Psalm 33:1-4 - "Sing To Him a New Song"

"Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.” Psalm 33 begins with a call to worship the Lord, to rejoice in the LORD and praise Him with music. This call to worship included both instruments and people singing! Yesterday we talked about the people who are called to this worship and praise service. They are those who have been redeemed and are righteous in God’s sight. This also means that not only do they have heart that is “right” with God, but they are also living and walking in His truth and have a life that is right with Him, and is a witness to the lost world around them. As we said yesterday, it is very difficult to sing songs of praise and rejoicing when we have unconfessed sin in our hearts and lives. We find the motivation for worship and praise in verse 4: “For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.” I’m not sure that there can be “true” and genuine worship without the Word of God involved in some way! In John 4:23-24 Jesus said, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." We might sing praise and worship songs in a church service or a concert and get so emotionally involved that we get “goose bumps” and have a good feeling. But unless our hearts are filled with the truth of God’s Word, and we are overwhelmed with Him and His great work of truth and redemption, that found its greatest expression in the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary and His resurrection, maybe only a musician or a song was really worshipped instead of God! In this passage it must be noticed that both voices and instruments were used in public worship at the sanctuary (see 1 Chron. 25). According to verse 3, the voices were to be enthusiastic ("shout for joy") in the Spirit but not demonstrative in the flesh, and joyful in the Lord but not jovial and jolly. The instruments should be played with skill and the players give their very best to the Lord. The "new song" may mean new in time or new in expression. The term is used nine times in Scripture (40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isa. 42:10; Rev. 5:9 and 14:3). The Spirit of God can make an old song new to us as we grow in our knowledge of God and His Word, or as we have new experiences, and He can also open our hearts to a song completely new to us. It is sad that some people don't like to learn new songs. Our growth in our appreciation of "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" is one indication of our development in the Christian life. In Ephesians 5:18-20, we learn that true worship begins first with, being “filled with the Spirit”, and then, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Colossians 3:14-17 really puts it all together in a meaningful and powerful way! “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Today, and every day, let us sing with grace unto the LORD a new song because our hearts and lives are filled with His love, His peace, and the Word of Christ is dwelling in our hearts as we give Him thanks! God bless!