“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.” Psalm 96:1-2
God is writing new chapters in our lives all the time.
There is a daily-ness to following Christ. This is especially true in each new season or circumstance of our lives with Him, but it is often, “day to day.”
Getting in tune with the daily-ness of God’s work (s) in our lives seems strange at first until we hear the Psalmist sing it with clear, fresh melodies: “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts…”I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you… Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!”
The idea of a new song intrigues me. The point in the Psalms is not a new composition (although surrounding verses do imply fresh, active worship with a variety of expressions). The idea is this: God’s involvement in our lives regularly, usually quietly, sometimes spectacularly, and always on a daily basis brings a “fresh outburst of praise to God.” For Israel this “salvation” was vivid in their compact world of enemies, wickedness, and attention-seeking false gods and idols. I wonder: Has anything changed?
While our circumstances may seem the same or boring or insurmountable, we sing “… it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
The hymn Day By Day expresses our hearts about our daily need and provision of God:
Day by day, and with each passing moment,/Strength I find to meet my trials here;/
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,/I’ve no cause for worry or for fear./
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,/Gives unto each day what He deems best,/
Lovingly it’s part of pain and pleasure,/Mingling toil with peace and rest.
May I apply this “new song” to a special occasion? This weekend Cheryl and I will celebrate our forty-second wedding anniversary. Cheryl captured my heart in an unstoppable way (it was her smile), waved all common sense, and said, “I do,” Saint Patrick’s Day, 1973. As God has been gracious to offer a lifetime with Cheryl, so she has been generous to give and give as we grow together through the decades.
It is exhilarating to join God in writing new chapters in our marriage. New circumstances provide fresh opportunities to change and serve one another. Each day contributes to our building understanding of each other. Our delight in each other’s presence is increasingly simple and profound. I so enjoy watching young love develop, but—and Cheryl may cut my fingers off for saying this—old love is wonderfully different, creative, safer, and freer than young love.
Each day with Christ—and Cheryl—causes a new song to be written and sung. What double joy!
The Rhea Herald-News
March 11, 2015
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