"Praise the Lord with lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! O sing to God a new song!"
St. Augustine comments: My friends, you have learned the new song: so now forget the old one. We are a new humanity, we have a new covenant with God; so let our song be new; new songs do not emerge from old humanity."
Augustine's timeless words remind me of the early 80's Christian Punk Band called The Altar Boys. In their song, "Life Begins at the Cross." there is a lyric that is hauntingly true.
"People look for life in things that make them die."
As followers of Christ the ideas of "newness," freshness," and "new creation" are implanted deeply in our spirits. Yet, in the spiritual battle, our flesh would have us drink from the old cisterns, rather than the new. In theological jargon: The flesh would have us drink from the Dead Sea, rather than from the refreshing spring-fed waters of the Sea of Galilee.
We have been called heavenward. We are made to be nourished from the Living Manna: new bread and new songs.
Nikki Gumble tells the story of an old bag lady who died and he was called to do the funeral. At the funeral he was astonished to learn that the bag lady was enormously wealthy. Yet, although she had a nice flat uptown, she could never break away from her old life, the old cisterns.
As Royalty, our lifestyles and "watering holes" need reflect the Throne to which we are headed, lest we go undernourished. Let us forget the old food, let us move away from the old song and walk as Easter People, continuously being regenerated and renewed in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Augustine says it better than anyone I know: New songs do not emerge from old humanity.
