A New Song (Psalms 40:3)

2022-06-12

Before the Lamb of God in heaven, the beasts and elders, with the prayers of the saints, sing a new song (Revelation 5:9). What is that new song?

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. (Psalms 40:3)

The new song is praise to our God. This is consistent with many other Scriptures (Psalm 33:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10). It is not entertainment, like today’s songs are purposed for. It is a literal song, but also a disposition of life. See that this song causes others to fear and trust in the Lord. This is not something that we keep to ourselves. Rather, we see this:

I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. (Psalms 40:10)

A new song is the result of salvation, and the resurrection life, for we also read:

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalms 40:1-2)

This psalm also is ultimately fulfilled in Christ:

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalms 40:6-8; cf. Hebrews 10:5-9)

The Old Testament sacrifices could never take away our sin. The Lord Jesus came to do the will of God apart from those ordinances. “Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:8-9).

We sing the new song because of Jesus.