I just love summer in my beautiful "Home/Park" in the Land of Abundant Living! Every morning when I raise the shade to look out my bedroom window, my first glimpse is of our gorgeous deep pink rose bush climbing up the white iron arch that was a Mother's Day present from my husband many years ago. By thy way, my grandson, Big C, is fascinated with our shades. He is used to blinds on the windows at his home. One more "old fashioned"experience to enjoy at Grandma's and Grandpa's!
Next, my delighted eyes rove to the bright purple clematis that has already moved on and up over the foundation my husband made to support it in our "footprint" garden. (*You can check my archives to see what I wrote about my "Footprint Garden," and see a picture, if you like!) Birds of all kinds splash in our bird baths and flit here and there from tree branches to birdhouses and back again.
Our noisy birds chirp plenty in the mornings to awake me. I don't mind. I love hearing their cheerful voices raised in praise to our heavenly Father!
Speaking of song and birds, let's concentrate on the word "Song" for a while today. In particular, the phrase "New Song." This phrase is not found often in the Bible and since it intrigued me, I checked out those passages. Here are some things I learned:
1. The term "a new song" is linked with the act of praising our heavenly Father. Isaiah 42:10a says "Sing to the Lord a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth!"
2. In Psalm 40:3, the words "new song" describe an act of salvation, defining it as a provision and gift from God: "And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord." God puts the new song in David's mouth in response to David's cry for help as it follows after he says God "heard his cry and brought him up from the pit of destruction and set his feet up on a rock." David further stated others would see God's act of salvation in his own life and will put their trust in God as their response.
3. Several scriptures specifically connect the phrase "new song" with God's merciful and complete work of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day." Psalm 96:1-2 This entire passage celebrates God's glory, past, present and future. It was first sung when the Israelites celebrated the rebuilding of the temple after their long exile.
If you are so inclined, you may want to check out other similar passages: Psalm 98:1-2 and Psalm 144:9-10.
4. We are expected to sing His praises among the company of other believers. "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones." Psalm 149:1
5. Moving on to the last book in the Bible, the last book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, I found the phrase "new song" mentioned in two specific instances, both associated with salvation.
The first appears following the passage where the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is the only one found worthy to open the Book and break the seals. In this instance, the four living creatures (who are described earlier in the passage) along with the twenty-four elders, fall down before Christ, " . . . "and they sang a new song, saying 'Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." Rev. 5:9b
The last part of this passage explains God's method of salvation. It tells how Jesus was killed in our place to pay for the sins of those who would come to believe on Him and accept His precious sacrificial gift. His blood was the cost of purchase and now they belong to Him, a kingdom of His own. This is who we are, as children of God! If you have admitted to God that you sin, (which is basically rebellion against His authority) and accepted Jesus' death and victory over death by coming alive again (which we celebrate on Easter Sunday) as payment for your sins, you now belong to Him and are a priest within His eternal kingdom! How could anything be more exciting? To quote a modern phrase: "it doesn't get any better than this." :o)
Later, in Rev. 14:3, we read "And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth." Here, again, we see that the new song can only be sung by those whom the Lord has purchased for His kingdom . . . those who have been saved.
So what have I learned? A "new song" is a song of praise to my heavenly Father, in gratitude for His powerful work of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. We see our need . . . we cry out to God . . . and He responds in love and mercy.
God puts the "new song" in my heart and tells me to praise Him; I choose to praise Him; and I do so in the company of other believers.
Wow! I want to sing a "new song" of praise to my heavenly Father. Don't you?
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