279. Verse 9. And they sung a new song, signifies acknowledgment and glorification of the Lord, that He alone is the Judge, Redeemer, and Savior, thus the God of heaven and earth. These things are contained in the song which they sung, and the things which are contained are also signified; as an acknowledgment that the Lord is the Judge, in these things which now follow:
Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof (Rev. 5:9).
That He is the Redeemer, in this:
Because Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us in Thy blood (Rev. 5:9).
That He is the Saviour, in this:
Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth (Rev. 5:10).
That He is the God of heaven and earth, in this:
They fell down and adored Him that liveth for ages of ages (Rev. 5:14).
Since the acknowledgment that the Lord alone is the God of heaven and earth, and that His Human is Divine, and that in no other way could He be called the Redeemer and Saviour, was not before in the church, it is therefore called a "new song."
[2] The reason why "a song" also signifies glorification, which is confession from joy of heart, is because singing exalts, and causes affection to break out from the heart into sound, and show itself intensely in its life. Nor are the Psalms of David any other than songs; for they were played and sung, and therefore were also called songs in many passages (as Ps. 18:1; 33:1; 45:1; 46:1; 48:1; 65:1; 66:1; 67:1; 68:1; 75:1; 76:1; 87:1; 88:1; 92:1; 96:1; 98:1; 108:1; 120:1; 121:1; 122:1; 123:1; 124:1; 125:1; 126:1; 127:1; 128:1; 129:1; 130:1; 132:1; 133:1; 134:1).
[3] That songs were for the sake of exalting the life of love, and the joy derived from it, is evident from the following passages:
O sing unto Jehovah a new song, make a joyful noise unto Jehovah all the earth, resound, shout (Ps. 98:1, 4-8).
Sing unto Jehovah a new song, let Israel rejoice in His Maker, sing psalms to Him (Ps. 149:1-3).
Sing unto Jehovah a new song, lift up the voice (Isa. 42:10, 12).
Sing, O ye heavens, shout ye lower parts of the earth, resound with singing, ye mountains (Isa. 44:23; 49:13).
Shout unto God our strength, cry out to the God of Jacob; lift up a song (Ps. 81:1-3).
Gladness and joy shall be found in Zion, confession and the voice of singing (Isa. 51:3; 52:8, 9).
Sing unto Jehovah, cry out and shout, O daughter of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee (Isa. 12:1-6).
My heart is fixed, I will sing and sing psalms. Arouse thee, my glory, I will confess Thee, O Lord, among the nations, I will sing psalms unto Thee among the peoples (Ps. 57:7-9; and in many other places).