From Babylon, With Tears; Psalm 137, Proverbs 26

May the mumbling commence!

At one time or another, most of us at least feel like we live in exile.  In exile, tears and weeping are the rule.  So, what happens in our state of mourning that our captors ask for a mirth-filled song of the Lord?  For this psalmist’s case, it resulted in this cry of Psalm one-hundred thirty-seven. 

Some of these words were brought to base relief when they were put to modern Jamaican music.  Read the words from Psalm one-hundred thirty-nine:

By the rivers of Babylon,

There we sat down, yea, we wept

When we remembered Zion. 

We hung our harps

Upon the willows in the midst of it. 

For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,

And those who plundered us requested mirth,

Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" 

How shall we sing the Lord's song

In a foreign land? 

If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

Let my right hand forget its skill! 

If I do not remember you,

Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth –

If I do not exalt Jerusalem

Above my chief joy. (Verses 1-6)

I can almost hear the music now… “By the waters of Babylon, where we sat down… and there we wept, when we remembered Zion…  For the wicked carried us away, captivity required of us a song…  How can we sing our holy songs in a strange land..?  So let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O God.”

Yes, exulting Zion and Jerusalem is equivalent to exulting in the Lord to the Hebrew mind.  Even today, we as a people of God have certain locations that are important to our faith… like the Holy Lands or like denominational headquarters.  Think about those gathering around the Vatican grounds (some in the flesh many more in spirit) to pray for the leadership as they seek to choose a new pope.

Sometimes, we do feel terribly far away from the places where we are aware of God’s presence.  We feel like we are in exile.  How can we sing praises to our God in the midst of people how are crushing us spiritually and physically and socially?  Where is our joy and hope in situations like that?

Our chief joy and hope comes from the Lord.  From the Lord, we get our skill.  From the Lord, we get the expressions of our heart through our tongues.

Let us pine away for the City of our Lord.  Let us sing and live and pray our way closer to that City… the City of God.  It is a new Jerusalem, a new Zion.  How beautiful it will be!

Let’s not be consumed by our enemy’s hidden or brazen hatred for us.  Read from Proverbs chapter twenty-six:

He who hates, disguises it with his lips,

And lays up deceit within himself; 

When he speaks kindly, do not believe him,

For there are seven abominations in his heart; 

Though his hatred is covered by deceit,

His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. (Verses 24-26)

May we be consumed by the love of our Lord rather than the hatred of our enemies.

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out