Psalm 98:9 (ESV)

9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Now, the reason for creation’s enthusiasm is mentioned. The Lord, the Creator of everything and everyone is coming! And he will judge the earth. As Judge of the earth, he will judge each nation and every people. What he says will be honest and just (compare with Psalm 96:13, He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness).

The author of this psalm may have a visionary look into the future. We detect the same tones with the prophet Isaiah: He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples (Isaiah 2:4a; compare with Isaiah 11:1–9).

Paul, when he speaks in the midst of the Areopagus in Athens, points his listeners to Jesus, who, as instructed by God will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). The early Christian church correctly confessed that Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead (Article 7 of the Apostles’ Creed).

Great and glorious things are awaiting us. All creation will once be renewed. Creations longs for this. Do we long for this as well?