One of my favorite videos and performances of all time is Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” during Motown’s 25th anniversary special in 1983. Before performing solo, Michael just finishes singing with his brothers. They perform some of their classics like “ABC” and “The Love You Save”—songs beloved by audiences then and popular even now. Michael speaks into the microphone with his tender voice after his brothers leave the stage and recounts “the good old days.” 

“I like those songs a lot,” he reminisces, “but, especially…I like…” at this point he’s put the microphone back into the stand while the audience becomes excited, shouting recommendations at him. 

Then he finishes with “…the new songs.” He strikes a pose in his famous black fedora as the music for “Billie Jean” begins, and the rest is history.

The theme of a new song is found throughout Scripture, notably in the Psalms. “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him,” the Bible says in Psalm 98:1.

“I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,” King David writes in Psalm 144:9.

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples,” the psalmist writes in Psalm 96:1-3. 

And again, in Psalm 40:1-3, David exults, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”

A new song in Scripture praises Adonai for something new He has done. It ascribes glory to His name and is a response of gratitude for a recent act or revelation of God’s mercies.

Psalm 98 praises the Lord for His reign and faithfulness to Israel. Psalm 144 praises God for victory and deliverance. Psalm 96 praises God for his sovereignty, and Psalm 40 praises God for deliverance yet again. 

The interesting thing to me about Psalm 40 is that it’s quoted later in the book of Hebrews: "Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
    I have come to do your will, my God'” (Hebrews 10:5-7; cited from Psalm 40:6-8).

This chapter in Hebrews talks about the supremacy of Christ’s sacrifice over the sacrificial system of the old covenant. It asserts that Christ has set aside the former to establish the new (Hebrews 10:9). 

It brings me to an illustration Jesus gave in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke where he talked about new wine for new wineskins, and I think it’s tied to the theme of the new song in the Psalms: that what’s new, needs something new to match it—whether that be a new wineskin for new wine, a new song for a new act of salvation, or a new covenant to usher in a new era of humanity.

I think it’s all tied together and points to the greatest act of salvation ever accomplished, Jesus’ victory on the cross, which gives us all a reason to sing, a song that never ends.

This song resounds throughout the heavens and continues until the end of time to Revelation, where the throne room of heaven worships the Lamb. The Bible says:

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:8-10)

This song is about more than salvation; it’s about the victory of Jesus. It dates back all the way to the Old Testament up until the end of time where He conquers all. And it reminds me of that famous passage in Romans 8:28 that says all things work together for the good of those who love God. Who knew this could stretch so far back?

It’s a song that resounds in our hearts I believe, and that we can listen for even among creation itself; a song that pours forth among the trees and leaves.

And yes, maybe it’s a little different than “Billie Jean,” but it’s a much better song nonetheless.