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Sing a New Song!

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January 6, 2012

“Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.” — Psalm 96:1

One of the things I love most about David is his love of music. Music has always been such an integral part of my life and one of my true joys, so I connect with David when I read the words to psalms such as 96: “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth” (v.1). Or when I read in Psalm 150, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” (v. 6).

I imagine that is how David lived throughout his life — just one moment away from breaking into song and praising his God. I can envision him as a shepherd boy, with his harp in hand, strumming softly to calm his flock with praise notes to God. Certainly, those skills David honed while out in the fields came in handy when King Saul required the soothing tones of the harp to quiet his spirit.

I also am struck by the great joy and the utter abandonment to which David gave himself when it came to praising God. Remember the time David danced in front of the Ark of the Covenant as it was ushered back into Jerusalem? Although his wife looked upon him with disdain, David could hardly contain himself. His joy broke out in music.

The Bible records the scene for us: “David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals” (2 Samuel 6:5). David wasn’t content to sit on the sidelines and politely clap his hands. No, he was leading the songs. He danced and leaped before the Lord with all his might!

And who can read the familiar words to Psalm 100 without feeling a stirring deep in the soul: “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” (Psalm 100:1–2). We are not going to come quietly into God’s presence. No, it is going to be a joyous, raucous, rowdy affair. Like David, we won’t be able to contain ourselves!

What I look forward to the most, however, is when the new song of praise will be played on the ten-string harp when the Messiah reigns in his holy city, Jerusalem. According to rabbinic literature, the harp is a symbol of that time — a time when all humankind will live together in peace.

And that’s worth singing about, isn’t it?

With prayers for shalom, peace,


Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

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