서론
Psalm 98 Introduction
英文原文
This is entitled simply "A Psalm." But who is its author is unknown. It is similar in its design and structure to the group of Psalms Ps. 95-100 in which it is found. Dr. Horsley, in accordance with the views which he has of the design of the group (see the Introduction to Psalm 97:1-12), supposes that this psalm refers to the restoration of the Jewish people. It is a psalm which would have been appropriate at the dedication of the temple after the Babylonian captivity, and may have been composed for that occasion. It is of so general a character, however, that it is appropriate to all times in the church. The psalm does not admit of a particular analysis.
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Psalm 98:1
「你們要向耶和華唱新歌」——試參 Psalm 33:3；Psalm 96:1。「因為他行過奇妙的事」——即適於激起驚奇、使心中充滿驚訝的事。參見 Psalm 77:14；Psalm 86:10。
「他的右手」——即我們藉以執行任何旨意的工具。試參 Isaiah 59:16；Isaiah 63:5。
「和聖臂」——即祂聖潔的膀臂；就是在正義的事業中伸出、或為正直之事辯護的膀臂。
「施行救恩」——直譯是「為自己施行了救恩」：為祂自己，或在祂自己的事業中。那勝利——那救恩——實在是為維護祂自己的治理；為抵擋那些立意反對的人而堅立祂自己的權柄。這裏所說的，可以應用於神的一切作為。那些作為實在都是為祂自己的事業，為持守祂自己行政的原則。
英文原文
O sing unto the Lord a new song - Compare Psalm 33:3; Psalm 96:1. "For he hath done marvelous things." Things suited to excite wonder, or to fill the mind with astonishment. See Psalm 77:14; Psalm 86:10.
His right hand - The instrument by which we execute any purpose. Compare Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5.
And his holy arm - The arm of his holiness; that is, his arm put forth in a righteous cause, or vindicating that which is right.
Hath gotten him the victory - literally, "has worked salvation for him:" for himself, or in his own cause. The victory - the salvation - was really in defense of his own government; in maintaining his own authority against those who set themselves in opposition to it. What is here said may be applied to all that God does. It is really in his own cause, in order to maintain the principles of his own administration.
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Psalm 98:2
「耶和華發明了他的救恩」——參閱 Isaiah 52:10 的註釋。這不是說他僅僅「宣告」了他的救恩、或他拯救的意願，而是說他已經藉著某項公開的作為彰顯了他的救恩——他拯救的大能。此處所指的究竟是哪項作為，如今已無從查考。然而這樣的作為他常常施行，如他領他的百姓出埃及之時；如他使希伯來人從被擄於巴比倫歸回之時；以及他在危難之時為他們施行干涉的每一時刻。他在賜下救主一事上也是如此；他在真敬虔每次復興時如此行；他在拯救一個罪人時也如此行。
「他的公義」——他公義的品格；他對他百姓的信實。他每次施行干涉，都是為著正義的緣故；因此這樣的干涉便是他公正品格的例證。我們便是這樣認識他的品格乃是公正之神的品格。
「顯出」——頁邊註依希伯來文作「啟示」。他已將它顯明出來，使之昭然若揭。
「在列邦人眼前」——即列國；或說使列國都能看見：意思是巴勒斯坦以外的列國。他的作為如此公開——如此顯著——以致周圍的列國都能認識他真正的品格。他拯救他的百姓脫離埃及為奴之時正是如此；在他百姓的歷史中也屢屢如此。
英文原文
The Lord hath made known his salvation - See the notes at Isaiah 52:10. This does not mean that he had merely "proclaimed" his salvation, or his willingness to save, but that he had shown his salvation - his power to save - by some public act. What the particular act referred to here was, it is impossible now to ascertain. Such acts, however, have been often performed, as when he delivered his people out of Egypt; when he restored the Hebrews from the Babylonian captivity; and whenever he interposed in their behalf in times of danger. He has done it also in the gift of a Saviour; he does it in every revival of true religion; he does it in the salvation of a single sinner.
His righteousness - His righteous character; his faithfulness to his people. Whenever he interposes, it is in behalf of that which is right; and such interposition, therefore, is an illustration of his character as just. It is in this way we learn that his character is that of a just God.
Hath he openly showed - Margin, as in Hebrew, "revealed." He has disclosed it, or made it manifest.
In the sight of the heathen - The nations; or, so that the nations could see it: that is, the nations outside of Pa estine. His acts were so public - so remarkable - that surrounding nations could learn what was his true character. Thus it was when he delivered his people from Egyptian bondage; and thus also frequently in the history of his people.
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Psalm 98:3
「記念他……的慈愛」——比較 Luke 1:54-55 的註釋、Luke 1:72 的註釋；詩篇中的這段話，很可能正是馬利亞和撒迦利亞在那裏所指的。其意乃是：神記起了他向自己子民所施憐憫的應許；他沒有讓它淡出他的記憶；他持守了他的話。
「和他的信實」——他持守了他的應許；他已顯明自己是信實的神。
「向以色列家」——即向他的子民。「地的四極都看見我們神的救恩」——這似乎是引自 Isaiah 52:10。見該處的註釋。兩者在措辭上的相似如此強烈，以致本詩大概寫成於以賽亞之後，而且（如上文所述）很可能用於被擄歸回後聖殿的奉獻禮。整首詩用於慶祝那次拯救原是合宜的；同時，又如以賽亞書中的言語一樣，它也適合慶祝一次更高的拯救——在彌賽亞之下的拯救——那次拯救正是這更高拯救的預表。
英文原文
He hath remembered his mercy - Compare the notes at Luke 1:54-55 (note), Luke 1:72 (note), where this passage in the Psalms was not improbably referred to by Mary and Zacharias. The idea is, that God had called to mind his promise of mercy to his people; that he had not suffered it to pass out of his recollection; that he had kept his word.
And his truth - He has kept his promise; he has shown that he is a God of truth.
Toward the house of Israel - Toward his people.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God - This appears to have been quoted from Isaiah 52:10. See the notes at that passage. The resemblance in the language is so strong as to make it probable that the psalm was composed after the times of Isaiah, and not improbably to be used (as remarked above) in the dedication of the temple after the captivity. The whole psalm would be appropriate to celebrate that deliverance; while, at the same time, like the language in Isaiah, it would be adapted to celebrate a higher deliverance - under the Messiah - of which that was an emblem.
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Psalm 98:4
「全地都要向耶和華歡樂」——藉着歌唱；藉着樂器。見 Psalm 95:1 的註釋。「全地」——即萬國。這事件重大無比，配得萬國一同慶祝。這是普世歡騰喜樂的事。
「要發起大聲」——這裏所用的字 פצח pâtsach，本義是打碎；繼而是爆發，如得勝或喜樂的吶喊，彷彿喜樂再也不能約束或抑制。見 Isaiah 14:7 的註釋。這字（除眼前這處以外）僅見於以下各處，且都譯作「迸發」：Isaiah 14:7；Isaiah 44:23；Isaiah 49:13；Isaiah 52:9；Isaiah 54:1；Isaiah 55:12——惟 Micah 3:3 例外，那裏譯作「打碎」。它表達的是抑制不住的喜樂。
「歡呼歌頌」——「發起歡呼，一同歌唱」——正是這幾個字的組合，與此處相同的希伯來文——見於 Isaiah 52:9；這表明（如上文所述）本詩寫成於以賽亞之後，大概所指的也是同一事件。
英文原文
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord - By singing; by instruments of music. See the notes at Psalm 95:1.
All the earth - All lands. The event is of sufficient importance to be celebrated by all nations. It is a matter of universal exultation and joy.
Make a loud noise - The word used here - פצח pâtsach - means properly to break in pieces; then, to break forth, as a shout of triumph or joy, as if the joy could be no longer confined or repressed. See the notes at Isaiah 14:7. The word occurs only in the following places (besides that which is before us), in all of which it is rendered "break forth." Isaiah 14:7; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 52:9; Isaiah 54:1; Isaiah 55:12 - (except in Micah 3:3, where it it is rendered "break"). It is expressive of irrepressible joy.
Rejoice and sing praise - This very combination of the words, "Break forth into joy, sing together" - the same words in Hebrew as here - occurs in Isaiah 52:9, showing, as above remarked, that the psalm was composed after the times of Isaiah, and probably had reference to the same event.
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Psalm 98:5
「要用琴歌頌耶和華」——即伴著琴唱一首歌或詩篇。關於琴，見 Isaiah 5:12 的註釋。
「用琴和詩歌的聲音」——即歌唱的聲音；音樂的嗓音。不要單用樂器的音樂，還要讓發出可解之聲與言語的歌聲與之相伴。在敬拜神的事上，樂器唯一的正當用途，是加深話語所能產生的印象，使真理更有效地影響人心。
英文原文
Sing unto the Lord with the harp - A song or psalm accompanied by the harp. On the harp. See the notes at Isaiah 5:12.
And the voice of a psalm - The voice in singing; a musical voice. Let it not be mere instrumental music, but let that be accompanied with the voice uttering intelligible sounds or words. The only proper use of instrumental music in the worship of God is to deepen the impression which the words are adapted to make; to secure a better influence of truth on the heart.
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Psalm 98:6
「用號」——這裏所用的字，在聖經中一貫譯作「號」（Numbers 10:2, Numbers 10:8-10；Numbers 31:6；等）。號主要用於召集公眾敬拜的聚會，或召集作戰的軍隊。原文字 חצצרה（chătsôtserâh）據信是摹仿「號那斷續如脈搏的聲響」而造的擬聲詞，類似拉丁文的 taratantara；德文的 trarara 與阿拉伯文的 hadadera 亦然。這裏的字是指長而直的號。
「和角聲」——這裏譯作「角」的字（cornet），在英文聖經中通常也譯作「號」（trumpet）（Exodus 19:16, Exodus 19:19；Exodus 20:18；Leviticus 25:9；Joshua 6:4-6, Joshua 6:8-9, Joshua 6:13, Joshua 6:16, Joshua 6:20；等多處）；在 1 Chronicles 15:28；2 Chronicles 15:14；Hosea 5:8 則譯作 cornet（「角」）。七十士譯本與拉丁武加大譯本在此將它譯作「羊角」——即「角」的意思。這樂器的名稱 שׁפר（shôphār），據信是因它清亮尖銳的聲音而得，如英文名稱 clarion。它或以角製成，或與角相似——一種彎曲如角的樂器。這樂器在希伯來人中經常使用。
英文原文
With trumpets - The word used here is uniformly rendered "trumpets" in the Scriptures. Numbers 10:2, Numbers 10:8-10; Numbers 31:6; et al. The trumpet was mainly employed for convening a public assembly for worship, or for assembling the hosts for battle. The original word - חצצרה chătsôtserâh - is supposed to have been designed to imitate "the broken pulse-like sound of the trumpet, like the Latin "taratantara." So the German "trarara," and the Arabic hadadera. The word used here was given to the long, straight trumpet.
And sound of cornet ... - The word here translated "cornet" is also usually rendered "trumpet," Exodus 19:16, Exodus 19:19; Exodus 20:18; Leviticus 25:9; Joshua 6:4-6, Joshua 6:8-9, Joshua 6:13, Joshua 6:16, Joshua 6:20; et saepe. It is rendered "cornet" in 1 Chronicles 15:28; 2 Chronicles 15:14; Hosea 5:8. In the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate it is here rendered "horn" - the meaning of "cornet." The name - שׁפר shôphār - is supposed to have been given to this instrument from its clear and shrill sound, like the English name "clarion." It was either made of horn, or similar to a horn - an instrument curved like a horn. The instrument was in frequent use among the Hebrews.
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Psalm 98:7
「願海和其中所充滿的澎湃」——見 Psalm 96:11 的註釋。
「世界和住在其間的」——指可居住的世界——陸地——與海相對。願水上與地上都發出普世的讚美。
英文原文
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof - See the notes at Psalm 96:11.
The world, and they that dwell therein - The habitable world - the land - in contradistinction from the sea. Let there be universal praise on the water and the land.
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Psalm 98:8
「願大水拍手」 — 指眾江河。願它們加入這普世的讚美。彷彿意識到自己的秀美、壯麗與功用；彷彿知道這一切都是神所賦予；彷彿為着神向他們、並藉着他們所顯明的良善而歡喜——願它們聯合於這普世的讚美之中。參 Isaiah 55:12 註釋。
「願諸山一同歡呼」 — 指眾高山——它們親見神向它們所施的良善——以華美為它們加冕——以崇高與壯麗為它們披身——願它們也以神為「它們的」神而歡欣。願整個受造界都如此同聲讚美。
Psalm 98:8-9. 所有在地上的，
大魚和一切深淵；
火與冰雹，雪和霧氣；
成就他命的狂風：
大山和小山；
結果的樹木和一切香柏樹。
英文原文
Let the floods clap their hands - The rivers. Let them join in the universal praise. As if conscious of their beauty, their grandeur, their usefulness; as if sensible that all this was conferred by God; as if rejoicing in the goodness of God manifested to them, and through them, let them unite in the universal praise. Compare the notes at Isaiah 55:12.
Let the hills be joyful together - The mountains - in view of the goodness of God toward them - crowning them with beauty - clothing them with sublimity and grandeur - let them also rejoice in God as "their" God. Let all nature thus join in praise.
Psalm 98:8-9.Praise the Lord from the earth,
Ye dragons and all deeps;
Fire and hail; snow and vapor;
Stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars.
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Psalm 98:9
「因為他來要審判遍地……」——本節與 Psalm 96:13 基本相同，見該節的註釋。本詩呼籲普天下讚美。單單「誦讀」這篇詩——如此喜樂、如此歡騰、如此奮興、如此昂揚——就足以喚醒人心去讚美；激動它去感恩；使它充滿喜樂。人讀了這詩，不可能不成為更快樂的人；不可能不被提升到世界之上；不可能沒有對神崇高的認識；不可能不感到他配得這普天的讚美；不可能不承認我們身處一個心靈當喜樂的世界，服在一位其掌權當使人心充滿喜樂的神之下。
英文原文
Before the Lord, for he cometh to judge the earth ... - This verse is essentially the same as Psalm 96:13. See the notes at that verse. The psalm calls for universal praise. The very "reading" of the psalm - so joyous - so jubilant - so animated - so exulting - is suited to awaken the mind to praise; to rouse it to thankfulness; to fill it with joy. One cannot read the psalm without being a happier man; without being lifted above the world; without lofty views of God; without a feeling that he is worthy of this universal praise; without recognizing that we are in a world where the mind should be joyful; that we are under the dominion of a God whose reign should fill the mind with gladness.
本詩的標題只是「一篇詩」。但作者是誰，無人知曉。其主旨與結構，與它所處的那一組詩篇——Ps. 95-100——相似。Horsley 博士按照他對這一組詩篇主旨的看法（參見 Psalm 97:1-12 的導言），以為本詩指猶太人的復興歸回。本詩適合在巴比倫被擄之後聖殿奉獻時使用，也可能是為那場合而寫的。不過它的性質如此普遍，適合教會歷代的一切時候。本詩無法作具體的分析。