Sing A New Song Of Praise To The Lord

Sing a new song of praise to the Lord; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. Psalm 33:3

Don’t you just love to praise the Lord? This Psalm, probably written by David represents the many who focus on praising God. Years ago I remember singing a song with the following lyrics.

I have a new song, new song, in my heart today.
I have a new song, new song, glory all the way. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, praise Him all day long.
He saved me and gave me a new, new song.

I loved singing that song and other upbeat choruses. Have you observed how some things can’t be done together or simultaneously? Like, we can’t be positive and negative in the same breath.

In the same line of thought, we can’t mope around and praise the Lord at the same time. People have said, “I don’t feel like praising the Lord.” Why? Because they won’t stop moping.

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I did a quick survey to see how many times the words mope and joy appear in the Bible. It doesn’t contain the word mope or similar words. Joy, however, appears in 52 books of the Bible.

The Lord wants every song of praise we sing to come from our hearts, not just our mouths. So, the Psalmist told us to prepare ourselves to “feel like” praising the Lord.

Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Psalm 33:1

He said, let the godly sing for joy! Do you consider yourself a godly person? It seems to me like the joy of the Lord and purity fit together. So, in order to praise Him, plug into His joy.

The Presence of the Lord

Some people think when they work themselves up into praise, the Lord’s presence will come upon them. Instead, God waits patiently for them to submerge themselves into His presence.

Do whatever it takes to fill your heart with the joy that God makes available to us! We used to sing another short chorus that I often found myself singing throughout the days of my youth.

I’ve got the joy bells in my heart,
I’ve got the joy bells in my heart.
I’ll sing His praises throughout the ages,
I’ve got the joy bells in my heart.
Joy, joy, joy, in my heart is singing . . .

Once songs of joy get into your heart, you’ll continually sing a song of praise to the Lord. The Psalmist gave us several examples of ways to receive the joy of the Lord, like the following.

God’s presence – You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11
Our strength and shield – The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. Psalm 28:7
Joy of forgiveness – Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Psalm 32:1
Taking refuge in God – Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalm 34:8
Those who trust God. – Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. Psalm 40:4

A New Song

Today’s verse says to sing “a new song of praise to the Lord.” What exactly did the Psalmist mean when he said a “new” song? In my study, I concluded that it carries more than one meaning.

Creating original songs to honor God serves as a way of praising and worshiping Him. But not many have the talent or ability to write new songs each time they want to honor God.

Additionally, “new songs” mean the expressions of each generation’s personal experience of God’s goodness. The “new song” also implies a refreshed, ever-present sense of the Lord.

The Psalmists want us to fill our beings with joy so our hearts will pump praise to the Lord. The truth of God’s Word serves as the foundational source of our joy.

For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. Psalm 33:4-5

When we see the earth through our eyes, we see sin, hatred, poverty, and selfishness. In fact, through our finite eyes, we could easily look right past God’s unfailing love and miss His joy.

But the earth won’t. If the earth could, it would sing a song of praise to the Lord. Maybe it does but we either can’t hear or recognize it. Jesus said, if we don’t praise Him, the rocks will.

Join the Earth in a Song of Praise to the Lord

Every day, we walk on God’s handiwork. We sustain our lives by breathing it in. No matter where we look, we can’t help but see the creation of the Lord.

The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.
For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. Psalm 33:6-9

Open your mouth and sing a new song of praise to the Lord from your heart. Join in with the earth and all His creation. Let’s lift our voices together to glorify our creator and Lord.

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Psalm 96:1
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Yes, let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Psalm 96:11
Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy. Psalm 96:12
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. Psalm 97:5
The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory. Psalm 97:6

Don’t Wait to Sing a Song of Praise to the Lord

Are you ready to sing a new song of praise to the Lord? If not, don’t wait too long. As His judgment quickly approaches, all people will join in His praises whether they want to or not.

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. Psalm 96:13

Lord, receive the sacrifice of praise from our lips as we sing a new song unto you.

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