What does it mean to “sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalm 96:1)?

Answer

Psalm 96 may provide insight into why worship has continually evolved over time, with new songs being written and sung to the Lord. The psalmist proclaimed, “Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless his name” (Psalm 96:1-2;KJV).

Several other psalms echo the sentiment: “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him” «Sing to the LORD a new song; For he has done marvelous things: His right hand, and his holy arm, Have gained him the victory.», (Psalm 98:1). David sang, “I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you” «I will sing a new song to you, O God: On a harp and an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to you.», (Psalm 144:9). “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy,” Psalm 33:3 urges. Continuously, God’s people are prompted to “Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people” «Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, And his praise in the congregation of saints.», (Psalm 149:1).

In all these verses, new signifies “original,” “fresh,” “unique,” and “unprecedented,” or, in this context, “unheard before.” God is a creative God. He is always doing something new—such as saving, intervening, answering prayers, and performing miracles. Through the prophet Isaiah, God declared, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. SEe, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19). Right before this, the Lord declared, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth” (Isaiah 42:9-10;ESV).

When we are born into the family of God, He makes us new creatures in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul explained, “The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17;see also Galatians 6:15). To the Corinthians, Paul said, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” «For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. », (Ephesians 2:10).

One thing our inventive God loves is for His newly created people to express innovative, spontaneous, and unrehearsed praise and thanks to Him. Singing unto the Lord a new song is the natural reaction of an individual who is newly saved and transformed by the Lord: “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD” «And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, And shall trust in the LORD. », (Psalm 40:3, ESV).

The “new song” we sing does not have to be a newly composed worship number. The new song is merely a fresh response of praise and thanks.

Inspired by the freshness of God’s goodness and mercy, which are “new every morning” « They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness. », (Lamentations 3:23), a new melody emerges spontaneously from the heart of a worshiper who is once again amazed by the greatness of God and the salvation He offers. Witnessing the powerful hand of God at work in unprecedented ways prompts us to break into a song we have never sung before.

Throughout the ages, a fresh song has resonated among individuals—sung by a chorus of regenerated believers who have experienced firsthand the goodness and deliverance of the Lord. Across generations and for eternity, adherents from diverse backgrounds sing a new song to the Lord «And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; », (Revelation 5:9). From every corner of the earth and in the presence of God’s throne in heaven, the redeemed can be heard singing a fresh song to the Lord «and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. », (Revelation 14:3).