Sing a new song to the Lord
A Monday reflection from Diane, our Diocesan Reader.
‘Sing a new song to the Lord’
In December I wrote about my morning routine on the farm, and the simple joy of seeing the dawn break. This month, as January nears its end, I’m sure I’m not alone in rejoicing that the days are getting longer. So it’s almost daylight when I go up to the yard to feed the animals. The calves no longer need milk but they’re impatient for their buckets of meal, and are mooing noisily, while there is one pig who always bangs at her pen door, fearful I will forget her. It’s very noisy until they’re all fed…then silence descends.
But not quite silence, for at this time of the year, the birdsong is louder and more varied with every passing day. When I stand still and really pay attention, it’s like listening to nature’s orchestra. It fills me with joy! Birdsong experts may disagree, but I like to think that the robins, blackbirds and the rest are singing for joy that a new day has dawned and spring is on the way.
And that sets me thinking that singing is such an important part of our worship, allowing us to express our love and gratitude to the Lord for His many blessings, whether we’re singing ancient psalms or modern worship songs. I love how the Bible encourages us to praise God in music and song. Here are a few verses to set our hearts singing for the week ahead:
Psalm 96:1-2 – Sing a New Song to the Lord
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.”
Colossians 3:16 – Singing with Gratitude
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Psalm 59:16 – Sing of God’s Strength and Love
“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
2 Chronicles 5:13 – Musicians Joined in Unison
“The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’
And here’s a beautiful promise that when we praise God and live as He wishes us to, He delights in us:
Zephaniah 3:17 – God Will Rejoice Over You with Singing
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
To conclude, we were reminded in one of the hymns we sang in church yesterday that we certainly have a song worth singing:
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner condemned, unclean.
How marvellous, how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvellous, how wonderful
Is my Saviour’s love for me.
As this new week unfolds, let’s be sure to find some time to ‘sing a new song to the Lord’.
Every blessing,
Diane