When You Worship Don't Go Through the Motions!

1 Psalm 98
Sing a new song to the Lord,
    for he has done wonderful deeds.
His right hand has won a mighty victory;
    his holy arm has shown his saving power!
2 The Lord has announced his victory
    and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!
3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.
    The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

 While singing songs was integral to Israelites' worship, this psalm bids them to sing a "new song". The sense of this is a fresh song coming from within in response to what God has done for them.  Meyer says this, 

 “The song of redeeming grace can never grow old, even though the same words recur…Are not His mercies new every morning, and His faithfulness every night?"

 The psalmist gives at least 3 reasons for the Israelites, and by application us, to sing a new song to the Lord. First, God has publicly shown his power by giving the Israelities victory.  Second, God has revealed his righteousness and announced his victory to every nation.  God's desire is always to show the nations, those who are not Jews, who He is and His power.  He wants to save them too.  Finally, God has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.  

 So why should Israel sing a new song to the Lord?  Because He has done everything for them.  He has saved them and been faithful to deliver them from their enemies, even when they have been unfaithful to Him.  In doing so, He is hoping that others will see and believe in the one and only God.  

 Things haven't changed much for us.  God sent Jesus to show the nations his love for all people.  God was faithful to provide a Savior through the families of Abraham and David.  God saved us from all of our enemies, especially the one that brought us death, our sin.  As you go to worship tomorrow, sing a new song don't go through the motions!

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