"Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Sing to the LORD; bless his name. Announce his salvation, day after day.” – Psalm 96:1-2
Do you sing in the shower? Have you ever whistled or hummed a tune when you were in a good mood? It seems that we humans like to express our joy through song, and we are not alone. Birds, whales, frogs, and crickets are just a few of the creatures known to “make a joyful noise unto the LORD” (Ps. 98:4). Meanwhile, rivers, ocean waves, thunder, rain, and wind all add their own sounds to the earthly orchestra.
Indeed, as he Jesuit priest-poet Gerard Manley Hopkins famously observed, “The earth is charged with the grandeur of God.” It is like a wire fence, buzzing with electricity. Or, perhaps the vibrating strings of a guitar. Our Heavenly Father has set all things into motion; His life and His love animate the entire created order, urging it to participate in a grand symphony of praise.
We are naturally moved to contribute our own little part to this great Song whenever we experience the saving power of God in our lives. The Scriptures provide evidence of this over and over again.
In the book of Exodus, Moses and the Israelites offer this song to the Lord after He freed them from slavery in Egypt: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea…” (Exodus 15:1).
Another example from the Old Testament is that of Hannah. The Lord heard her prayers and blessed her with a child, whom she named Samuel. She dedicated young Samuel to God as His prophet and then sang this song of praise: “My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted by my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in your victory. There is no Holy One like the LORD; there is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:1-2)
There are songs in the New Testament responding to an encounter with Jesus Christ, the Son of God and long-awaited Savior of Israel. Chief among these is the Magnificat, the Canticle of Mary, in which Jesus’ mother sings with wonder and awe at the marvel of the Savior dwelling in her womb: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:46-49)
Take a moment to consider the ways in which the Lord has looked upon you with mercy and love. How will you respond? How will you let the grandeur of His love animate your life? What will be the new song in this new year that you will sing to the Lord?
Lord God, Creator of the world, magnify our songs of praise, so that the glory of your Name and your Love may resound to the ends of the earth. Amen.
