Singing in the Rain

O. T.#1395  "Singing in the Rain"
Feb. 26, 2019
Psalm 137
How can we sing the LORD's song on foreign soil? Psalm 137:4

LET IT GLOW

When it rains it pours. Troubles seem to pile up. How do we live while under it all? Can we sing God's praises while it is raining troubles in our life?

This psalmist was a person weeping over the bitterness of captivity while in exile. Israel was captive in Babylon. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. It was not a good time for the Israelites. It was a long period of grief, 70 years. There was no song in their heart and rightfully so. Judah and Israel had split as well as both had bad kings who were unfaithful to God. Didn't they realize that their forsaking God and turning to idols is what got them in a foreign land?
So that is the setting for this psalm.
Friends, God knows where we are. He sees the condition of our heart. He knows when we are a long way from Him, from home, so to speak. doesn't He also know what to do to bring us to repentance and back to Him? For sure.


LET IT GROW

Were their captors requiring the children of God to sing songs of Zion? Nope, they refused to do it. If they could not play and sing praises to Jehovah with those who worshiped God, but before heathen idolaters, then they would not do it at all.
On the other hand, aren't we supposed to praise God in all our circumstances-easy and hard?

Well, we know how it turned out for the Israelites. The Medes and Persians destroyed Babylon. Many of those who experienced the oppression lived to see the victory.
Verse 9 seems harsh, but that is what happened. Treat the Babylonians the way they treated us.
No mercy there between the lines, is there?

Concerning our enemies, do we pray for God's wrath or for His mercy and their repentance? What a scary thing to be in the hands of an angry God.
We want mercy so we should pray for them. In fact the Bible tells us to do so.

Do we have hope in our God that is so strong that we can sing His praises during the trials of our life?
Can we sing in the rain?

LET IT GO

Jesus, You are my reason to sing.
Everything is in Your control.
I trust You to take care of this problem for me, for my good and Your glory.