"Sing to the Lord a new song," says the Lord. Every week we sing "praise songs" at our contemporary service. The praise team is trying to find time to learn new songs so we won't get bored. Is it possible God too is tired of the old ones! I think sometimes God gets bored when we sing the songs we like, and forget the source of our praise - God. That God is doing something new we can always sing about. God knows the difference when we sing empty praises.
Yet in our own lives, our songs are obsessed with our own glory and desires and feelings. We like the snappy songs of bitterness with their whining melodies and curt lyrics. We prefer sad songs that make us cry and happy songs that make us laugh. But what about a new song to God? A song of praise and honor - that's nothing about me or you. That celebrates who God is and has promised and what God has done - not just for me. But for God and for ALL the people God loves.
Maybe it's easier to default to the old songs, when we don't feel like singing at all. Can we sing a new song when we didn't get our way? When we are struggling with people's bad attitudes and agendas? When evil is singing its lewd and off key songs in our ears? Can we sing God's praises when we are angry and impatient about injustice and overwhelmed with the tragedies in the world? Can we sing God's praises when God has asked us to present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, to be pure and holy when we want to satisfy our flesh. Can we sing Gods' praises with thankfulness when God has asked us to go where we do not want to go? To give up our comfortable lives?
I cannot sing a new song unless my heart is changed. Transformed by the renewal of my mind. Paul drags me kicking and screaming back to God, to be present. "Present yourselves...". Most of us come to come to worship, half-hearted and preoccupied and expecting to be filled up. Christian worship is active and God-centered, and requires an authentic and purposeful seeking of God first. A love of God and a desire to hear from God and then do what matters to God. Worship is associated with honor and hospitality, service, prayer and giving. Not just showing up when we want and singing the same old songs, and leaving feeling good about ourselves.
And, praising God in all circumstances doesn't happen just on Sunday. Authentic worship and God-centered praise considers the community - everyone in it, all the time. Paul is specific about what love-centered worship is:
9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
When our songs are sounding tinny and flat, we can imitate Jesus in our worship and praise of the Father, and it will be well with us and God. And when our worship is sacrificial and persistent and centered around the Word of God - God's love for us in Christ - God will settle the score with our enemies and worries and sin. We can then send our pure and holy praise before the Lord and present ourselves to be used by him, and God will make it bear fruit.
Come on, let's hear a new song!
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