“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and halt made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” — Revelation 5:9, 109And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9‑10).
THE new song is the song of redemption. When God created the universe it was so beautiful that the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. But that old song was soon hushed when sin came in to mar God’s wondrous handiwork. Now that His own Son has wrought our redemption, we who once were lost ruined sinners take up the new song and praise the Lamb once slain, who has washed us from our sins and made us to be a royal priesthood. Angels cannot sing this song. They have never known what it is to be thus redeemed. It is for the sons of God by faith to lift their voices in this glorious anthem which will fill the courts of heaven with melody. But only those who learn it here can sing it there.
“For Him who washed us in His blood
Let us our sweetest songs prepare;
He sought us wand’ring far from God.
And now preserves us by His care.
One string there is of sweetest tone,
Reserved for sinners saved by grace;
‘Tis sacred to one class alone.
And touched by one peculiar race.
Though angels may with rapture see
How mercy flows in Jesus blood,
It is not theirs to prove, as we,
The cleansing virtue of this flood.”
—Thos. Kelly.