“Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth.” Isaiah 42:10
Dear Ones:
In the book of Revelation, we find a “new song” sung by the redeemed of all the ages. It is the joyous anthem of Christ’s victory and work as the slain Lamb of God, the coming of His kingdom, and the realization of the multiple and magnificent eternal promises of God. However, it must be noted that this song apparently is not sung until the church is no longer on earth but in heaven. And yet, does not Scripture speak of a NEW SONG to be sung now? Is there not a swelling chorus, not only in the number of those singing on this earth, but also in the intensity with which they are singing?
When Elijah told Ahab that rain was coming after a period of three year’s drought, he went to the top of Mount Carmel. There he prayed seven times until there appeared a little cloud, “…like a man’s hand.” (1 Kings 18:44) In other words, God was giving to Elijah a confirmation, not only that the blessing of the rain was coming, but that it was His time for it to come.
In Isaiah’s writings concerning the ministry of the Lord Jesus that was to come, he wrote: “The Spirit of the Lord God IS upon Me…to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Is.61:1,2) The anointing of the Spirit of God was to come upon the Lord Jesus so that He could fulfill His ministry by preaching, declaring “good tidings,” the result which would be healing, liberty to the captive, joy, and “a garment of praise” to God. But one point that is so very often overlooked is this: He was anointed to proclaim “the acceptable year of the Lord.” Paul would put it like this, referring to another passage in Isaiah 49, “..NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) If there is one thing these passages teach us, it is that God’s time is NOW for us to sing, and to believe Him for an increasing, and rising chorus of voices in song.
The Lord Jesus told His disciples: “Say ye not, ‘There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?’ Behold, I say unto you, ‘Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields: for they are white already to harvest.'” (Jn. 4:35) In the book of Haggai, we read the following: “Thus speaketh the Lord hosts, saying, ‘This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.’ …Is it time for you , O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lies waste?” (Hag. 1:2,4) In both cases, there was a blindness that had settled over the hearts of God’s people, a blindness that discounted the NOW, and the promise and reality of the “acceptable” time.
It would be by Zechariah the prophet that the Lord would make crystal clear His intentions in the present moment for Israel, and now for us, in the world: “Therefore, thus saith the Lord: ‘I AM returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built.'” (Zech.1:16) Today is a day of salvation, not only that the song of triumph should arise increasingly in our hearts, but that we should be about our Father’s business, believing Him for the former and the latter rains, for His guidance and blessing. Then we shall KNOW the “new song” in our hearts, and hear the rising chorus of those who are just beginning to sing.
“What an anthem that will be, Ringing our our love to Thee, Pouring out our rapture sweet, At Thine own all glorious feet.”
Dear Father, strengthen our hearts to sing this day, and increasingly so. And may our song rise to Thee as we believe Thee for the FULL outworking of Thy will and purposes in our lives, and in those to whom You will send us. Anoint us with that oil of joy, power, and love, that we may proclaim the excellencies of Thy name, and the knowledge of Thy ways. Then we shall see Thy kingdom come, and Thy will done…today. We thank and praise Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad