READ: Psalm 136-138
Psalm 137 is a story. It’s a story of pain, agony and deep loss. The
people of Israel, under judgment of God, were captured over a period of time by
King Nebuchadnezzar, and taking as captives into Babylon. At first it was just
a few, and then a few more, and so on until all the Jews had rebelled against
the Lord and all of them were taken into captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar was no
sweet heart! He was known to be a cruel and wicked king. The Jews had been
warned about this, but had disregarded God’s message and so ended up living
God’s judgment. This psalm reveals a little story of the journey the Jews took
as they were herded from their own land to Babylon – a foreign land.
According to this psalm, and other historical documents, the Babylonian
guards brought the Jews over into Babylon, and as the psalm says, when they
crossed the river into their land asked the Jews to sing their songs. Because
the Levites always sang songs, as people entered the city of the Jews they
would hear singing. So it was a poignant punishment to bring that singing into
the city of Babylon. Yet we see the pain and struggle the Jews went through
even deciding if they should sing. They wondered if it was sacrilegious or
blasphemous to sing to the Lord as they entered their punishment. The psalm
says they hung up their instruments on trees, as if to say no.
Yet, as a people, it is the singing of their songs that bring them back
to their senses. They begin to use the songs to remind themselves of the Lord
so they won’t forget. And as they sing they are reminded of the prophecy that
not only came to them of their judgment, but also the ultimate judgment that
would one day soon face Babylon. Their songs of remembrance, and history, and
the glory of God became their hope. What began as a spiteful and disdainful
command of an evil king, became their saving hope.
JOURNALING AND
PRAYER
1. Do you sing? Many
people love to sing, while others never sing. Throughout the psalms (which are
actually songs) we see songs being used as tools the Lord has used to equip His
people with faith, hope, courage, and joy. Ask the Lord to give you His view of
your singing. Ask Him if there is a song He would like you to sing to Him right
now. You can sing along with a recording or just sing a song from your heart.
Bless the Lord with your song, and allow Him to bless you. Make a commitment to
sing together with the people of God next Sunday in church, in order to join in
the powerful throng of praise.
2. It must have felt
awful to be singing praises to God of His mighty deeds and powerful acts of
rescue as you are being led in chains into captivity. Ask the Lord to show you
how singing, and reciting His deeds of kindness, mercy and protection over you
in the midst of your current most difficult circumstance can be the very thing
He requires. Ask Him to show you why and how to always give Him glory, even
when the situation seems dire.
3. Ask the Lord to
give you the names of some songs He wants you to learn to sing by heart
(memorized) so that you can be encouraged in times of deep discouragement and
pain. Make a point to sing those songs often! Singing is one of the ways God
puts His truth deep into our hearts and minds.
