Word for Today, Tue, 28 Nov 2006: Sing to the Lord a New Song
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
How many of you read the Bible every day? If you do, I would imagine, then,
that you have been able to read the entire Bible a few times, at least, in your
lifetime, perhaps several times.
I've probably read virtually every word in the Bible at least five times, but
then I get into patterns of reading certain passages over and over, and don't
get back to other books all that often.
Recently, I read the book of Nahum, and I hadn't read that book previously in
at least a couple of years, for instance.
Another book that I read bits and pieces of, but don't often read from start to
finish are the two books of Chronicles, the events in the lives of the early
kings of Israel.
In 1 Chronicles 16, King David has brought the Ark of the Covenant of God to be
with him in the City of David, and this chapter was written in praise to God.
When I turned sixteen, I joined my local church choir. One of the first songs
I sang was a song that contained the words: "O Sing unto the Lord a new song.
Sing unto the Lord all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless His Name, show
forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His
wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised.
He is to be feared among all gods... to be feared among all gods."
Those words come from 1 Chronicles 16. I was sixteen then, I am fifty now. IF
the Word of God, even in song, can stick with me that long, it can stick with
you, too. But how does it get there? In the case of that song, we had to
practice it more than once, didn't we? Yes, we sure did. That repetition
taught me those words of scripture.
Reading the Bible every day is a good thing. Yes, it is good to repeat reading
the same passages over and over again to write them upon your heart. It is
also good to get the full counsel of God, so it is good to read, at least
periodically, the entire Bible.
Have you ever, over the course of a year or two (or less than that if you are a
turbo reader like me) read the entire Bible? Unless you are a babe in Christ,
I hope you can answer yes.
If not, may I challenge you to read the entire Bible by 2008 at the latest?
Here is a good start, the entire sixteenth chapter of I Chronicles:
King James Version (KJV)
1 Chronicles 16
1 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that
David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings
before God.
2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace
offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
3 And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf
of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.
4 And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the
LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:
5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and
Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with
psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;
6 Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the
ark of the covenant of God.
7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the
hand of Asaph and his brethren.
8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among
the people.
9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
12 Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the
judgments of his mouth;
13 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a
thousand generations;
16 Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;
17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an
everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
19 When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.
20 And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another
people;
21 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
23 Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.
24 Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations.
25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared
above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
27 Glory and honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
28 Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and
strength.
29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come
before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be
not moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among
the nations, The LORD reigneth.
32 Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all
that is therein.
33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD,
because he cometh to judge the earth.
34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and
deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and
glory in thy praise.
36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people
said, Amen, and praised the LORD.
37 So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his
brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:
38 And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the
son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:
39 And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle
of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40 To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering
continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in
the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;
41 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were
expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever;
42 And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that
should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of
Jeduthun were porters.
43 And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to
bless his house.
Yours in Christ,
--
Brian Masinick
masinick at yahoo dot com