I hope you don’t get tired with the Psalms. They may
seem alike and talking the same message. Here again, the psalmist calls on the
earth to “sing unto the LORD” (vs 1). You may think you have heard
enough this message to sing unto the LORD. I told my children this when they
complained they were eating the same food: “The cows never complain they are
eating the same grass every day.” They would reply they are not cows. I would
say they should be glad they are not eating the same thing every day. Sometimes
their mother overcooked and we ended up having to eat the same food for the
next two days. But it is always served with some other new dishes.
Psalm 98 begins with a command addressed to the people
of God: "O Sing to the LORD a new song!" It is not that God
does not like the old hymns. The emphasis is not on the word “new”. I don’t
think it refers to a song that has never been sung before. It would be a big
headache for all worshippers if they have to sing new hymns each time they
worship.
Old hymns are new songs to those who are hearing them
for the first time. And, old hymns are new songs to those hearts which have
been renewed each day. Old hymns are new songs to every heart that loves God;
they do not become bored because it is God they are praising. The evergreen
hymns like Joy To The World, At The Cross, He Leadeth Me, I Am Thine, O Lord,
Just As I Am, It Is Well With My Soul, We’re Marching To Zion, and many such
like, will never go out of date. They always taste like new. You will never get
tired with those hymns.
We glorify God in our songs (Ephesians 5:19). The
psalmist glorifies God in his psalms. He remembers the wondrous works of God
(vs 1). He breaks forth into singing whenever he recalls the mercies and
wondrous acts of God. We do remember Miriam, sister of Moses, who broke forth
into singings with joy after they crossed successfully the Red Sea (Exodus
25:20-21).
Just as God remembers us, we ought to remember Him,
especially for His blessings and mercies toward us and praise Him for that (vs
2-3). In doing so, God is glorified even among the heathens.
The psalm teaches us how to sing unto the LORD.
1. We are to sing to GOD: “O sing unto the LORD”
(vs 1). The attention is to God and not man or self.
2. We are to sing with Enthusiasm: “Make a
joyful noise unto the LORD… make a loud noise” (vs 4). We must not mumble
the words and sin without zest.
3. We are to be HAPPY when we sing: “Make a joyful
noise…rejoice” (vs 4). Do I see smiles when the congregation is singing? Do
I see happy faces when we sing the hymn, Sing and Be Happy?
4. We are to sing REMEMBERING His works for us: “The
LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the
sight of the nations” (vs 2, ESV). When you are singing the hymn, At The
Cross, is your mind on the Cross of Jesus? When you are singing the hymn, We’re
Marching To Zion, is your mind marching towards Zion or somewhere else?
The psalms are always a great place to turn to find
strength and words of hope during difficult times. Many of the psalms were
written during personal distresses experienced by God’s people. We see David
fleeing from his enemies or Judah suffering under the Babylonian Captivity.
They found comfort in singing and writing psalms. The psalms become God’s book
of hope to His people.
The point of this psalm is for his people to sing and
have joy. Some may ask: How can I have joy when my life is crumbling down?
Well, read Psalms and consider the Lord’s answer. But, daily, “Sing unto the
LORD.”
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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