What is the new song? Where is it sung? Who are they who will sing it? This is a song of praise to the Lamb of God, sung in the glory of His Presence. It is sung by those He has redeemed by His precious blood. It is a “new song” because it adds this note of redemption to the song and alleluias of the angels. Their song must be marvelously sweet and beautiful.
“But of the myriads round the throne
The ransomed multitude alone,
Prolong the choral strain.
With boundless joy they sweep the strings
And thus each blood-bought sinner sings,
‘The Lamb for us was slain.’”
The angels have not sinned, they do not need forgiveness. The “new song” is not for them. But each one washed white in the blood of the Lamb, may look forward to singing that new song. Worthy is the Lamb, for He has redeemed us.”
Need we wait for the great coming day? Surely not. Even now, though weakly and unworthily, we can begin the new song. So, a dear old village schoolmistress thought. Standing in her little garden, when the bees hummed over the white pinks, in the sunshine, a friend quoted to old Mary, the first words of Psa. 40, “He brought me up out of a horrible pit... and set my feet upon a rock.” The old woman, not content to leave it thus, looked quickly up with expressive intelligence in her eyes, and added, “and hath put a new song in my mouth.” No, indeed, that must not be left out! There was the Rock to stand upon, that was Safety. There must be something more, even Joy and Praise to the Great Deliverer.
The “new song” should begin now. Have we begun to sing it?
Margaret Esdaile.