Psalm 40- A New Song

 Psalm 40- A New Song

Psalms 40:3, 16 (NKJV) 

3He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God; Many will see [it] and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

16Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”

What does it mean to sing a new song? This psalm has been sung by thousands of congregations for over 2000 years, so how can it be new? Now there are portions of this psalm that have been set to modern melodies, but I imagine that the way that the cantors sing it in the Jewish temple service hasn’t changed in hundreds of of years. So what is new about this song?

In my previous piece, I talked about the change in nature when you are saved from the pit of miry clay. So considering this change, it is not the song that is new but the heart of the singer. Part of this new song is described as a new proclamation of the good news of the Lord’s lovingkindness.

Psalms 40:9-10 (NKJV)

 9 Ihave proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know. 10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.

I have also previously written about the Lord’s lovingkindness or mercy. And we also sing a chorus by Edith McNeill about His steadfast love and mercy:

Thesteadfast love

Of the Lord never ceases

His mercies never come to an end

They are new every morning

New every morning

Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord

Great is Thy faithfulness

Thus there is something about the Lord’s lovingkindness that makes our heart like new every morning and causes us to sing a new song. Some morning my heart doesn’t feel new. In fact I may wake with a heavy heart. So how do we activate this new song? How do we realize the Lord’s lovingkindness every morning in a practical way? Lord, help me. Put a new song in my heart. Your faithfulness is great. I’m also reminded of another song that my fried Steve Israel used to sing.

Psalms 27:13-14 (NASB95) 

13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; Bestrong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of believing and waiting on the Lord. For me, sometimes I need to sing and pray until my heart wakes up and realizes that the goodness of the Lord is all around and there is a new song in my heart. So don’t give up. Don’t despair, but seek the Lord and wait on Him. He will put a new song in your heart and then many will see and hear.