If you can’t see the difference between real life and modern froth, I’m sorry for you.”
–Zane Grey (Lost Pueblo)
“And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'”
–Revelation 5:9 (ESV)
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What type of song do you sing? What melody is in your heart? That’s where I keep most of mine for to hear me sing would be like the sweet sound of a cat who has just had her tail squished over by a rocking chair. F.B. Meyer states that, “new songs are demanded by new mercies. Let us give God freshly broken loaves for His table.” I like that. As God gives us new mercies and new blessings we should be singing songs about those. That’s what David is doing in Psalm 144, read it with this in mind, a new song makes sure that our praise doesn’t grow stale. (Wood)
9 — I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 — The One who gives salvation to kings, who delivers David His servant from the deadly sword.
11 — Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood–
12 — That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style;
13 — That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14 — That our oxen may be well laden; that there be no breaking in or going out; that there be no outcry in our streets.
15 — Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD! (NKJV)
Praise is an act of the will. It is something that we do, not something that just happens. Here we see David singing a new praise, or a new song expressing his confidence and trust in the Lord. Look at what his song entails. First of all there is the praise of victory because of his trust in God. He will deliver us from the pestilence and the sword of our enemy, whatever form that may take. Then we see that he is dependent upon the Lord. Our praise should include our daily dependence on the Lord not only for the great victories, but for every blessing that comes our way. Praise, then, should be continually on our lips, or at least in our hearts.
Look at what David brings before the Lord. He begins with family. He hits on a key point and that is nurturing. Children are not to be left alone, or to let media nurture them. It is the job, duty, and obligation of the parents. This is a battle for the State wants complete control over the children. If you do not believe that look at the school curriculums. Second, he brings up finances. How will you make it through the day, how will you pay your bills? The Lord will supply. Look at the words of Paul, “…as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:10, NKJV) Our hope, our trust, our faith is in the Lord–He is the One who will supply all our needs.
Lastly he brings out the idea of security. We live in a crazy, confused, and evil world. Where is our safety? It is in the arms of the Lord. He is our Protector. We have a calm assurance that He will protect and provide. And I might mention that we should have our minds protected as well. There is an onslaught of thinking out there that wants control of your thoughts. Let the Holy Spirit guard your mind and that means you must get into the Word of God. I like the way the NLT translates verse 15, “Yes, happy are those who have it like this! Happy indeed are those who God is the LORD.”
If you hear a bellowing, don’t worry; it’s not a buffalo groaning. It my new song, a song of joy, blessing, and trust in the Lord. Why it might even cause me to “clog in the kitchen” or at least “shuffle in the hallway.” The Lord is good! Sing about that, if you will! We have a hope in Him.
“We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love.”
–Matthias Claudius