Jimbo's Jots

I don’t know the whole story behind this particular Psalm other than it’s a song that was sung either while in the middle of the Babylonian captivity or shortly thereafter. You would have to talk to my friends John Mark Hicks or Bobby Valentine. Psalm 137 was part of the my daily Bible reading recently.

Here is how the Psalm opens:

“Beside the rivers of Babylon
we thought about Jerusalem,
    and we sat down and cried.
We hung our small harps
    on the willow trees.
Our enemies had brought us here
    as their prisoners,
    and now they wanted us to sing
    and entertain them.
They insulted us and shouted,
    “Sing about Zion!”

Here in a foreign land,
    how can we sing
    about the Lord?”

I would imagine that most of us at some point have felt like this. During moments of sadness and despair, people will sometimes tell us to look on the bright side. Even in counseling sessions, a therapist will try to help the client redirect thoughts and mindset away from the negative focus and turn to the positive.

Maybe we have been to a point where a song is not what it is going to take for us to get through this current wave of despondence and hopelessness. Yet, some will say, “Sing that song!”

At the time, it may be a song of lament as are some of the Psalms of David and the people of Israel. Other times, it may be a song of rejoicing and dancing. One thing I notice with all of the songs of lament including Psalm 137 is God’s sovereignty and provision in the midst of it all.

When the cries of brokenness are sung, God is there! When the praises of victory are sung, God is there! And although our songs may not always be songs of praise, they are songs that can remind of the God’s constant presence.

So sing out by your river of Babylon! And trust and know God is hearing your song and he is there with you!

Be blessing in your song and be a blessing to others as you sing it!