Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

of the faithful [saints NIV]…” (1); “O Israel …” (2); “O people of Jerusalem [Zion]…” (2); “The Lord de- lights in his people…” (4); “Let the faithful [saints]rejoice…” (5); “This is the glory of his faithful [saints] ones.” (9) This is the last of the six “new song” Psalms. The “new song” is more than an innovation of style and melody, it is the lyrical and musical expression of a fresh work of the Holy Spirit among his people. ‘Only during the time of the exile was anything said in Israel about something new in its interaction with God– nowhere else in its whole history.’ 4 After the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity there was an emphasis upon the coming ‘new’ thing that God was about to do through his Messiah. The ‘new thing’ was the coming ‘New Covenant’ through Jesus Christ foretold by the prophet Jeremiah: “’But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,’ says the Lord. ‘I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’” (Jer. 31:33) ‘The massive ‘new thing’ of this passage is the interiorization of religion.’ 5 The ‘new song’ springs out of a deep and sincere relationship with God where we serve him from the inner impulses of the Holy Spirit! This is the birth of prophetic music. Only those touched by the New Covenant of God’s favor are capable of singing the New Song of the Lord. • It is played with skill- “Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy.” (Ps. 33:3) • It is a human composition inspired by God- “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.” (Ps. 40:3) • Its many expressions will cover the earth- “Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! (Ps. 96:1) • It celebrates the victory of the cross- “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. He has won a mighty victory by his power and holiness.” (Ps. 98:1) • It is accompanied by instruments- “I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp.” (Ps. 144:9) • It is sung in the congregation of the faithful- “Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.” (2) The deliriously happy exiles who have returned from Babylon and rebuilt the walls and temple in Jerusalem express their joy by dancing, the most extreme expression of praise. This is the ‘machowl’ , a circle dance that is done by the assembled worshipers. It was accompanied by the ‘tambourine’, (Heb.- ‘Toph’) an instrument that emits a joyful and celebrative rhythm as it is struck with the hand and fingers, and by the guitar-like harps (Heb. ‘Kinnor’) . This is an imperative ‘command’ that is rendered in other versions as: “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” (NIV) It implies that there is opposition to this form of praise and the Lord is commanding it to occur in his presence. The women of Israel celebrated David’s slaying of Goliath and the victory over the Philistines in this manner: “…the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and danc- ing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes.” (1 Sam. 18:6) The Father’s house was filled with music and dancing at the return of his prodigal son. Those whose hearts have been renewed by the New Covenant of mercy will forever have the dance of grace within them. The older brother was the one who had to “let them praise his name with dancing…” as his critical and jealous heart despised the merriment that was a result of his Father’s kindness and favor. “When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house…” One of the servants explained the situation; “’Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast. We are celebrat- ing because of his safe return.’” (Lk. 15:25, 27) David’s dance before the Ark as it was returned to Jerusalem, was an act of great humility and the Lord crowned him with his sweet salvation. “And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wear- ing a priestly tunic.” (2 Sam. 6:14) He had a small foretaste of the coming Covenant of grace that set his heart and feet alive with praise. His wife Michal expressed her opposition to his joy and ridiculed her hus- band for dancing publically. He replied: “…’I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your fa- ther and his family!...So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the Lord. Yes, and I am “Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by the tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.” (3, 4)

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