November brings a lot of nostalgia. It’s the month of Thanksgiving, the official start of the Holiday Season. Yes, Walmart started Christmas in September, but most of us would probably say once November rolls around, it’s the Holidays. Memories of times with family, old songs, and traditions come back in all their glory. Ah, November…

We all tend, as we get older, to long for the good old days and go back to those tried and true songs of old… and yet more than once, the message of Psalm 96 lies in contrast. “Sing a new song to the LORD!” Wait what! A new song? But I like the old ones…

Worship Leaders, Pastors, Theologians, and generations of young and old have debated the meaning and importance of the message in this Psalm. Worship Leaders and Youth like to hold this Psalm as a rallying cry for new material that goes beyond the dusty hymnals of old. Theologians and Pastors trying to minister to the wise among us like to talk about this being breathing new life into the old. Whatever perspective you have on this, can I challenge you to understand why and what this Psalms message is about? There will be no debate about what style of music this “new” song will be. No, I just want to challenge all of us to do what the Psalm says.

I have a tendency to try and overcomplicate simple things, and the Lord is reminding me a lot as I’m getting older to take it at face value. It says what it says; now do it. Sing a new song to the Lord. But why? Is God tired of the old songs? I mean, I probably can say I understand because I think I have sung and played some songs thousands of times. I don’t think that’s it.

Maybe think of it this way. If you were to write a love song to God, do you think he would want one that someone else wrote or one that you did? I mean, I’m sure in a whole group setting, He loves to hear both coming from a heart of worship to Him. But what is more meaningful personally?

We worship and are saved by our personal God and Father. Each day, He shows up in our lives in unique and amazing ways. Each day is filled with praise-worthy, song-inspiring moments that are just sitting there waiting for us to declare them to the world. But why a song… Why not? Some of us can recite word-for-word songs from our favorite artists, and those songs move us and inspire us. Exactly. That’s what God wants for you and others to be moved by the song of testimony, praise, thanksgiving, and worship that each day brings, no matter the circumstances.

So sing that new song. It’s already written. It’s the moment when God shows up. It’s that experience of joy, and it’s the quiet after the storm or the beauty in the sunrise. There is no lack of material, only a lack of effort on our part to just do what the Psalm says. BTW, if we obey and start letting these songs out, we will be doing what 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Singing a new song to the Lord this week!
Pastor Mike