Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 33:3

"Sing unto him a new song; Play skilfully with a loud noise." — Psalms 33:3 (ASV)

A new song.—This expression occurs in Psalm 96:1; Psalms 98:1; Psalms 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Judith 16:13, and was adopted in Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3. The term apparently marked the revival of national psalmody after the Captivity. “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare ... Sing unto the Lord a new song” (Isaiah 42:9–10).

Play skilfully with a loud noise.—The latter words represent a Hebrew expression of common hymnic use, describing the full choral effect when instruments and voices were joined in the service of the sanctuary (Psalms 95:1; Psalms 100:1, and others). Some, however, limit it to the trumpet accompaniment, and render—

“Strike the harp deftly for him,
Amid the blare of trumpets.”