earth.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 98:7 is available in the Sola app.
"Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!" — This isn't just about nature joining in; it's a powerful declaration that even the vast, untamed sea and the entirety of humanity are summoned to praise God. It highlights that God's reign isn't limi…
