Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 96:1)
Looking at this verse just on the surface, it could be interpreted to mean that we are encouraged to sing a song never before heard; a song from our heart sung to the Creator. I have no doubt that is, in part, what the psalmist is expressing. However, there could also be a deeper, more prophetic, meaning to these words. It might be that this verse looks ahead to a time in which people will be able to sing God’s praises unfettered by our earthly troubles — in other words, in the Messianic age.
In this life we have adversity and struggle; good does triumph over evil but never has evil been completely vanquished — it always rises again in a different place and in a different way. This fact of life makes it difficult for many to sing unto the Lord with joyful hearts. Obviously, the times when we experience victory and relief is far more conducive to bursting forth into songs of praise and thanksgiving. Unfortunately, those times of victory and song are usually brief before we are, once again, compelled to face the next round of trials and hardships. That is the way of it in this life; our songs of joy and praise are interspersed among the many difficult times we must endure.
There is coming a day, however, when good will triumph over evil once and for all. No longer will our victories be countered by stress and tribulation but peace, truth and justice will reign. It is written that in that day, “The Lord your God is in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17). In the coming age, the Lord Himself will sing and completely purge the atmosphere of every hindrance and impediment that we now contend with. When these obstacles are finally removed, all the world will respond to the Lord in a song of praise. We will sing a new song unto the Lord — a song never before heard; a song that is eternally free of the sting of suffering. May that day come speedily.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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