Song of the New Year

“Auld Lang Syne”

Introduction

“Auld Lang Syne” is the title and key phrase of a 1788 Scots poem by Robert Burns, typically sung on New Years Eve around the world.
The phrase “auld lang syne” literally translates to “old long since,” and basically means, “days gone by.”
The original, five-verse version of the poem essentially gets people singing, “lets drink to days gone by”—an appropriate toast for the New Year.
As Scots immigrated around the world, they took the song with them. Eventually North American English speakers translated Burns’ dialect into the common lyrics we know today, made famous in part by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, who performed the song on New Year’s Eve from 1939 until about 1977.
It’s his version that plays after the ball drops in Times Square every year.

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne?
CHORUS
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup! and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend! And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.
CHORUS

In reading this song, you should come to know that it is all about remembering old times past or what has happened in the past.
Typically it is good to remember the past good and bad to help us become better servants for the Lord. This song has nothing to do with God.
Should Christians join in the merriment, drunkenness, and enjoying it?

I. Is Remembering The Past Good?

A) Remembering the good

Exodus 13:3…And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
Moses said to the people “Remember this day.” It was a day that God delivered Israel by the hand of Moses from bondage in Egypt.
To remember something is to keep it in continuous thought, file it in memory forever.
I don’t believe that we should keep in our files (Brain) the act of getting drunk and remembering the past fun we’ve had.
The reason for Moses commanding the people here to “remember” is to keep them from worshiping idols and committing sins against God that caused them to be in bondage in the first place.
Then we can turn to Exodus 20:8… Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Here we see one of the ten commandments of God given to Moses in remembering a day that is set aside and dedicated to God only.
People today have forgotten God’s day and God’s commandment.
The Sabbath was on Saturday until Jesus died on the cross and it changed to Sunday.

B) God remembers

Leviticus 26:42…Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
This God speaking here telling Israel that He will remember the promises He made to Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and the land.

C) God asks the people to remember

Numbers 15:39…And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40) That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. 41) I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.
The word “fringe” is something added to your clothing to improve the looks of a plain garment. In this case it is something worn to keep an event in remembrance of the person wearing the garment.
It was said in one of the commentaries I read that fringe was many times a string of flowers.
God’s command here is simple…

Do something that will help you to remember God’s commandments
Do not try to find things to please yourself instead of pleasing God.
Do not try to create ways of making yourself look good.
Remember that He is God
Remembering the Bad

Psalm 132:1…LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions: The Psalmist wanting God to remember David in all his troubles and trials.

II. Drinking Alcohol in Remembrance

A) The Prophecy of King Lemuel’s mother

Proverbs 31:1…The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
Keep in mind that prophecy is defined by words of God that are given to someone (Male or female) to improve God’s people.
Lemuel’s mother inspired of God to influence her son’s reign as a wise king was as follows…

Verse 3) Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. In other words…don’t allow a woman to control you in such a way that it ruins your reputation.
Verse 4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: If you want to be a king or president or pastor or any kind of a leader, do not drink. In the following verse is the reason why…
Verse 5) Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Drinking causes your mind to not work properly in the remembering of things as mentioned here… “the law” God’s law. I believe also that you cannot remember man’s law either. Another reason for not drinking is that it perverts or twists your judgment. You will make foolish decisions.

In the verbiage of the song that is sung by millions and millions of people today called Auld Lang Syne,” they are encouraging people to have another drink to remember the good old days.
Lemuel’s mother (Inspired of God) did not encourage drinking for her son.
By the way, this is not a command for just kings but also any child of God.
Some may say that it is okay for an “occasional drink.”
Look at 1 Corinthians 3:16…Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Upon reading this verse we understand that “we” (our body, soul, and spirit) is a what? “a temple.” A temple is a “Holy place.”
Would you drink alcohol in God’s temple (Church building)? Of course you wouldn’t. If you wouldn’t drink in a church building the why pour an alcoholic drink in your own temple (Body)? Doing that makes you a hypocrite.
Now let us continue with King Lamuel’s words of wisdom to her son…

Proverbs 31: 6…Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. She does encourage strong drink be given to those “that is ready to perish (commit suicide,)” and to those who are depressed. I believe that it is a sort of short term medicinal remedy and not a long term solution which causes an addiction.
She goes on to say in verse 7) Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Alcohol has a way to take a person’s mind to a mental place where you think “I don’t care.” It takes away the memory of your present condition.
Her final prophecy is that of protection. We are to open our mouth in defense for those who are willing to commit suicide or destroy their life. Look at verse 8) Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9) Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

God hates destruction. God hates those who seek to destroy others.
Alcohol destroys lives. Alcohol destroys the mind. Alcohol destroys homes.
To encourage it in song or any other form is a sin in God’s eyes.

III. For “Auld Lang Syne” (For days gone by)

A) What days gone by?

I believe that it is okay for us to remember “days gone by,” but do it soberly and in your right mind not as to defile our temple (body).
I encourage you to not join the world in their folly this year at 12:00 am on January 1, 2019 with drinking and merriment.
Go to someone’s house to play games and eat and pray in the new year.
Remember what things you have done in the past and learn from them, improve upon them, and most of all let God rule in your future decisions.

Remember God at work in your days gone by…
HAPPY NEW YEAR!