How can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
“By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they carried us away captive required of us a song, and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” Psalms 137: 1-4
As I reflect on this year 2020, I will have to say it has been one of the most unpredictable, loneliest, and grievous years most of us have ever experienced, except for a physical war, in our lifetime! As we look around, there’s chaos in many forms; shutdown of schools, businesses, and churches, rioting, looting, political division, and a world pandemic that has taken the lives of so many of our own loved ones and friends!
We’ve been denied the opportunity to go to funerals and have been absent from the birth of grandchildren. For weeks the numbers of cases have increased with hospitals filling up, and possibilities of more virtual learning for our schools are on the rise while teachers and students alike are so weary in their efforts to carry on! As the holidays approach, we are being encouraged not to meet together in crowds!
Our hearts are heavy. Sometimes I ask myself, “am I living in a foreign land?” Our nation has been taken captive by an unseen enemy, and if we allow it, there is a great possibility of it robbing us of our joy and our song!
The Israelites found themselves in this situation as they were taken captive by the Babylonians because they sinned against the Lord and continued failure to repent! Jeremiah pleaded with them to repent and turn from their ways. The Israelites would not listen and deceived themselves that God would not bring judgment upon His chosen people. Their land was devastated, many people slaughtered, the temple destroyed, and the enemy stole the vessels from the Holy sanctuary!
As they arrive in a strange land, their captives bid them sing a song of Zion! Can you imagine the despair and grief as they only wanted to sit down by the river to quench their parched thirst and rest their weary soul when their enemy begins to taunt them to sing joyful songs from home?
As I read this scripture recently, I paused and thought, what would I have done? How would I respond in such horrific times? I remembered God’s Word that states that, as children of God, this is not our home; we are citizens of another land. We are ambassadors here in a strange land, declaring the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, our savior who went away to prepare us an eternal home not made by hands!
So what do we do in the “between time” of now and arrival to our heavenly home?
“The word of the Lord came to the Israelites and told them to “build ye houses, and dwell in them, plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. Take ye wives, and begat sons and daughters that ye may increase there. Seek peace of the city where I have carried you captive, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. God was telling them to live in their present circumstance, pray for peace and if you will I will give you the peace you need! I read the another day a statement that said “Chaos comes as it pleases in this sin-soaked world. I can’t control chaos but, I can control how I respond.” Jeremiah 29:5-7
While present in this fallen world, we will suffer losses in some fashion or form. It might be sickness, death, divorce, or financial difficulties. We can become very discouraged, disappointed and realize that things in life can be nothing of what we expected. We lose sight of the journey ahead, where we will never be disappointed with our eternal heavenly home! The Bible tells us,
“Do not grow weary in well-doing that we will reap if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
We press on until that change takes place for us! Israel had 70 years in a strange land. None of us know the day or the hour God will deliver us to our final destination, but we can be assured by His word that If He went away, He said, He would come again and receive us unto Himself, that where He is there, we may also be, so comfort each other with these words. He also said,
“Ye are the light of the world; a city that set on a hillside cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14
People are watching how Christians respond in every avenue of our life. May they see that the joy of the Lord is our strength, not a giddy, happy all the time false sense of strength, but a deep seed of faith that springs forth because our God sings songs of deliverance over us!
God’s word assures us,
“ To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. Time to kill and a time to heal, a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-5
We have experienced a time of mourning this year rather than embracing, but in my heart, I know that God has been so close to our needs, and He has not forsaken us. He has given us the time and opportunity to draw closer as His children, to learn more of His Word, and His will for our lives.
Life is a gift, and we know the Bible says,
“…it is a vapor it appears for a while and then vanish away.” James 4:14.
May we enjoy each day to the best of our ability. We may not always feel like singing while enduring a strange land, but we know God has given us the ability to overcome by His sweet spirit.
Let’s pray for one another as the body of believers. May we share the love of God through His salvation when an open door of opportunity knocks. Let’s forgive others; there is power in freeing ourselves and others through forgiveness. May we walk in faith, by the hope within each of us, to a land full of joy unspeakable and full of glory!
Till He Comes…
Diane Mann
Lean Into Jesus Ministries
#dianemannblogs
