A common thread we see with the "new song" is that there has been an act of mercy, grace, and redemption always found in the context of those words. Isaiah 42:10 says, "Sing a new song to the LORD! Sing His praises from the ends of the earth! Sing, all you who sail the seas, all you who live in distant coastlands." We also see God's heart for the mission of sharing mercy, grace, redemption - the "new song" all over the earth in this context. The Gospel must be dispersed to distant lands.
In the beginning of the chapter, the prophet sets forth the meekness of the character of the Messiah, and the extent and blessings of His kingdom particularly among the Gentiles. As a response to all of this he calls on the whole of creation to join Him in one song of praise to God. Later in the chapter the prophet chastises the Jews for their blindness in rejecting the Messiah.
With this new song he is saying, "Behold my servant Messiah!" So thoroughly hardened of heart are the Jewish people, that they are represented as being a house on fire without even realizing it. And unfortunately this is still true today. But, thank God, the new song was meant to be sung by Jew and Gentile together as one song as they come to know Him!
Before we are too quick to judge our Jewish brothers, let us remember that many times we fail in the same way to "sing the new song". Knowing what is right and not doing it is a fate worse than not seeing it at all. We know what is right by His Word and yet often do not obey. We need to commit to walking the walk. Biblical faith is a lifestyle commitment, not just a study in theology! Let us "sing a new song to the Lord from the ends of the earth!" mjm
