Hanging Up Your Harp

Ps 137:1-4

137 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? (KJV)

The Devil may never get you to do drugs, drink, or smoke, but if he can just get you to hang up your harp & sing a silent song, he's got you.

Title: ~~~

The first thing we notice is in vs. 1

I) We Sat Down

Ps 1:1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (KJV)

As children of God we are never to sit down. We are running a race.

Notice the digression...

Walketh, Standeth, Sitteth

Once the Devil catches yo in his trap, you will do one of two things. You will either sit down & keep quiet, or you will sing aloud a song of victory.

Elijah – Juniper tree

1 Kings 19:4-10

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. (KJV)

If he can get you to sit down & be quiet, the next thing you will see is...

II) We Wept (Vs. 1)

The scripture does tell us that there is a time to weep.

Eccl 3:1,4

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (KJV)

But the scripture does not condone believers weeping except when it in prayer over lost souls. In most cases, weeping can be perceived as doubt & unbelief.

Here me Church!

Bawling & squalling isn't the answer, it'll only bring you farther down. However, if you begin to shout praises unto God, you could see your situation turn around.

The next step is when all hope is gone out of you.

III) We Remembered

If the Devil can get you to the place where all you can do is think about how it used to be, he's got you right where he wants you.

The question is, How can he get me to any of these points?

By getting you to believe that you don't have to sing & shout & dance before the LORD.

1 Peter 2:9

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (KJV)

If he can just get you to sing a silent song...

I he can just get you to hang up your harp...

(Paul & Silas in prison)

(CLOSE)

Ps 137:4

4 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? (KJV)

It doesn't matter where you are, just sing songs unto the LORD!