What’s New?
By Jerry Batson, Th.D.
Special to The Alabama Baptist
Just as last week’s topic about new mercies has a very personal dimension, so this week’s topic about a new song comes to us in the Old Testament out of a personal testimony. That testimony of the psalmist takes three verses of Scripture for its expression. It is found in Psalm 40:1–3: “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps. He has put a new song in my heart — praise to our God; many shall see it and fear and will trust in the Lord.”
Assuming David to be the one who testified of God’s deliverance, we can understand his later promise in Psalm 144:9, “I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You.”
Frequent mentioning
When we think of Psalms as Israel’s praise book, it is not surprising that the thought of singing should be frequently mentioned. For example, Psalm 104:33 expresses a commitment to singing as a lifelong practice, declaring, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.” Psalm 96:1 calls for others to join in a new song, admonishing, “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name.” Every Christian has reason to sing a new song.
A future dimension to singing a new song is set forth in the vision described in Revelation 5:8–9 of four living creatures and 24 elders of whom it is said, “And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
Future assurance
This future assurance will mean for many that they will be able to do more perfectly what they already do beautifully and with skill. For some of us, it will mean that we will be able to do something that at the present time we cannot do very well.
All God’s children will be able to join the singing of a new song. Likely, no one will be off-key nor mumbling the tune half-heartedly.
Thus, whether we look back to the distant past or forward to the future yet to unfold, we encounter this week’s topic about a new song with joy.
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