“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.” (Psalm 149:1 NLT).
The Scripture often instructs that a “new song” be sung to the Lord. In fact, this command is in the Bible a total of nine times: six in the Psalms, once in Isaiah, and twice in Revelation. So, why does the Lord desire a new song from his people?
Perhaps it’s because we naturally prefer “old songs.” We love to sing songs that we have sung since childhood. Yet, when these old songs were written they were actually new songs to that generation, describing new mercies and new thanks to the Lord for the people of that day. There’s nothing wrong with old songs.
There isn’t a biblical prohibition against singing old songs. It’s just that God is always doing a new thing. And every generation is called to experience God’s grace and mercy for themselves. This rightly results in new songs. Since God’s grace and mercy are new every morning, shouldn’t new songs be the result?
So, let’s keep singing the old songs, but let’s be sure to write and sing new songs too! Sometimes just singing an old song in a new way deepens understanding and praise. New generations need new songs!
PRAYER: Lord, thank You that Your mercies are new everyday. You put a new song on our lips. Help us to sing to You in the assembly of the faithful, surrounded by the voices of our fellow believers and echoing with the angelic voices in heaven. Lord, we want to sing a new song to You because You are new to us everyday. In Jesus’ name, amen.