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The United Nations exists to foster international peace, human rights, justice, respect for international law, and to promote better standards of living all over the world. The UN’S global mission is laudable even if it is not always achievable. More profound than the UN’S mission is God’s compassionate rule over the universe. The author of Psalm 98 invites us to celebrate God’s rule in three ways: First, he invites us to celebrate God’s favor toward his own nation, Israel. He writes, “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has remembered his love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.” Then he widens his circle to include others. He says, “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” He does not even stop there. He invites the inanimate creation to praise God for all God has done for it.” He writes, “Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” He ends his call to praise by telling us why we should praise God. It is because God is a righteous and just Ruler. He desires us to live in harmony and treat others with justice. God invites us to discover His inner peace–that comes through God’s Son Jesus. God also calls his people to be peacemakers among warring groups, even as we await the return of the Prince of Peace.
