"New Song" 5-9-21
Overview
Sing to the Lord a New Song
In Isaiah 42:10, the prophet calls God's people to "Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth." The word "new" here doesn't mean a song never sung before—the same call appears in Psalm 96:1, Psalm 98:1, and Psalm 149:1. Rather, it is a song that bursts forth from a heart freshly gripped by the greatness of God. It is not merely a reprise of the song of Moses at the Red Sea Exodus 15, nor an echo of the celebration when the wall of Jerusalem was dedicated after the exile Nehemiah 12. It is something greater.
The reach of this song is staggering. The sea and all that fills it, the coastlands, the desert and its towns, even the villages of Kedar and Sela—peoples who had been enemies of Israel—are summoned to lift their voices Isaiah 42:10–12. From mountaintops to coastlands, every corner of creation is enlisted in a choir of praise. The geography of the song tells us something about its subject: this is praise meant for all the earth.
Why such a song? The answer comes earlier in the chapter, in the first of Isaiah's Servant Songs: "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights" Isaiah 42:1–4. Matthew identifies this Servant explicitly—he is Jesus Matthew 12:18–21. The Servant came, went to the cross, bore the wrath of God for sin, and was raised from the tomb. The sacrifice was accepted; reconciliation, forgiveness, and life are ours; the justice of God is satisfied in the Son. The new song has one note at its center: Jesus.
That matters pastorally, because the tunes that often play in our lives are different ones—the sad ballad of heartache, the looped refrain of a wounding word, the scratched record of a hurt that keeps returning to the same groove. Above the discord of life rises a gracious melody that does not depend on our circumstances but on the finished work of Christ. Church, you know the song. Sing it—because you know the Composer.
Transcript
Let's open our Bibles today to the book of Isaiah, the 42nd chapter. 4s
Isaiah 42 for our study today is we continue on in this series simply entitled New as we 12s
celebrate that which God makes new. 21s
Game shows we're all familiar with them aren't we? 27s
And there are some game shows that well they just keep cropping up over the decades, don't 31s
think. 37s
They'll be around for a while, they may be disappear for a little while but then they 38s
return. 42s
Maybe a different host, maybe slightly different twist but basically the same game. 44s
I think in particular about a game show name that tune name that tune that has been around 51s
for several decades. 62s
There's several different games within the game but it's all basically the same premise 65s
where there's contestants and they are vying to see who can name the tune the quickest 70s
song before the other one. 77s
They look at various topics in genres and various questions and clues but they're just 81s
basically trying to beat their opponent and be able to say what the name of the tune is. 88s
Hence the name name that tune. 96s
I think of that because our text forced it for today that we're going to delve into and 100s
Isaiah the 42nd chapter. 107s
Our text for today talks about a song, a song and so here's my question. 109s
Can you name that tune? 120s
The book that we are studying from today. 126s
The prophet Isaiah such a rich and majestic book. 130s
I think of Isaiah the sixth chapter where Isaiah receives the vision of the throne room of God and 137s
there are angels around God and they're singing holy, holy, holy. 143s
By the way that's where we get that famous hymn that we sing from Isaiah the sixth chapter. 148s
But as Isaiah receives this vision, Isaiah believes that he's done for. 156s
After all he has seen the holiness of God and compared to the holiness of God he knows his unholyness. 162s
He knows the reality of his own sin. 169s
So he thinks he's done for. 173s
But the word of absolute is given to him the charge is given to Isaiah and Isaiah says, 176s
Here I am, send me. 184s
Isaiah then is the mouthpiece of God. 190s
God speaking through the prophet Isaiah. 195s
And Isaiah records these words. 201s
Look at verse 10 with me please. 204s
Sing to the Lord a new song. 208s
His praise from the end of the earth. 212s
Now, new there doesn't mean, 218s
scripturally, that the song has never been sung before. 220s
I think for example of Psalm 96 verse 1, 225s
O sing to the Lord a new song. 231s
Sing to the Lord all the earth or Psalm 98. 234s
O sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things. 239s
Psalm 149. 246s
Praise the Lord. 249s
Sing to the Lord a new song. 250s
His praise in the assembly of the faith of the faithful. 253s
So singing the new song doesn't mean that it hasn't been sung before. 258s
You know, it's new in the sense that the person is grasped by the greatness of God. 263s
And then births forth with this song of praise grasped by God's 271s
greatness. 280s
And so, is the new song referenced in Isaiah 42? 283s
Is the new song a redo of, for example, the song of Moses? 291s
It's back in Exodus the 15th chapter. 300s
The people had come to the red sea. 305s
They could hear the hoof beats of Pharaoh's army coming up behind them. 308s
And then they see this huge sea. 313s
And they think there's no escape. 316s
But what does God do? 319s
God pulls the waters back and the people walk on dry ground. 321s
Well, that occasion, the song, a song of praise. 327s
Exodus the 15th chapter. 331s
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. 335s
I will sing to the Lord for he is triumphed gloriously. 341s
Horse and writer, he has thrown into the sea. 346s
It goes on. 351s
Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power. 353s
Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy. 357s
In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrew your adversaries. 361s
You sent out your fury. 367s
It consumed them like stubble. 369s
Going on. 372s
In your steadfast love, you led the people whom you redeemed. 375s
You guided them by your strength to your holy abode. 379s
So, is the new song referenced in Isaiah 42? 385s
Is that just a redo of the song of Moses? 393s
No. 401s
No. 404s
Is the song referenced in Isaiah 42? 405s
Why is it a redo of the song of redemption from exile? 409s
And with the Bible tells us of the people of the time when the people were in Babylonian 414s
captivity, they are released and they go back to their homeland. 420s
And Nehemiah is put in charge of rebuilding the wall. 426s
And the Bible tells us in Nehemiah 12. 431s
Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites in all their places 434s
to bring them to Jerusalem, to celebrate the dedication with rejoicing, with Thanksgiving, 441s
and with singing, with symbols, harps and liars. 450s
So, is the song in Isaiah 42? 459s
A redo of the song of redemption from the end. 465s
Is that the exile? 471s
No. 475s
No. 477s
It's different. 479s
Can you name that tune? 483s
The praise that is expressed is just extensive here of this song referenced in Isaiah 42. 492s
Back to the text in verse 10. 502s
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth. 506s
How extensive is this extensive? 514s
Is this expression of praise? 516s
It goes on. 519s
Let the seeror and all that fills it. 520s
Now, there was all of the sea creatures in the oceans. 525s
They are called to be part of the choir of praise. 530s
That's echoed in Psalm 96. 535s
Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice. 538s
Let the seeror and all that fills it. 540s
Going on in verse 10. 546s
The coastlands and their inhabitants. 548s
Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice. 552s
From the coastland to the desert. 557s
Was the call to praise? 561s
The villages that cadar and habits. 563s
Let the inhabitants of sea-less sing for joy. 566s
These two references, they were enemies of Israel. 569s
And so, even the enemies of Israel are called to praise. 573s
Let them shout from the tops of the mountains. 578s
Let them give glory to the Lord and declare his praise in the coastlands. 582s
The mountain tops are now added to the coastlands and to the deserts. 588s
And to the populated areas in this call for this expression of this song of praise. 593s
This song is so different than the song that we can sometimes experience in our lives. 609s
A different tune that perhaps we can be familiar with. 624s
The bellot that is sad and it just expresses the heartache that we're going through. 632s
The experience in our life and the tune that seems to personify the moment is just the sad, sad bellot. 642s
Or it's that tune that keeps going over and over and over in your mind. 655s
And you just can't get rid of it. 661s
Maybe it's that word that was said or that action that was done. 665s
And it just keeps replaying over and over and over again. 670s
Or like those records with the old needle. 677s
The beauty of the original recording seems to be marred by scratchiness in the worn needle. 684s
Getting stuck in the groove. 694s
So that that bad event or that hurt. 698s
It just keeps coming back. 705s
You can try and nudge it but it just moves on and then back again to that same groove. 708s
Sometimes the tunes associated with our lives are tunes of discord. 717s
It's songs that seem to be so very different than this song in Isaiah 42. 729s
This song and Isaiah 42. 744s
If you had to put a title to it, what would it be? 752s
Can you name that tune? 759s
It's interesting in that game show name that tune. 771s
There's a segment that always is in the shows. 776s
It's called the the Bid A Note. 780s
It's really interesting. 783s
There's seven notes and both of the contestants will they bid? 786s
They bid of how many notes it's going to take to name the tune. 791s
So the clue is given and then they start the bidding process. 794s
So one might say, I can name that in six. 798s
And then the other contestants says, well I can name that in five. 801s
And on and on they go. 806s
I always find it interesting. 809s
When they come and they say, well I can name that tune in one note. 811s
One note. 818s
And so with Isaiah 42, can you name that tune in one note? 822s
Have you figured it out? 839s
Turn with me please. 846s
To verses one through four of chapter 42. 849s
Here we read these words. 855s
Here is my servant who my uphold my chosen in whom my soul delights. 858s
I have put my spirit upon him. 867s
He will bring forth justice to the nations. 869s
He will not cry or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street. 874s
Abruised read. 881s
He will not break and a dimly burning wick. 882s
He will not quench. 886s
He will faithfully bring forth justice. 889s
He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth. 895s
And the coast lands wait for his teaching. 902s
It begins with a reference. 908s
Here is my servant. 910s
In the Old Testament, the most frequently acknowledged servant of the Lord is David. 915s
Here in Isaiah 42, when it says, here is my servant. 927s
There is almost like a special point here that look at this servant here. 930s
This is a special one that has come. 937s
In fact, this is part of four what are called servant songs in Isaiah. 941s
What's the identity? 951s
Who is it? 954s
What's the identity of this servant? 956s
Matthew, the 12th chapter. 963s
Speaking of Jesus, it says this. 969s
This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah. 972s
Here is my servant, whom I have chosen. 978s
My beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. 982s
I will put my spirit upon him and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 988s
He will not wrangle or cry aloud nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 995s
He will not break a bruised read or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. 1003s
And in his name, the Gentiles will hope. 1014s
The servant came and the servant went to the cross. 1021s
And the wrath of God for sin was laid upon the servant. 1030s
The servant was raised out of the tomb. 1036s
The sacrifice for sin accepted. 1039s
Reconciliation for giveness. 1042s
Life. 1046s
The justice of God satisfied by the Son. 1049s
Can you name the tune in one note? 1059s
Jesus. 1066s
The beauty of the gracious melody arises. 1070s
The lovely refrain of the story of our Lord embraces us. 1079s
And the glorious song. 1090s
The glorious song. 1094s
It arises above the discord of life the side of heaven. 1097s
Church. 1110s
Sing the song. 1114s
You know it. 1117s
Sing the song for the composer. 1121s
Know it. 1128s
You. 1131s