O sing unto the Lord a new song.
Genuine praise
I. Genuine praise is founded on the strongest reason (Psalms 98:1-2). Why should man be so urgently called on to praise God?
1. Because of the extraordinary deliverance which was vouchsafed to him--from the bondage of ignorance, carnality, prejudice, and guilt. Unfallen angels should always sing praises unto the Lord, and they always do; but we have no reason to believe that they have such deliverances to celebrate as we have.
2. Because all the extraordinary deliverances vouchsafed to him originated in the mind of God. “His mercy,” “His truth,. .. His righteousness.” As transgressors of His laws and rebels against His government, men, instead of having any just reason for expecting deliverance, have the strongest reasons to apprehend eternal bondage. It was of His free love and compassion that He interposed. Therefore “sing unto the Lord a new song.”
II. Genuine praise should be rendered by all with rapturous enthusiasm.
1. By all. This means all mankind. Praise should be as wide as the race. Its spirit, like the tide in ocean, should heave and swell, and rule the mighty mass.
2. By all with joy. True praise is not a ceremonial service, not an irksome duty, still less a moan of sadness, it is the soul breaking out into the transports of delight.
3. By all with enthusiastic rapture. (Homilist.)
Christianity’s most joyous fact
These words, this Easter Sunday, will find an echo in every Christian heart and congregation. The hymns of Lent, and the passion songs, are beautiful, and touch the heart; but if they were not to be followed by any Easter hymns our condition would indeed be sad. It would be a night without a morning. But today, everywhere, the Church resounds with this song, “O sing unto the Lord a new song!” For the great Easter message is--
I. A most assured word.
1. It bears the bloodstained seals of many witnesses. See the Gospel histories, listen to the impassioned arguments of St. Paul, who brands himself as a false witness if his message be not true.
2. Upon it rests the massive building of the entire Church of Christ. If it had been founded upon imposture or falsehood, would it be standing now?
3. And if this also testifies the heartfelt experience of all true Christians, in themselves they have the realized presence of Christ. He speaks to them, they to Him. They know He is with them.
II. It is a most precious word. For it enables us to believe properly, to live godly, and to die happily. (Charles Von Gerok, D. D.)
A summons to song
According to the language of the “royal singer,” God’s great cathedral of nature is full of magnificent harmonies. The heavens rejoice; the earth sings; the sea and the fulness thereof roar in deep-toned bass; the fields with all they contain, and the trees of the woodland with their ten thousand tongues, peal forth melodies. This chorus we have in creation; and the laziest in the song is man, who should be loudest, noblest, heartiest. Oh, it is time for us to be roused to duty by an inspired voice! We have been musicless too long, prosaic too long, dormant and mute too long, ungrateful and selfish too long. We want the summons to song, to action, to thankfulness. “O sing unto the Lord a new song,” etc. And why a “new” song? Because new mercies, new deliverances, new gifts, new triumphs demand new songs. God’s “marvellous things,” or doings, are many and multiform. They are to be seen in creation, in providence, in redemption, in grace, in the world, in the Church, in nations, in families, in individuals. Everywhere in His theatre of action are His wonders manifest. It is impossible for us to be praiseless, if we only pause and recount our Father’s gracious dealings, and manifold mercies, and wondrous goodness towards us. But interpreters of the Scripture refer this psalm to Jesus Christ. Its prophetic finger points to Him who was not only marvellous in doing, but likewise marvellous in person. From the manger to the ascension-mount, the cloud of mystery enveloped Him. At times He seemed near, intimately near as a brother-man--at other times distant, infinitely measured off as the awful and the “mighty God.” Every privilege, every blessing, every gift, every enjoyment, every mercy crowded into our daily lives, flows to us through that Divinity which, blending with humanity, satisfied the claims of holiness, and instituted peace between heaven and earth, God and man. Have we, then, no song to sing unto Him who has done such “marvellous things”? Yes, thank Heaven, we have a song; and while the redeemed on high chant it, we join in the chorus, saying, “Worthy is the Lamb.” Once more, not only are we called upon to break forth into joyful song because of the doings of “marvellous things,” but also because of the achievement of splendid victory. “His right hand and holy arm hath gotten Him the victory.” This unquestionably has specific reference to the sternest battle and grandest conquest ever fought and won on the world’s great carnage-field. Through Christ’s victory we shall be victorious. Our life in grace is a prolonged battle--a succession of engagements. We are on the winning side, and shall be “more than conquerors through Him that hath loved us.” Awaiting us, in the not far-distant heaven, is the crown, the palm, the robe, the kingdom, and the welcome song! Let our onward march be brightened by the music of martial songs and celebrations of our Captain’s praise, whose “right hand and holy arm” will assuredly secure for us the victory. (J. O. Keen, D. D.)