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The Scots Covenanter David Dickson comments that “This psalm is an exhortation…to rejoice and bless the Lord for Christ’s coming to set up his kingdom in the world” (Psalms, Vol. 2, p. 185). It calls us to “sing to the Lord a new song”–an exhortation found in five other psalms (33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 144:9; 149:1). The song is not “new” because it is a new composition but because it celebrates a new event with powerful implications that are “new every morning” in the souls and on the lips of God’s people. The psalm is nearly 3,000 years old, but it has a perennial freshness to it, which is unfolded for us along three lines.
This song is new in itself (vv. 1-3). Three elements of God’s character contribute to this.
God is always new in Himself. “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth,” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 4). God is unchanging, but His actions are ever new. He does “marvelous things” to gain “the victory” (v. 1; cf. 71:17-18). God has done unmistakably divine works in the world and in our lives–all of them new and gloriously surprising.
God’s self-revelation is continually fresh. His plan of salvation reveals His character–“His righteousness…in the sight of the nations” (v. 2). This includes not only the righteousness of the moral law–what is right and what is wrong–but also the “righteousness of faith” in the gospel, which is the way of salvation in Christ (Rom. 4:13).
God’s covenant mercy is ever faithful. He remembers His mercy “to the house of Israel.” His salvation reaches to “the ends of the earth” (v. 3)! Are we not always amazed, even surprised, that we are saved at all?
This song is new in our hearts (vv. 4-6). Three key expressions illumine the impact of a saving relationship with the Lord.
“Shout joyfully” (vv. 4a, 6b). This expresses the enthusiasm of genuine worship in the temple. It also occurs in Zechariah’s prophecy of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in the week He went to the cross (Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:1-11). It points to the joy you have in Christ your Savior if you are a believer. Are you not found often “singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart” (Eph. 5:19)?
“All the earth” (v. 4a). This says to the whole world, “You too are called in the gospel to the same joy–a new life in the Lord who saves sinners.” The gospel calls all people everywhere to repent and believe in Jesus as Savior and so enjoy new and everlasting life in Him.
“Before the Lord the King” (v. 6b). This reminds us that salvation is found only in “a special relationship to Christ as King in Zion” (Dickson, Psalms, vol. 2, p. 187). This, says Allan Harman, “is really a call for conversion of the nations, and a commitment to the living God” (Harman, Psalms, p. 327). Christ’s kingship is ever fresh in the believer’s heart because Christ is always renewing and refreshing the saints. Is Jesus your King?
This song is new for the world (vv. 7-9). God’s message of salvation is a new song aimed at the entire world, and even the creation itself!
The gospel applies to the future of creation (vv. 7-8). A new day is dawning with the coming of Christ. The “whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs…eagerly awaiting the adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:22-23). The seas are to “roar,” the rivers “clap their hands” and the hills “be joyful before the Lord” because the Lord is coming.
The gospel applies to the eternal destiny of every human being (v. 9). The verse teaches three truths: Christ “is coming to judge the earth,” perfect righteousness is the invariable standard, and everyone will face Him and be judged impartially.
Understand this: Without knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will certainly be on the wrong side of that judgment. You are without excuse. This verse warns you honestly of your danger. But it commands a response from your heart–to give yourself to Christ in repentance and faith that you might sing the “new song” of new life in the crucified and risen Jesus who was “once offered to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:28). Jesus is the forever-new song of the redeemed from here on: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God”’ (Rev. 5:9-10; see 14:3). May this be the constant song of your soul!