Don't Hang Up Your Harps & Don't Stop Singing

Like Israel, our enemy also comes to taunt us at times like these. Unlike the Israelites, who had no choice in the matter, when taunted by the enemy to sing, you do have a choice. Death may have darkened your door, but you still have choice in the matter. You may be still shedding tears of sorrow, but even now, you have a choice in the matter. Israel’s enemy was Babylon, our enemy is Death. And like the land of Babylon, Death is a strange land. Death is foreign for people who were created to live forever. Like Babylon Death has invaded our lives, taken our loved one, disrupted our families, and now taunts us with the questions, “Where is your God now? What happened to your songs of praise?”

Israel’s silence was a form of protest and resistance. But our silence would be a victory for the enemy. So “Don’t Stop Singing.” Israel could not sing because their joy had been destroyed. They could not sing because they were out of their element. They were captives in a strange land. And captivity has a way of paralyzing both the hand and the mouth. The minstrels could not play, and the singers could not sing. But Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Singing stirs up the joy that is in you, the Lord’s joy! So “Don’t Stop Singing.”

3. DON’T FORGET YOUR SAVIOR.

So those of you who are the minstrels of the family, “Don’t Stop Serving,” and those of you who are the singers, “Don’t Stop Singing.” Then in verses 5 and 6 we hear the resolve of the Israelites. “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 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.” The minstrel declared that even though his harp was hanging and silent, he had not forgotten how to play and serve God. Even though Jerusalem lie in ruins he would not forget her joys and her glory. If he did forget or if he ever played for the heathens, “then let me lose my skill in the use of my harp.” The singer vowed that should he ever forget the holy city Jerusalem and what it represented to the people of God; “let me lose my voice, and all its powers of melody and praise.” They were devoted to Jerusalem and vowed never to forget her. If only Israel had been as devoted to LORD!

In the midst of their calamity and suffering Israel had the presence of mind to remember. They remembered and vowed never to forget Jerusalem. In the midst of your sorrow and suffering, I want to remind you, “Don’t Forget Your Savior.” Israel was admirable in their vows to remember, but they remembered the wrong thing! They remembered Jerusalem, but they had forgotten God. They had forgotten the One Who had brought them not over the Red Sea, but through the Red Sea and out of the wilderness. They were in captivity because they refused to remember their covenant relationship with the God of their fathers.

Death may have thrown you into a season of mourning, but “Don’t Forget Your Savior.” The tears may be flowing; your heart may be breaking, but “Don’t Forget Your Savior.” Remember Brother Smitty and the wonderful times you shared with him. Remember his love of music and how he faithfully served the Lord and his church. Remember these things, bring them up and talk about them. But “Don’t Forget Your Savior.” Don’t forget that Jesus has gone ahead of your loved one, He has gone ahead of you, me and all those who love and serve the Lord. In John 14:2, 3 Jesus said: “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”