Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts

Psalm 40:3, "And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."

This morning, there are many singing different things. Most of them do not amount to much, for their singing and songs are just the imaginations of their heart. Some even claim to be singing praises, but the words of the song indicate that they know not what they are praising. Many times, we sing songs without thinking about the words we sing, but the song "has a good tune." Our words should be in harmony with our beliefs, or we should not be singing it.

David said that the Lord put a new song in his mouth. That means that he previously had not had this song. David is not indicating that the song itself was a new song, but the meaning and impact on his life was a new one. Many times, folks hear the words to "Amazing Grace" seemingly for the first time. They may have listened to the words many times before, but the words actually touched something for the first time. This is a new song in their heart and mouth. They begin to feel that which they are speaking.

So, if we are feeling something, what are we feeling and singing about? We sing about our salvation that David talked about in verse 2. When one realizes for the first time that the Lord brought them up out of the horrible pit, set their feet upon a rock, and established their goings, they want to sing praises to the One that has done these things for them. They want to sing about their salvation. They want to magnify the Lord in their body whether by life or by death. This is a new song, and they are feeling what they are singing. In addition to the song, it is imperative that they sing it correctly.

Many claim that Primitive Baptists advocate singing without instruments. That is only partially true. We advocate singing without instruments of man's design and invention. The proper praise to the Lord in singing His new song in our heart is by using the instruments which He has given unto us. What are those? They are the heart and voice that He gives His people upon regeneration. No longer do they have a heart that imagines vain things with blasphemies to our God; no longer do they have a mouth that is full of lies and the poison of asps. The Lord has given them a heart of flesh, and a mouth that is capable of speaking those things which are pure, lovely, and of good report. These are the instruments that He has given, and they are the instruments that we should use to sing to Him. If we will utilize what He gives us in heaven to sing unto Him, I do not see why we would use anything else while we are here in the kingdom singing unto Him. May we ever sing that new song unto Him so that others would see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.

In Hope,

Bro Philip