A Bitter Pill To Swallow Series

BIG IDEA: CAPTIVITY SILENCES THE SONGS OF JOY

AS WE WEEP OVER OUR LOST GLORY

INTRODUCTION:

cf. son Steve hates to swallow pills

I. (:1-3) CAPTIVITY IS A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW

A. Because of Memories of Lost Glory

“By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept,

When we remembered Zion.”

B. Because of Melancholy Spirits – no heart to sing Songs of Joy

“Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps”

B. Because of Mocking Taunts by Our Captors

“For there our captors demanded of us songs,

And our tormentors mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion.’”

II. (:4-6) LOYALTY REFUSES TO BE QUENCHED EVEN WHEN SONGS OF JOY ARE SILENCED

A. Songs of Joy are Not Always Appropriate

“How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”

B. Loyalty Refuses to Be Quenched

1. Oath #1 -- “If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

May my right hand forget her skill.”

2. Oath #2 -- “May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,

If I do not remember you,

If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.”

III. (:7-9) JUSTICE WILL BE SWEET WHEN VENGEANCE IS

RECOMPENSED BY THE LORD

A. Two Candidates for the Lord’s Vengeance Decried

1. Sons of Edom

“Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom The day

of Jerusalem, Who said, ‘Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!’”

2. Daughter of Babylon

“O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one,”.B. Two Blessings for the Lord’s Executioners Pronounced

1. “How blessed will be the one who repays you With the recompense with which you have repaid us.”

2. “How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.”

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) If we have truly been redeemed by the Lord from captivity to sin and to Satan, why do we often live as if we were still in bondage? Are we singing the Lord’s song in the land of our pilgrimage as we should be?

2) Do we have the same type of zeal and loyalty for God’s kingdom and His program on earth as these exiles in Babylon did? Do we remain loyal during difficult times?

3) Do we find great joy in the Body of Christ? Are we moved to songs of joy?

4) Do we have any comprehension what a fearful sight the vengeance of the Lord will be when He exacts His wrath on those who have mocked Him and persecuted His people?

Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format

(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)

from:

http://www.bibleoutlines.com