The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. (ESV)

The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. (NIV)

Asa the The Lord has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! (NLT)

When the rest of the world moves on from Christmas, this month is a time to continue to remember the birth of Christ. God sent His Son to earth to reveal His salvation, and He does so humbly and gently. Jesus comes not as a tyrant to domineer us but in humility to welcome us into His peace. The most powerful being in the universe begins His redemptive work on the earth in the most humble and vulnerable human state—as a baby in a feeding trough—held in the arms of a virgin in Bethlehem. 

The King of the universe was born into the world to show us how we may be born again.

Dive Deeper:

Psalm 98:2 may not be the verse you expected when you opened this week’s wristband or email, since it’s probably not the first passage that comes to mind when reflecting on the birth of Christ. (Don’t worry, those are coming!) But it is precisely what Christ came into this world to fulfill. 

The author of this Psalm—whose identity remains unknown—proclaims that the Lord has made, is making, and will continue to make His salvation known. While this Psalm isn’t specifically prophetic, we now understand Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of these words. Through Jesus, the salvation of the world has been declared. His perfect life of servanthood and the invitation to righteousness through Him alone were fully revealed in His Birth, Life, Death, and Resurrection. Jesus accomplished God’s plan of salvation, ultimately over death itself. There is no greater demonstration of salvation and righteousness than the King of the Universe coming into the world.

For those of us who live A.D., we can now read this Psalm with the knowledge that the victory of God has been fully announced through Christ and that we can receive His righteousness, even those of us who were once far off, and ultimately be brought near. 

The only fitting response to such a gift is praise. When the work of Jesus is fully realized, and we remember His faithfulness and sacrifice, our hearts cry out in rejoicing. Praise doesn’t depend on a perfect melody but on a surrendered heart. So, join the rest of creation and sing a new song to the Lord as you realize and remember all He has done, as you wait eagerly for Him to make all things new, just as He has you. 

Written by Blake Stanley