A song of the Bible
The New Song to the Lamb
The song of heaven itself, raised before the throne of God when no one in all creation could open the sealed scroll. As the slain and living Lamb steps forward and takes it, the living creatures and elders fall down and sing a song never sung before, praise not to a warrior but to a sacrifice.
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”Revelation 5:9
The song
The new song declares the Lamb worthy to take the scroll and break its seals, and it gives the reason, that He was slain and by His blood purchased people for God out of every tribe and tongue and nation. It celebrates that He has made them a kingdom and priests who will reign on the earth. Then the song swells outward in widening circles, first the living creatures and elders, then a hundred million angels, and at last every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and in the sea, all ascribing power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing to the Lamb. What makes the song new is its object. Earlier songs praised God for defeating enemies, but this one praises a victim, worshipping the One who conquered by being killed.
Its occasion
It was sung in the throne room of heaven, in the vision given to John on Patmos. God on the throne held a scroll sealed with seven seals, and a mighty angel asked who was worthy to open it. No one in heaven or earth was found worthy, and John wept. Then one of the elders told him not to weep, for the Lion of the tribe of Judah had prevailed. When John looked, he saw not a lion but a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, and the Lamb took the scroll. At that moment all heaven erupted into this new song, the worship that greets the revelation that the Lamb, and He alone, is worthy to unfold the destiny of the world.
How it rises to Christ
This song sings of Christ most directly of all, for the Lamb is Jesus and the whole of heaven exists to worship Him. It is the destination toward which every earlier song was pointing. The Song of Moses praised the God who drowned Pharaoh, and here the redeemed sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb together. Miriam's short shared refrain becomes the endless chorus of angels. Hannah's and Mary's reversal, the lowly lifted, reaches its height in a slain Lamb enthroned. The new song reveals how Christ conquered, not by force but by His own blood, purchasing worshippers from every nation. It is the last song in Scripture and the first song of eternity, the melody the church is learning even now.
Questions people ask
What is the new song in Revelation 5?
It is the song heaven sings when the Lamb takes the sealed scroll from God's hand. The living creatures, elders, and finally every creature declare Him worthy because He was slain and by His blood redeemed people from every nation. It is called new because it praises a sacrifice, worshipping the One who conquered by dying.
Why is it called a new song?
It is new because of what it celebrates. Earlier biblical songs praised God for defeating enemies by power. This song praises a Lamb who looks slain, exalting a victory won not by force but by sacrifice. Heaven had never sung of redemption purchased through the blood of the Lamb until the moment He took the scroll.