The book of Psalms is essentially the songbook of David’s Tabernacle. The book of I Chronicles gives us insight into the story and structure of the tabernacle of David, but the Psalms give us insight into the heart of the tabernacle of David. Some believe that many of the psalms from David and Asaph were written in David’s tent at Zion. Perhaps they were some of the spontaneous “new” songs that were written down by the scribes there. Throughout the Psalms you find God inviting His people to sing to Him a “new song” (Psalm 33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1).
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3
Spontaneous Songs
Why does God make a point to encourage this kind of free-flow singing? There is something about a spontaneous song that invites us to connect our hearts and minds more deeply to what we are singing. It forces a worshiper beyond the regurgitation of words and melody and into singing from our own hearts to Him.
While singing “psalms and hymns” in Church is not uncommon, in my experience, the phenomenon of singing “new songs” to God is rare in many Christian traditions. Yet it’s emphasized clearly in Scripture, and it seems to be connected uniquely to the manifestation of God’s presence and power in the midst of praise & worship.
Tehillah
One of my favorite Hebrew words for praise is “tehillah.” Many times when the Bible refers to a “new song”, it is accompanied by the word tehillah (see Ps. 40:3, Isaiah 42:10). Tehillah refers to songs flowing from your heart to the Lord. It implies a spontaneous song. I believe tehillah is equivalent to the “spiritual songs” of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16.
In the Bible, tehillah is connected to the major passages in Psalms about experiencing God’s manifest presence. We “Enter His courts with praise [tehillah]” (Psalm 100:4). God is “enthroned in the praises [tehillah]” of His people (Psalm 22:3). Some of my most profound encounters with God’s power have been in the context of spontaneous, musical praise and worship.
A Global Worship Movement
Isaiah prophesies of a global “tehillah” worship movement that will flood the earth with new songs prior to the return of Jesus. As the nations have a revelation of Christ, they will respond with songs of thanksgiving. In every geographic place, spiritual songs of praise and adoration will be ringing out to the Lord. I note where “tehilah” is featured in the passage from Isaiah 42 below.
I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise [tehillah] to carved idols…. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise [tehillah] from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants. Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages… let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise [tehillah] in the coastlands. Isaiah 42:8-12
If the release of “tehillah” is related to the manifestations of God’s presence and power, then what will happen when the earth is covered with new songs? What kind of revival can we expect to come on the heels of a global worship and prayer movement?
Worship and Missions
Tehillah is connected in Scripture to God’s salvation of the nations. The first instance of tehillah is the spontaneous song after God takes the Israelites through the Red Sea and delivers them from the Egyptians (Exodus 15:11). There’s a connection between worship and missions. The very first song that was sung when David set up his tabernacle speaks about the nations offering “tehillah” to the Lord. Praise & worship are a natural overflow of hearts and lives who have been rescued from sin and death by God’s salvation.
“Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise [tehillah].” I Chronicles 16:35
God’s purposes for worship are far greater than for having good Church services. There’s something bigger going on. There are deep connections biblically between the release of prophetic worship in the nations and God’s purposes in fulfilling the Great Commission. So let us sing to the Lord a new song!