SING A NEW SONG: THE KEY OF GRATITUDE

We begin a new series this week entitled Sing A New Song and it is based upon the Psalms.  Music has great power in our lives.  Generations are defined by different styles of music.  The book of Psalms was songbook of ancient Israel.  They depended on these words to inspire, confront, and exhort them toward following God, or telling what God has done for them, or extolling the virtues of being faithful.  Several of the Psalms encourage the people to sing a new song.  This did not simply allude to a brand-new song that someone had written, but it was symbolic of their need to realize that the old song they were singing had lost its power.  Or the old song was dragging them down into the pit of despair, or hatred, or a judgmental attitude.  The new song was a point of transition because the old song was not in tune with God’s power or purpose for their lives.  We need a new song!  This week’s sermon is The Key of Gratitude and the Psalm of the week is Psalm 30.  This was a Psalm of consecration or dedication, possibly of the temple, but it was more than likely used as dedication song for David’s family.  In this Psalm, David sings of God’s power, purpose, and goodness that has transformed his circumstances.  His old song was one of false belief, fear, and failure, but through God’s help the sorrow has been shallowed up in victory!  David’s song is a brilliant ray of light for every believer who is broken, hurting, or feeling defeated!  God is able to transform the darkest moment to the light of hope through walking in the path of gratefulness.  Our most earnest prayer is for you to be lifted from the pit that seems so impossibly deep by God’s overwhelming goodness and love as you read Psalm 30:

Psalm 30:1 A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David. I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.  ² O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.  ³ O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.  ⁴ Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.  ⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.  ⁶ When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”  ⁷ O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.  ⁸ To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:  ⁹ “What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?  ¹⁰ Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help.”  ¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,  ¹² that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.  (NIV)