Sing to the Lord a New Song
Sing to the Lord a New Song
“1 O sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
2 The Lord has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love
and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.”
— Psalm 98 (NRSV)
The psalmist in our passage this week calls for his listeners to sing a new song to the Lord; to sing of the wondrous things that God has done. Other Psalms sing songs of lament or tell stories of God’s action in the world. Music is an integral part of almost every culture in the world. I am sure most of you have a favorite song or hymn. There’s a song that always makes you dance or a tune that comes on the radio and you cannot help but sing.
I am about to let you all in on a little secret. I have a little known musical talent. No, it’s not the piano or organ (Sorry Phyllis). We all hear me sing pretty regularly. I can play a camp guitar and I played flute in band. Those are all things I am okay at. However, where I am truly gifted is in making mixed tapes. For those unfamiliar with the idea, it’s like putting together a set list for a band or concert but with all the music you know. It used to be done by recording songs off of the radio and then it moved to burning cds and now websites like Spotify or Pandora. Whatever the format or medium, I take songs and fit them into a mood, event, or experience.
I didn’t even realize it was a thing I was known for until a few years ago when I made someone a CD and they were SUPER EXCITED that they were getting “a Laurel original mix”. Only after their comment did I realize how many mixes I make for people and that I have a playlist for just about everything: cleaning, cooking, sermon writing, a break up, a new job, going for a walk. I have a playlist from getting ready for my wedding, one I listened to in the car on the way to work, and one for going home. Half the CDs I own have nonsensical titles, quotes from movies, or just pictures but I know them all. Each one represents a part of my life or the life of the person I made it for.
Why do I tell you this?
Because as much as I love Psalm 98 sometimes it is extraordinarily hard to sing praises to God. In the midst of our current chaos the majesty and power of the Divine is often veiled. When my voice falters and my fingers stumble over the guitar strings it is comforting to know that other voices are lifted up.
So, I made a playlist for all of us. I am attaching it to this blog post. It is full of songs that voice lament and name illness. It includes a variety of artists and genres but above all lifts up the hope that we are not alone and that we can endure.
Maybe as you listen you can lift your voice up in praise, or maybe you just need to listen for a little while. Either way, God’s steadfast and faithful love is with you. That is certainly something to sing about.
Yours in Christ, Pastor Laurel
You can listen on Spotify by clicking the link Pandemic Pastor Playlist by Laurel Meester
Here is a list of the songs:
You Already Know - JJ Heller
Rescue - Lauren Daigle
Even Here - JJ Heller
I Am Not Alone - Kari Jobe
After the storm - Mumford & Sons
One Voice - The Wailin’ Jennings
Doubting Thomas - Nickel Creek
All Is Not Lost - The Brilliance
Abide with Me - Audrey Assad
A Living Hope - The Gray Havens
Edelweiss (instrumental) - JJ Hller
Ubi Caritas - Audrey Assad
Show Yourself - Idina Menzel
The Next Right Thing - Kristen Bell
Deliver Us - Prince of Egypt Soundtrack
When You Believe - Prince of Egypt Soundtrack
How Far I’ll Go - Auli’i Cravalho
Touch the Sky - Julie Fowlis
Even Unto Death - Audrey Assad
Down To The River To Pray - Alison Krauss
Chris Is Risen - Phil Wickham
Holy, Holy, Holy, - Audrey Assad
Be Thou My Vision - Chelsea Moon
I need Thee Every Hour - Chelsea Moon
What Wondrous Love Is This? - Chelsea Moon
How Can I Keep from Singing - Audrey Assad
The Sonrise - Luke Spehar
Big Love, Small Moments - JJ Heller
Dawn Breaks - We Banjo 3
The Day God Gives me - Daniel Couper
Good to Me - Audrey Assad
Night Has Passed - The Brilliance