Psalm 137 Singing
We sing the songs of our Christian faith often as a reminder of what God has done for us in the past and how to look forward to the future. However, as this psalm reminds us, often when an enemy captures people groups, their songs have been left behind like a treasure that is kept sealed. Yet, Paul and Silas did not allow that circumstance to direct their hearts but they sang and the prison doors were opened. The psalmist captures this scene of the captives of Jerusalem in Babylon who are unable to sing. What was the difference? After marching over many a mile, as if it were not enough, the Babylonians wanted them to amuse them. As it was true then, it is so today in lands far away where Christians are secluded in prison cells. If that were you or I, would we sing to amuse our captors? Would we sing in our hearts or with voices?
So what are we to glean from the psalmist’s words? First, it is important to remember who we are and whose people we are lest we forget Jerusalem or our land. Secondly, we should recall that God’s ways are higher than ours. Habakkuk had also voiced his frustration that God had allowed their enemies to make sport of them much like a bully. Thirdly, take a page out of this psalm to see how no matter where we are, we are to give praise to God and offer our prayers seeking God’s answers and peace in the storm.
