I SAT DOWN, THEN I HUNG UP MY HARP?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Psalm 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
I. HOW CAN WE SING?
I SAT DOWN AND CRIED. THEN I HUNG UP MY HARP?
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?
A. Several years ago I was at a high school football game watching my son play football. A call came from the church that was alarming.
The person thought maybe the church had been broken into and robbed. My heart fell out of me.
I jumped into my car and rushed to church.
It was true, someone had broken into our church and robbed it of several valuable things.
B. I never left my guitar at church, but near the end of the service before the robbery, I was called out in an emergency. The Kentucky State Troopers were at a house and the man was going to kill himself. The man had a 357 pistol in his hand.
The police were ready to shoot him if necessary?
C. He agreed to talk to me --- the Preacher in the community. I jumped in my car and rushed to the farm house. The police told me where to stand when I went in the house, just in case it was needed to
"take him out?"
I went in, with God’s help I was able to defuse the situation. When I came home, I was upset, and I drove right past the church and forgot my expensive guitar there. The guitar had been a gift from my son.
D. The robbers stole my expensive guitar. When I realized my Martin was gone I sat down in the floor and cried.
How could someone steal my guitar? I have played many years. This was the best guitar I ever owned. I play in the rest homes and small churches and my music has always cost me, and never brought to me a profit.
E. When the Kentucky State Trooper and County Sheriff was gone from our church, I went to the altar and cried and cried. I played music for God, and He could not even protect my instrument for me to play to honor Him?
F. I said: GOD, I WILL NEVER PLAY A GUITAR AGAIN FOR YOU. I am finished.
I can preach and not play music. Most preachers don’t play? If You can’t take care of my personal instrument that I play for You, I quit.
I was so hurt. I had a pity party for several days. Many of my good friends told me the police would find and return the guitar. They meant well, but I never
saw the guitar again. I thought my friends would help me get another guitar?
Nothing?
G. By Friday evening I was back at church and I went to the altar. I felt a question in my inner man: FOR WHOM ARE YOU PLAYING?
WHY ARE YOU PLAYING MUSIC AT CHURCH? THE REST HOME?
I was sorry for my bad attitude. Someone could have been killed in the robbery or worse? I cried and apologized to God for my mean words and stupid vow.
H. I said: GOD IF I HAVE TO, I WILL PUT RUBBER BANDS ON A CIGAR BOX, AND STAND IN FRONT OF THE CONGREGATION AND PLAY THE BEST I CAN.
GOD, I WILL BE HONORED TO PLAY A CIGAR BOX FOR YOU!
I. A friend loaned me a guitar for Sunday. Later, I replaced the guitar. But to this day 15 years later I do not own a Martin. That is OK.
I don’t play the guitar for applause, I play it to worship the God that I love and adore. This song is not about me nor my picking ability, this song is about a HOLY, AWESOME, MERCIFUL GOD.
II. WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND CRY, AND HANG UP OUR HARPS?
WE ARE ALLOWING OUR EMOTIONS TO DICTATE THE MOMENT.
A. In Psalms 137 is a wonderful and yet terrible story of God’s people.
B. We must LIFT HIGH THE BANNER OVER US, we must SING IN WORSHIP for we have confidence and comfort in the sweet spirit of our God. We march to our flag, not drafted, but in desire and hope.
C. A SONG SUNG TO GOD IS MORE THAN HARMONIC SOUNDS OVER HUMAN LIPS, MUSIC IS A TOKEN OF OUR LOVE AND HOMAGE WE PAY BECAUSE WE
LOVE HIM.
D. Angels gather around the throne eternal and sing, so must we. Our song and service is voluntary in love with a cheerful heart!
Psalm 138:5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
III. MOSES COMES THROUGH THE HARD TEST OF THE RED SEA, AND MOSES SINGS A NEW SONG, AND MIRIAM DANCES BEFORE THE LORD.
Deut. 31:22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
A. Not only did God keep His people dry, He drowned Pharoah’s army in the same place.
B. Fear not, God goes before us, with us, and behind us!
C. As God’s people BEGIN TO SING --- THE BURDEN LESSENS.
IV. LET THE VICTORY MARCH BE LEAD BY PRAISE AND SINGING! HOW CAN YOU LOSE SINGING PRAISE?
A. THE ENEMY IS PLAYING TAG TEAM FIGHTING.
The Moabites can’t be beat! They are the mightiest army in the known world.
B. WHAT YOU GOING TO DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU?
C. JEHOSHAPHAT STARTED SEEKING THE LORD PERSONALLY!
Then he called God’s people to repent, and seek God’s face.
2 Chron. 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
D. OUR ALLY IS THE LORD GOD!
2 Chron. 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against
them: for the Lord will be with you.
E. WILL WE TRUST THE LORD OUR GOD?
CAN YOU HEAR GOD’S BATTLE PLAN? SING!!!
2 Chron. 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
V. WHEN THE LOAD IS HEAVY, AND THE PULL SEEMS UPHILL BOTH WAYS, IT BECOMES VERY EASY TO FORGET THE PROMISE.
But I have learned a few things: Suffering is inevitable. MISERY IS OPTIONAL. I have known the misery index?
I guess one of our greatest needs is to always: REMEMBER HEAVEN.
GOD’S SONG SINGS WELL IN JAIL, WANT TO DISCUSS THE JAIL HOUSE ROCK?
A. Paul and Silas were in the midst of revival, God was moving, and Satan knew how to end what God was doing --- let us throw the Preachers in jail, they will SHUT UP?
B. The jail must not SHUT UP THE SONG!
C. THE PRISONERS HEARD THE SONG?
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and
made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every
one’s bands were loosed.
D. GOD SHAKES THE JAIL, THE JAIL HOUSE ROCKS ---
CAME OUT OF A SONG OF PRAISE!
VI. THE DARKER THE NIGHT THE GREATER THE LIGHT!
WHEN THE STORM RAGES HIGH, THE SONG IS BEAUTIFUL!
A. We must not doubt in darkness what God says in the light.
B. I don’t want custody of God’s love, I want wise stewardship of His presence.
C. Our enemy tries his best to kill us with a sense of our littleness, when it has nothing to do with our littleness, it is ALL ABOUT HIS GREATNESS!
Great is our God! Greatly to be praised.
Psalm 13:6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 30:4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Psalm 47:6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
Psalm 81:1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, a Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
D. I guess I would rather have a candy bar than manna?
Yet God has placed everything we need in His manna.
Lord, we do want your manna, fresh every morning.
E. We can play hurt! We can sing hurt! We must continue UNTIL THEN ---
I CAN’T --- HE CAN!
F. God, make me a PLUS for You!
My friend REX JOHNSON told a story of A BIRD THAT SINGS BEAUTIFUL.
The bird is called a THRUSH SPARROW. Thrush sparrows are one of the most beautiful singers of all birds.
This thrush’s most beautiful song is only sung when it is WOUNDED?
My friend SING ON --- GOD WILL TAKE THIS WOUND AND MAKE IT A BEAUTIFUL SONG IN HIS TIME!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
KEEP SINGING MY FRIEND! LET NOTHING STEAL YOUR SONG!
