Sing a New Song!

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
    have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
    he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
    let the hills sing for joy together
before the Lord, for he comes
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98

The psalmist had made his life rhythm one of praise. The marvelous things of God were his constant delight, His salvation including all nations cause for ongoing song. Gathering all peoples and nature to make a joyful noise was his fervent desire, for the holy and righteous Judge was worthy of joyful melodies.

The Lord has given minds and lips to his children. We decide every day what our outlook will be, and moment by moment what we will express in both body language and voice. The world casts a shadow of turmoil and dissension, our circumstances can slog us down in complaint or depression. Yet each new day offers fresh mercies and continual reminders of God’s faithfulness, and we decide where to invest emotions and time. Will we choose to spill from our mouths an incessant dribble of whine, sarcasm, or coarse jesting, or a joyful noise of thanksgiving unto Him? (Lamentations 3:22-23; Ephesians 5:4; Philippians 4:6-7)

How do my words measure against the psalmist’s admonition? Is my language honorable, or stained with complaint and crudeness? In conversation, how deliberately do I lift up others and exalt the Lord? What in my attitude needs confessing or changing so I can sing a new song this day that lifts high my Lord, His ways and deeds and praise? (Colossians 3:14-17)

“O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro’ all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.” ~ Charles Wesley (1739)

Lord, please fill my heart with gratitude and let it spill over in songs of praise worthy of You.