As 2024 unfolds we focus on the word “new” year. New means “fresh,” “one of a kind,” and “never seen or heard before.” It is a time of evaluating the old so that we can move into the new. The words of Isaiah give insight into how God wants to move in a new way in our lives: “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise from the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 42: 9-10) What does it mean to “sing to the Lord a new song?”
Many Psalms repeat those words: “O sing unto the LORD a new song: Sing unto the LORD, all the earth, Sing unto the LORD, bless his name.” (Ps. 96: 1-2) “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.” (Ps. 98:1) “Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.” (Ps. 149:1) “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” (Ps. 33:3) God is a creative God and desires to do new things in the lives of His children—to put a new song in our hearts that brings us joy and glory and praise to Him!
Isaiah gives us the key to receiving this new song in Chapter 43: 18-19: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Surely, as we look around today we see a culture that looks like a wilderness and wasteland—one that is pagan and immoral. God is calling us to set our eyes on Him who is the Way Maker! When we are born into the family of God, He makes us new creatures in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul explained, “The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5: 17) Then in Ephesians 2: 10 he says: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Eph. 2: 10)
In order to sing a new song to the Lord, our duty is to possess our possession (Christ) by putting our foot of faith on the promises of God and setting our minds on things above—not things below. In other words, we must stop singing the same old song—rehearsing the same old behaviors and expecting different outcomes! As we move into 2024, let us fix out eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith. Paul instructs us in Colossians 3: 1-2 “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above—where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Focus your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” The Christians in Colossae, like us, were surrounded by a culture that did not follow God’s standards. Although physically in the world, they were not to believe nor do the same things that the culture around them did. Paul describes the world culture in verses 5-9 by a number of words and behaviors: anger, rage, malic, slander, filthy language, lying. We are inundated with messages that promote the world’s perspective. If we listen to the radio, overhear foul language or conversations, read billboards, watch the news, read the newspaper, follow social media, surf the Internet, watch TV programs or movies, etc., we will be constantly directed to embrace values that are clearly worldly. Instead, we as believers in Christ are to take off the old self with its practices and put on the new self that is being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of the One who created him. (vv. 9b-10)
Paul outlines God’s heavenly perspective in 3: 12-17 which is characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, peace, singing, worship, and gratitude. It takes a concentrated effort to cultivate these values and qualities. We must “set our minds” to it. If we want to be directed “from above,” we must make an effort to counteract the messages that are prevalent in our culture. To set our minds on things above, we must read and meditate on Scripture, attend worship, listen and sing uplifting music, and read things that turn our hearts toward God. Paul instructs us in 3: 16-18 to: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your heart to God. 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.” The “new song” we sing springs forth from the heart of a worshiper who has been struck anew with wonder at the greatness of God and the salvation He has provided. When we see the mighty hand of God working in a way we’ve never observed before, we can’t help but burst forth with a song we’ve never sung before!
Here is a summary of some of the things that we must do to put off the old self and put on the new so we can sing a new song to the Lord:
Think about what you are thinking about! Take every thought captive that opposes God and His ways and submit it to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5) Refuse to dwell on the negative or evil report but according to Philippians 4:8 dwell on: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.” Flee sensuality. We oftentimes think of sensuality in terms of loose sexual morals, but it really goes beyond that as “the condition of being pleasing or fulfilling to the senses.” We are to live for God rather than for self. (Ephesians 4: 19) We are to speak truthfully and put off falsehood—especially to those in the body of Christ. (Eph. 4: 25) We are to speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4: 15) Deal appropriately with anger. In Ephesians 4: 25 Paul tells us not to let the sun go down while we are still angry as it is a foothold for the devil. Paul does not tell us to avoid anger, but rather to avoid sinning in our anger. Guard your tongue. We must take the time to listen to ourself. How often is what we are saying helpful or useful to the ones listening. “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul out of troubles.” (Proverbs 21:23) “If anyone thinks he is religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is futile.” (James 1: 26) Obey the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is actively at work in the life of the believer. We can follow his direction, which is pleasing or we can choose to do our own thing which would grieve him. Ephesians 4:30 says: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Jesus defined the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believe in John 16: 13-14: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, He will not speak on His own; but whatever He hears, He will tell you. And He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.” Seek peace and pursue it. According to Psalm 34: 14, one should turn away from evil and do good, and seek peace and pursue it. The verse emphasizes the importance of pursuing peace in all aspects of life, including with all people, the churches of Christ, the saints, and God through Christ. Hebrews 12: 14-15 makes it clear: “Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; and see to it that no bitter root springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” If what we are doing or feeling hinders our relationships with others, then stop it. God will not hear our prayers if we have an unforgiving spirit according the Lord’s Prayer. A new song has been sung by a choir of born-again believers who have tasted and seen the goodness and salvation of the Lord throughout the generations. From days of old and for all eternity, followers from every tribe, language, people, and nation sing unto the Lord a new song. (Rev. 5:9) God is getting us ready to sing in His heavenly choir. May the LORD put a new song in our hearts during 2024 declaring that His right hand and His holy arm have won victory for Him. That the LORD has made His salvation known. He has revealed His righteousness before the eyes of the nations. He has remembered His lovingkindness, His faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Break forth, sing for joy (Justice of Yeshua), and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and a voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of the shofar blast a sound before the King, the LORD. Let the sea roar and all within it, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing for joy (Justice of Yeshua) together—before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with fairness. (Ps. 98) Throughout the earth and before the throne of God in heaven, we can hear the redeemed singing a new song to the Lord. (Revelation 14:3)