What does Psalm 33:3 mean?

As part of his call for God's people to join in worship, David calls upon the assembled people to offer "a new song" to the Lord. This is a somewhat literal expression: the constant influence of God in the lives of His people, and our personal experience of Him, should inspire a constant flow of creative worship. Old songs are still good—they are not inferior—and new songs are not good simply because they are new. But a people who love the Lord will naturally express their worship in fresh ways.

The "new" in references to "a new song" (Psalm 96:1; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Revelation 5:9) may refer to new in time or new in expression. New awareness of the Lord's character or blessings can lead to a new song. In Psalm 40:3 David writes, "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God." The apostle Paul exhorted the Colossian believers: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16). The better we know God's Word, the better we understand His character, will, and blessings, and the greater will be our thanks and ability to edify one another.