A New Song

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 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 40:1-3)

Nine different times, “A new song” appears in Scripture[1]. Six are in the Psalms, two in Revelations, and one in Isaiah. Each time, it is used in conjunction with a mighty act of God. When God does something powerful, His people write new songs.

Such was the testimony of David, the Psalmist when he composed Psalm 40. While we are not exactly sure of the details, it was clear from the passage that he found himself in an unpalatable situation. There must have been some kind of trouble that he was dealing with and he was in danger of being overwhelmed. He likened his situation to a ‘horrible pit’ and a ‘miry clay’. He said he waited patiently for the Lord… This means his problem must have taken a while. Probably people had been mocking him and calling him “an anointed king with no throne” or “an anointed king who is a fugitive.”

But it ended in praise and David expressed his gratitude to God for delivering him out of such an unpalatable experience in the pit. And because God has delivered him from danger, he could sing a new song to praise God.

Is that not our story as well? Every child of God has been delivered from the horrible pit of sin, and delivered from the miry clay of turmoil, sickness, and trouble. Look back at your life’s story and you will see the need to praise God with a new song—a joyful song, as Psalm 100:1 tells us: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” (KJV)

What is a new song?

A new song signifies a situation of Supernatural turnaround and divine encounter where God reverses someone’s circumstances abruptly, turning the negative into positive, and shifting one’s thoughts and life to a new direction beyond any scientific explanation. It is a song of victory speaking of the greatness of our God.

On the other hand, a new song also signifies that there must have been an old song—perhaps, a song of complaints, an expression of sorrow, frustration and difficulties. Such ‘songs’ neither glorify God nor edify His body. It is my sincere prayer that every song of joy that God has given you, the reader of this article shall be sustained in Jesus name.

This exhortation is focused on God’s ability to reverse negative circumstances in life.

The truth of the matter is that just one encounter with God can put a new song in your mouth and reverse the irreversible. The bible says “the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10)

When do you sing a new song?

  1. When you are standing before the congregation of the righteous to testify of God’s victory in your life.
  2. When you are seeing the demolition or destruction of the work of the enemy in your life.
  3. When overcoming barriers that your enemy has erected to impede your advancement and elevation.
  4. When God silence your mockers.
  5. When you receive divine attention.
  6. When God changes your story to glory and terminate your pain and sorrow.
  7. When your song is no longer a pacifier for your pain or predicament but a testimony of an evident breakthrough.
  8. When God has taken you from darkness to light.


What kind of songs are you singing?

Songs are deep and the kind of songs you sing tell so much about you. Often times, our hearts connect with songs that tell the story of our life. Not everybody wakes up with songs of praise on a daily basis—some wake up with songs of lamentation. For example, when a man sings “I am tired of the valley…” you don’t need anyone to tell you what the person is going through. Of course, people react to songs differently—while some sing with tears, others can sing the same song just for the fun of it. My prayer for you is that every song that brings agony and bad memories to your heart shall be terminated in Jesus name. Your songs shall follow the likes of “Come and join me sing halleuyah, Jehovah Jireh has done me well…”

Biblical Examples of Old and New Songs

In our dark moment, we sing songs of mourning or lamentation. For example, Psalm 137:1-2 was a song of pain and anguish of the Israelites. The people of God were in bondage in Babylon and they were still being mocked. The Israelites sang “by the rivers of Babylon, there we sat, we wept, when we remember Zion…” In other words, there used to be a time they were singing with joy and enjoying their Promised Land; but suddenly, they found themselves under bondage and indeed in the pit of life. God allowed king Cyrus of Persia to defeat Babylon and later freed the Israelites. Then another season of joy came and a new song emerged!

“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” (Psalm 126:1-3)

The above scripture is a testimony from the Psalmist and other captives. The worst was in view and God gave them a turn-around. It was beyond their imagination. And that was not the first time. The Bible is filled with many other examples of turn-around situations that ended in new songs…

Some centuries earlier than the Babylonian captivity, the children of Israel were staring at the Red Sea in front of them and the army of Pharaoh fast closing in from behind. They never imagined that the Red Sea would become the path for their deliverance… The turn-around happened suddenly and made them amazed. It was like a dream—too good to be true; but it was true.

A divine turn-around brings an overwhelming joy beyond description and indeed a new song. Exodus 15:20-21 tells us: “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, “Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.”” I prophesy into your life that just as Miriam took the timbrel and sang, you will dance as well, you will sing your own new song, and you will shout your own shout, in the mighty name of Jesus! Whatever represents the horse and his rider in your life, they will drown and be swallowed up in the name of Jesus.

In 1 Samuel 1:1-25 we read of how Hannah was despised and taunted for not having a child. While other people will gather to rejoice and make merry in Shiloh, Hannah will always cry and remain in deep sorrow but when God visited Hannah in her state of barrenness, she became a joyful mother of six children. Thus, her mockers were silenced and she composed a new song: “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2). In the same vein, I decree that just like in the case of Hannah, God will silence your mockers and give you a new song to sing in Jesus name.

At an advanced age, Sarah encountered God and suddenly, ‘laughter’ erupted! Everyone who heard of her conception story and her subsequent childbirth were also infected with laughter; no wonder she named the child ‘Isaac’ (which means ‘laughter’—Genesis 22:1-6). Have you been going through sorrow for a season? Is your name or identity synonymous with sorrow like Jabez? Are you sorrowful for an absence of new things in a long while? Is there a long-standing problem that has defied all prayer efforts? Fear not! Your laughter season is just around the corner. Very shortly, like it happened to Sarah, many people will come and laugh with you in Jesus name.

Another biblical example is the story of the man who was born blind in John 9:24-25. After the Lord opened his eyes, people began to argue so much on his issue. But when he was called to clarify his story he told them about how he regained his sight. He said to them concerning Jesus “Whether he be a sinner or not, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25b). That will be your new song from today! You will find yourself singing:

Amazing grace how sweet the sound…
I once was sick but now I am healed;
I once was bound but now I am free;
I once was begging to feed but now I am a lender to nations;
I once was barren but now I am praying to God to stop adding more children to me;
I once was last but now I am first;
I once was completely ignored over important matters but now without consulting me, nothing can be done;
I once was crawling spiritually, but now I am flying;
I once had no suitor coming for my hand in marriage, but now I am blissfully married;
I once was homeless but now I have a comfortable place;
I once was a tenant harassed by my landlord but now I am a landlord myself
…in Jesus name.

David came to Ziklag and found the whole city burnt down and their children, wives and wealth taken away by the enemy. David and his mighty men of war cried until they had no more strength to cry. But David strengthened himself in the Lord and sought the face of God and God told him to pursue them. God promised to give them into his hands. David arose, stopped crying, went with his army and attacked the enemy’s camp, defeated the enemy and took back everything they had stolen.

Beloved, as you read these words, what’s your own situation like? Perhaps, you’ve been crying for years, perhaps you’ve despaired, or you’re disappointed, or you have given up—whatever may be your situation—arise, wipe away the tears, get on your knees and begin to seek God. God has a plan to restore to you all that Satan had stolen from you—your children, wife, husband, career, business, prayer life—anything! Like David, you will weep no more and shall sing a new song of victory and total recovery in Jesus name.

Remember Naomi? She had an old song. We heard the lyrics in Ruth 1:20. She went abroad with great expectation of success, but her hope was dashed when she lost her husband and two sons and had to return to Bethlehem. Her song was “God has dealt bitterly with me.” However, God changed Naomi’s song from a song of lamentation to a New Song in Ruth 4:15-17, and God gave her a restorer in her old age—a grandchild, Obed. I decree that your story will change from lack to plenty in Jesus name.

The psalmist’s prayer and prophecy in Psalm 126:4-6 shall be your portion. It says: “Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” Have you been sowing precious seeds for a long time without getting any harvest? Behold, your time of harvest has come. You will share bountiful testimonies and indeed a new song will burst forth from your lips in Jesus name.

What must we do to sing a new song?

  1. Be obedient to God’s instruction. (Exodus 15:26)
  2. Have absolute trust in God. (Matthew 11:28–30)
  3. Have faith in the Lord who has chosen you. Whatever He say He will do, He will surely do it. (Numbers 23:19, Leviticus 26:12–13).
  4. Thank Him in and out of season. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 

PRAYER POINTS

  1. Every old and existing predicament in my life, give way by fire and let me sing a new song of victory, prosperity and deliverance in Jesus name.
  2. Father, give me a new song, a new story and new testimonies in Jesus name.
  3. God, let the miracle of a new thing become a daily occurrence in my life in the name of Jesus.
  4. Father, let me not mourn nor cry over any of my family members; rather give me a new song and mouth-opening testimonies over them in Jesus’ name.
  5. Lord, pay me a divine visitation that will make me sing a new song like Hannah, in the name of Jesus.
  6. Lord, empower me to sing over the same situation that had made me cry, in the name of Jesus.
  7. Father, let me sing, dance and greatly rejoice in the Lord and let nothing spoil my joy, in the name of Jesus.

 

[1] In the New International Version (NIV)



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