He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel;This phrase emphasizes God's covenantal relationship with Israel, highlighting His steadfast love (Hebrew: "chesed") and faithfulness (Hebrew: "emunah"). The concept of God "remembering" is not about recalling forgotten information but signifies His active intervention and fulfillment of promises. This is rooted in the Abrahamic covenant (
Genesis 12:1-3) and the Mosaic covenant (
Exodus 19:5-6), where God pledged to be Israel's God and make them a great nation. The historical context includes God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, His guidance through the wilderness, and His establishment of them in the Promised Land. This phrase also foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ, who is seen as the true Israel and the embodiment of God's faithfulness (
Matthew 5:17).
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
This phrase points to the universal scope of God's salvation, extending beyond Israel to all nations. It reflects the prophetic vision found inIsaiah 49:6, where the Servant of the Lord is a light to the Gentiles, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth. The historical context includes the spread of the Gospel in the New Testament, as seen inActs 1:8, where Jesus commissions His disciples to be His witnesses "to the ends of the earth." This phrase also connects to the eschatological hope inRevelation 7:9, where a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language stands before the throne of God. Theologically, it underscores the inclusivity of God's redemptive plan, fulfilled in Christ, who is the Savior of the world (John 4:42).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
GodThe central figure in this verse, God is depicted as faithful and loving, remembering His covenant with Israel.
2.
House of IsraelRefers to the descendants of Jacob, the chosen people of God, with whom He made a covenant.
3.
Ends of the EarthSymbolizes all nations and peoples beyond Israel, indicating the universal scope of God's salvation.
Teaching Points
God's FaithfulnessGod's remembrance of His covenant with Israel is a testament to His unwavering faithfulness. Believers can trust in God's promises, knowing He is always faithful.
Universal SalvationThe salvation of God is not limited to Israel but extends to all the earth. This calls Christians to share the Gospel with all nations, fulfilling the Great Commission.
Covenant LoveGod's love is steadfast and covenantal. Understanding this love can deepen our relationship with Him and encourage us to live in obedience and gratitude.
Witness to the NationsAs the ends of the earth have seen God's salvation, believers are called to be witnesses of His love and faithfulness in their communities and beyond.
Hope in God's SalvationThe assurance of God's salvation brings hope and joy. Christians are encouraged to live with this hope, reflecting it in their daily lives.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Psalm 98:3?
2.How does Psalm 98:3 emphasize God's faithfulness to Israel and all nations?
3.What does "remembered His love and faithfulness" teach about God's character?
4.How can we apply God's faithfulness in Psalm 98:3 to our daily lives?
5.Which New Testament passages reflect God's salvation as seen in Psalm 98:3?
6.How can we proclaim God's salvation to others, inspired by Psalm 98:3?
7.How does Psalm 98:3 demonstrate God's faithfulness to Israel throughout history?
8.What is the significance of God's "steadfast love" in Psalm 98:3?
9.How does Psalm 98:3 relate to the theme of salvation in the Bible?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 98?
11.Psalm 98 portrays God as righteous and just, yet countless injustices have occurred throughout history--how does this align with a fair divine judgment?
12.If extraterrestrial life is discovered, how does that fit with Christian theology?
13.How does Isaiah 25:6, which speaks of a universal feast for all peoples, align with other Old Testament passages emphasizing Israel's exclusivity?
14.What are the specific Psalms included in Hallel?What Does Psalm 98:3 Mean
He has remembered“Remembered” does not imply God ever forgets; it signals the moment He acts on promises already made. Scripture repeatedly shows this pattern:
•Exodus 2:24 – “God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
•Psalm 105:8 – “He remembers His covenant forever.”
•Luke 1:54-55 – Mary rejoices that God “has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful.”
The psalmist is celebrating a fresh display of covenant action—the Lord stepping into history to keep His word.
His loveThe term points to God’s steadfast, covenant-keeping mercy. His love is:
• Unfailing – “For His loving devotion endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).
• Eternal – “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
• Sacrificial – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16).
Psalm 98 exults that this love is not abstract; it moves God to rescue and bless His people.
and faithfulnessLove and faithfulness form a pair: devotion joined to reliability. What He promises, He performs.
•Deuteronomy 7:9 – “The LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of loving devotion.”
•Psalm 36:5 – “Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”
•2 Timothy 2:13 – “He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
Israel’s history is proof that God’s faithfulness outlasts human unfaithfulness.
to the house of IsraelThe focus is national, literal Israel—the family that began with Abraham.
•Genesis 12:3 – A promise that through Abraham all nations will be blessed.
•Jeremiah 31:35-37 – God pledges Israel will never cease to be a nation before Him.
•Romans 11:1-2 – Paul insists, “God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.”
Psalm 98 rejoices that Israel’s covenant God is on the move again, validating every ancient promise.
all the ends of the earthThe scope widens from Israel to every corner of creation.
•Isaiah 45:22 – “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth.”
•Acts 1:8 – The gospel is to reach “to the ends of the earth.”
•Revelation 7:9 – A multitude “from every nation” stands before the throne.
God’s local action toward Israel becomes global good news.
have seen the salvation“Seen” means witnessed firsthand, not merely heard about. God’s rescue is public and undeniable.
•Isaiah 52:10 – “All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”
•Luke 3:6 – John the Baptist applies the same promise to Messiah’s arrival.
•1 Peter 1:10-12 – Even prophets longed to see what is now revealed in Christ.
Christ’s cross and resurrection fulfill this vision, making salvation visible to Jews and Gentiles alike.
of our GodSalvation belongs to God alone; He initiates and accomplishes it.
•Jonah 2:9 – “Salvation comes from the LORD.”
•Isaiah 25:9 – “Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us.”
•Revelation 19:1 – “Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!”
The psalm ends by directing all glory back to the One whose character guarantees the outcome.
summaryPsalm 98:3 celebrates a two-fold reality: God has acted in covenant love and faithfulness toward Israel, and that action has burst the banks of national borders so every nation can witness His salvation. The verse anchors our confidence in God’s unchanging character and invites the whole world to rejoice in the redemption He alone provides.
Verse 3. -
He hath remembered his mercy and his truth towards the house of Israel. The judgment of the nations involves mercy and deliverance to Israel, which is oppressed by them; and thus manifests God's faithfulness towards them.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God (comp. ver. 2 and
Isaiah 52:10).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
He has rememberedזָ֘כַ֤ר(zā·ḵar)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2142:To mark, to remember, to mention, to be maleHis loveחַסְדּ֨וֹ ׀(ḥas·dōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2617:Kindness, piety, reproof, beautyand faithfulnessוֶֽאֱֽמוּנָתוֹ֮(we·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯōw)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 530:Firmness, steadfastness, fidelityto the houseלְבֵ֪ית(lə·ḇêṯ)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004:A houseof Israel;יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל(yiś·rā·’êl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his descallכָל־(ḵāl)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythe endsאַפְסֵי־(’ap̄·sê-)Adverb
Strong's 657:Cessation, an end, no further, the ankle, footof the earthאָ֑רֶץ(’ā·reṣ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landhave seenרָא֥וּ(rā·’ū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7200:To seethe salvationיְשׁוּעַ֥ת(yə·šū·‘aṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3444:Something saved, deliverance, aid, victory, prosperityof our God.אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃(’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative
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OT Poetry: Psalm 98:3 He has remembered his loving kindness (Psalm Ps Psa.)