Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land

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The lesson was taught by Roger Perkins

Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon,

there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the
willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that 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. 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S
song in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right
hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my
tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. 7

Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom
in the day of Jerusalem;
who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 8

O daughter of Babylon,
who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou
hast served us. 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy
little ones against the stones.

1. Stop—recognize
   the curse that was pronounced on the children of Israel
2. Look—this
   portion shows historical events not recorded elsewhere in the Bible. The
   Chronicles and Kings take us to the captivity.  Esther and Nehemiah are about the time
   after the captivity. This fills in the void.
3. Listen—Israel asked,
   how shall we sing a song in a strange land?” This records the tragic
   experience of the children of Israel and shows their deep
   hatred.

They sat and wept by the river over what happened to Zion. They were from
hills and mountains and now found themselves in a desert land called Babylon. They were in
forced labor as they were in Egypt.
In a sense they were right back where they started—as slaves. They wondered
why. The reason was their sin of idol worship.

They had lost their song. Their heart and spirit was
trampled. They saw no way out. They were not to sing their holy songs outside
of Israel.
They songs were such a wonder that people came to them. It is different now; we
are to go out to others and give the gospel. Most of their songs were full of
joy, but not here.

The Jews were ridiculed and had hung their harps on the
willow trees. To sing in this land would be equivalent to treason.  They would not be used for amusement of their
enemies. They refused to sing.

In a strange land, herded there like cattle and used as
slaves is where they found themselves. Jeremiah had warned them. They felt
total despair and saw no dawn of light. They sang of Jerusalem and made a pledge to their land and
to God, their sign of repentance. They stood fast.

The Edomites were their enemies. They had a long-time grudge
against the Jews and cheered as Babylon
used them. The children of Israel

prayed for justice. It is all right to ask this of God; it is not all right to
get involved in it ourselves. In Revelation Jesus is asked when will you avenge
our blood. Romans 12:19 states “I will repay, saith the Lord.” God will correct
every wrong.

It is okay to hate evil, but we cannot straddle the fence.
Matthew says we are to take up the sword and die by it. We reap what is sowed.
God is not to be mocked. He will rule.