I was wondering why it was a new song that they were to sing to the Lord. Why not sing a song that we have always sung? I hope I am not causing some of you to be uneasy. Like many of you, I love the traditional hymns of praise and worship. Probably my favourite hymn is 'Great is thy faithfulness.' The Psalm writer is encouraging us to be creative - to meditate on God's word and turn it into song. He wants our worship to be fresh and meaningful. I regularly think of the Mr Bean sketch where he is singing a hymn in church and it is clearly meaningless to him. Sometimes our songs in church have become repetitive and unproductive. We have lost the thrill of singing them.
I was one of the elders when we started a new church in Stevenston. We thought that we were being different and we compared ourselves to other gospel halls which were more traditional - especially in relation to our singing. We had a praise band. Nine years later Stephen Grant did a series of Bible Teaching. I always remember him saying that there is always the danger of falling into a rut. He said, "Your rut might be in a different from another church in the area but both churches are equally stuck in a rut." That struck home to me. For a time we had had really uplifting praise nights but we had lost the joy of this. We needed to find a new song. Whether it is an old hymn or a modern song of praise, we should sing it as if it was 'a new song.'
Notice that the Psalm clearly states the reason why we should be singing a new song of praise to God. This is summed up in the clause "for he performs amazing deeds." This is then expanded and explained in the rest of the verse.
His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance. [Psalm 98:1 NET]
This verse is almost certainly referring to the Exodus which was the amazing deed accomplished by the Lord in the Old Testament. For Christians today, we have another powerful demonstration of God's power - the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
In Luke's account of the scene on the mount of transfiguration, the three disciples watched the transformation occurring in the appearance of Jesus as he was praying.
As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white. Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him. They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem.
Luke 9:29-31 NET
The word translated 'departure' is the word 'exodus' - this was the term used to describe the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. Moses is present on this mountain but they are not discussing that event from the past. They are looking forward to 'his exodus ' that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem. This is the greatest event in history and a real cause for celebration. We have been instructed to remember this regularly in the communion feast.
The Psalm celebrates God's deeds in a very loud fashion - the main instrument was the harp which is a gentle melodic instrument. This was accompanied by playing the trumpet and a ram's horn. There is also shouting. I don't reckon that folk will fall asleep during this worship.
Shout out praises to the Lord , all the earth! Break out in a joyful shout and sing! Sing to the Lord accompanied by a harp, accompanied by a harp and the sound of music! With trumpets and the blaring of the ram’s horn, shout out praises before the king, the Lord ! Let the sea and everything in it shout, along with the world and those who live in it! Let the rivers clap their hands! Let the mountains sing in unison before the Lord ! For he comes to judge the earth! He judges the world fairly, and the nations in a just manner.
Psalms 98:4-9 NET
The Psalm ends with a look forward to the day when the Lord will judge the earth in righteousness and justice. All the injustice and unfairness will be judged by the Lord.
I am looking forward to that day because I am trusting in the amazing deed accomplished at Calvary.
Sing to God new songs of worship -
All His deeds are marvellous
He has brought salvation to us
With His hand and holy arm:
He has shown to all the nations
Righteousness and saving power;
He recalled His truth and mercy
To His people Israel.
Mission Praise 600
It goes to the tune of Ode to Joy.
[This Day Share was first published in 16/07/2020]
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