I quit listening to music on the radio a long time ago. Why? Because they keep playing the same songs over and over again. I suspect that many others don’t like commercial radio either because wherever you go, people are plugged into MP3 players, not transistor radios. People like the ability to save hundreds of songs on those listening devices so they don’t have to listen to the same ten songs you often hear played on the radio.
When it comes to worshipping the Lord, do you feel as if you’re listening to a radio station with a limited play list? Have we sung the same hymns enough times that they have become stale? If so, then today’s sermon text is for you. King David, a master musician, will teach us to sing a new song to the Lord. This new song is inspired by the Lord’s truthfulness, his influence, and his watchfulness.
Actually David isn’t going to teach us a song with new words or a new melody. What makes this song “new” is our attitude when we sing it. The reason our hymns might be stale is not because the music is bad or the words boring, it’s because we’re not really thinking about what we’re singing or to whom. So David begins by saying: “1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him... 3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. 4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:1, 3, 4).
When do you feel like singing the most? It’s when things are going well, right? You’ll sing a happy tune (or whistle one) if the sun is shining, the boss gave you a promotion, or you aced a test. But notice that’s not the reason David gives for singing to the Lord. We are to praise him because his word is right and true, and he is faithful in all he does (Psalm 33:4). That reality will put a song on our lips even when the sun isn’t shining, and things aren’t going so well at work or at school.
Consider the disciples in our gospel lesson. They didn’t feel like singing at all when Jesus announced that he would soon be leaving them (visibly though not physically). But Jesus explained how this was actually a reason to rejoice because he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven and would one day come back to take them to be with him where they would live forever in eternal happiness. Can Jesus be trusted? He spoke those words 2,000 years ago and we have yet to set eyes on him. Is Jesus like a presidential hopeful who makes great promises on the campaign trail he has no intention of keeping? Of course not. What great event did we celebrate last month to prove that Jesus is faithful in all he does? We celebrated Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus had promised to rise from the dead and he did. Therefore his word is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. It’s no wonder David concluded: “the earth is full of his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:5b). There isn’t a place in this world where God’s love is absent or lacking. God’s unfailing love is as much present in a dreary ER waiting room as on a glorious mountain peak in Jasper. His love is as valid here in St. Albert as it is where the rest of our family may live. Just as water surrounds you in a swimming pool whether you swim to the left or right or up or down, so God’s love surrounds us no matter where we end up in this world. And so every morning, whether snow or shine, we have reason to sing a new song to the Lord, inspired by his truthfulness, not how we feel at any given moment.
But can we really believe that God will do everything he says? Sure. In fact David says that another reason to sing a new song to the Lord is for his influence. David wrote: “6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth… 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:6, 9).
God’s Word is not only truthful it’s powerful. When God created the world, he simply spoke and lakes, mountains, and the sun came into existence. If I want to build something, I first have to envision it, draw blueprints, raise money, and then hire builders. Not God. No time or effort was lost from concept to reality.
But hasn’t so much gone wrong with God’s creation? Animals God created to live peacefully together now tear each other apart. Forget the animals, people God created to love one another tear each other apart. Doesn’t God care? Can’t he do anything about all the violence here on earth? Of course he can and does. God is not an absentee landlord. He is very active in controlling what goes on down here. David said: “10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:10, 11).
Hitler had plans to rule the world. But God said: “I don’t think so.” The Soviets thought they could stamp out religion in Russia. God said: “No way.” If God handled these threats, he’ll handle whatever we think is a threat to the faith today. So there’s never reason to panic when we read the front page and wonder why God doesn’t do something about all the suffering and violence in the world. He’s on it. He’s directing the events of history for his purpose. That truth will put a new song on our lips, a song of confidence that our God reigns.
But it isn’t just the “bad guys” that God is keeping an eye on. David went on to say: “13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do” (Psalm 33:13-15). God is keeping an eye on us too. Isn’t that a bit disconcerting? Sure it is. How many of us like it when a clerk follows us around as we browse a clothing store? When people hover like that we feel our personal space violated. Well God not only hovers, watching everything we do, he looks into our hearts. He knows that we did the dishes last night because we didn’t want to lose any part of our allowance, not because we we’re happy to serve. He sees how we came to church this morning because our parents made us, not because we were eager to hear God’s Word. Friends, God doesn’t just see us; he sees through us.
Since God’s eye is on us, we better be careful. We shouldn’t foolishly think that because our parents or the pastor don’t know about the sinful things we are doing, we are going to get away with them. God knows. That ought to scare each of us because if God knows about the things that I’m doing, things which the world may say is OK but God clearly says is not, then I’m in big trouble.
So what can we do to escape God’s wrath over our sins? There is nothing we can do. Our text makes that clear when it says: “16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save” (Psalm 33:16, 17). We are no match for God when he flexes his muscles. What good was America’s military might in the face of Hurricane Katrina? What good will our computers, cell phones, and X-Boxes be in keeping us from getting cancer?
There is no running from God’s righteous anger that burns against us for our sins. But this doesn’t mean that we have to be afraid of God for we are to look at him through the filter of Christ. If we don’t, then we’ll do great damage to our faith, just as those who look at the sun without special glasses will damage their eyes. Without Jesus we can only see God as an angry judge. While that’s the kind of treatment we deserve, it’s the not the treatment God wants us to experience. God has made that clear by sending Jesus. So when you feel as if God is out to get you, look at him through Jesus and you will see clearly his love, his compassion, and his continuing care for you. David assures us of God’s love when he wrote: “18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (Psalm 33:18-21). God’s eye is indeed on us but David wants us to know that God has his eye on us to save us, not destroy us. That’s a reason to sing a new song!
No, David hasn’t taught us any new melodies this morning but he has given us reasons for a new and fresh attitude towards the Lord. When we remember God’s truthfulness in keeping his promises, when we call to mind his influence in the world, and when we appreciate his watchfulness over our lives, we won’t treat familiar hymns like yesterday’s Top 40 hits. Instead we’ll sing them with a renewed vigor and appreciation. In fact God deserves our best in this way for David says we are to play skillfully for him (Psalm 33:3). So organists, pianists, keep giving your best for the Lord. Congregation members, don’t feel like you sing well? No matter, David invites you to raise a hearty shout to the Lord (Psalm 33:3). This we will do inspired by the Lord’s truthfulness, his influence, and his watchfulness. Amen.
