Throughout the biblical story of faith, music is the defining affirmation of God’s faithfulness. There are over 180 songs in the Old and New Testaments that bear witness to God’s faithfulness. The first of these songs is found in the 15th chapter of the second book of the Bible, Exodus, when the liberated slaves of Egypt sing a new song about God’s faithfulness after they walk through the Red Sea on dry land. Exodus 15:1-2 introduces this new song with these words:
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my might” and he has become my salvation. This is my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
(Exodus 15:1-2)
The story of biblical faith concludes with a new song that is recorded in the 15th chapter of the final book of the Bible, Revelation. Like the first song of the Bible led by Moses and the Israelites after they had crossed the Red Sea, this song is attributed to Moses. Except this time the song of God’s redemption is sung by what John reports to be a sea of glass.
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of gold in their hands. And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the nations!” Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.”
(Revelation 15:2-4)
In between these first and last songs of faith, there are over 180 songs recorded in the Bible that express the power of God and the human story of faith. There are songs of hope and there are songs of lament. There are songs that were sung and chanted as well as songs that were intended for musical accompaniment. The Book of Psalms, the worship book of the Bible contains 150 psalms, but it is not the only songbook of the Bible. There is also the Song of Solomon that is a love song between a bride and groom and Lamentations that is a set of five dirges mourning the fall of Jerusalem.
Two of the most beloved songs in the New Testament are connected to the birth of Jesus in the New Testament’s Gospel According to Luke. In the first chapter of Luke, the Magnificat is Mary’s song of praise in response to the news that she will be blessed among women by giving birth to Jesus. Like many of the other songs of the Bible, Mary’s song found in Luke 1:45-55 is more than a song of Mary’s personal faith. It is also a political statement about the power of God that is realized through the human story of faith:
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
(Luke 1:46-55)
The second chapter of Luke contains the song of a multitude of the heavenly host who praised God at the birth of Jesus as they said:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors.”
(Luke 2:14)
The Book of Psalms contains the most songs in the Bible with 150 psalms. Known as the song book of the Bible, there are 150 psalms that signal the beginning of a new year, the observance of festivals, vulnerable questions of faith, the assurance of God’s presence in the reality of exile and through songs of praise.
Today’s scripture reading, Psalm 98, is a song of praise about God’s glory that is connected to the first song of the Bible recorded in Exodus 15. Recalling the song Moses and the Israelites sang by the Red Sea, Psalm 98 is an invitation for all creation to sing about the journey of God’s faithfulness that all generations are invited to travel.
The three hymns that we are singing today are Jacob’s favorite hymns. Each hymn is an invitation to sing a new song about the journey of God’s faithfulness.
The Church’s One Foundation was written by Samuel J. Stone, a priest in the Church of England in the 1860’s part of a larger collection of works based on The Apostles’ Creed which we affirmed earlier in our worship today. Written during a time of division over theological differences within the Church of England, the hymn speaks specifically to Article 9 of the creed, “I believe in the holy catholic church. The communion of saints.”
The King of Love My Shepherd Is, written by Anglican Priest, Henry W. Baker, in 1868 is based on Psalm 23. An invitation to a life of trust in God, it is reported that Baker recited the lyrics of this hymn as the closing words of his life.
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty was written by Reginald Heber, the Anglican Bishop of Calcutta in 1826. Based on the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, this hymn calls all generations to sing about God’s faithfulness in earth and sky and sea.
May God bless us as we sing a new song to the Lord!
A New Song
by Pastor Marc Brown
July 21, 2024
Accompanying Scriptures: Psalm 98
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for July 21, 2024
Scripture Lesson Psalm 98
The Good News “A New Song”
Music “Holy, Holy, Holy” Hymn #64
Prayer
Blessing
Closing Music “Sun of My Soul” arr. Lani Smith
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