THE BURDEN OF THE BACKSLIDDER
Psalms 137:1-4 W. Max Alderman
INTRODUCTION: This is the record of the Jews in their Babylonian captivity. While back in Jerusalem they were free, but now they are in bondage. They once enjoyed the blessings of the land and the blessings of the Lord, but now they are enduring burdens. Their happiness has turned to bitterness and their freedom has turned to slavery. Why is this so? It is not because of their weakness, but instead it is because of their wickedness. The place called Babylon always leads to barrenness, bitterness and brokenness. Babylon is identified with confusion going all the way back to when Nimrod built the tower of Babel. The only people who were truly happy in Babylon were the Babylonians. The Jews were being chastened by the Lord for their wickedness as a nation. As they sat under the shade among the willows, next to the river, they could not help but reflect on the home that they had been taken from. For this reason they could not play their harps.
I. THE SADNESS THEY COULD NOT SHAKE: Psalms 137:1-2
Israel And Judah Go Into Captivity
Because of Israel and Judah’s spiritual decline (2 Kings 17:7- 23), the Lord allowed them to be taken into captivity. The Assyrians took Israel captive, from which it seems that they never returned (2 Kings 17-18), and Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians (2 Kings 18-25).
Judah Returns From Captivity
After 70 years in captivity, Judah returned home in three stages. The first group was led home by Zerubbabel (Ezra 1- 6). The second group was led home by Ezra (Ezra 7-10). The third group was led back by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1-13).
A. There Was Misery in Their Hearts
While in Babylonian captivity, the Jews could only reflect back to the reason that God permitted them to enter into captivity, and it was because of their spiritual decline. While the Jews were under the rule of the judges, there were at least 13 apostasies where the nation of Israel continued their sinning against God. God judged them severely during this time. They continued to sin even after they were given kings to rule over them. Many of their kings would turn to and worship other gods. With this knowledge of their sinning being fixed in their hearts, they could only be miserable. They certainly did not think that they had anything to sing about. Furthermore, the taunting by the Babylonians to get them to sing was only a mockery as they were reminded that there was a special place in the temple for their singing and because of sin, they had forfeited that place. Those who are out of the will of the Lord certainly lose their song. Have you lost yours?
B. There Was the Memory of Their Home
Later in Biblical history, we are told the parable of the lost son. There is every indication that the prodigal son soon reached a state of misery while feeding the swine. Once he came to himself, he said that he would arise and go to his father. He certainly must have been “homesick” and was determined to do something about it. These Jews who were far removed from their homes could only think about the place that they had called home. This brought the kind of sadness that caused them to hang their harps on the willows without a song.
To the backslidden church member, there is a great loss that comes to not being plugged into your church home. I can only imagine how awful it would be for me to be removed from my church family because of sin. I, also, can only imagine how it would be for me to be plugged into the church, but just going through the motions because of sin.
1. This Caused their Hearts to be Sad
Sin will make the heart sad. There is a wonderful joy that causes continual rejoicing when one is thinking upon the things of God. Philippians 4:4-9 teaches us this:
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
When you allow sin to overtake you, you cannot keep your mind fixed upon God.
2. This Caused Their Harps to be Silent
The first thing that comes to my mind when I see the harps hanging on the willows is “talents going to waste”. Obviously, they were capable of playing the harps, but were not. This reminds me of those in the church who have talents, but you just as well be hanging your talents “on the willows”. Why not use those talents for the good glory of God? Has something robbed you of your song? If sin is hindering you from using your talents, then please repent and get busy for God.
During the time that their harps were silent, it was because they were separated from their fathers; they were surrounded by their foes; they were saddened by their failures, and they were shaken by their fears.
II. THE SARCASM THEY COULD NOT STAND: Psalms 137:3
To the credit of those who sat by the rivers of Babylon, they remembered Zion. To be removed from that which is precious should not mean that it is to be forgotten. Those who were hanging their harps on the willows were in a state of melancholy. They were so depressed. They could only remember how it was before they were separated from the home that they loved. This should be the spirit of every backslider. When one removes himself from the church, he should find something dreadfully missing. There should be a void. Remember how you used to get on your knees and pray, support your missionaries, teach your Sunday school classes and shout during the preaching. Do you remember how your family was plugged in to the things of God? Do you remember how you looked forward to going to the meeting place? You have hung your harps upon the willow. Because of that, the world sees that you have removed yourself from the fervor of serving God. The world will look at you with sarcasm just as the Babylonians looked at the Jews who were removed from their country. “Sing your songs, play your harps” they would say to the Jews only to further the hurt that they were already feeling. Their misery could only cause them to weep.
A. Sin Brings About Slavery
Slavery of the worst kind is the slavery that comes to the sinner. You are under the bondage of Satan. He has you where he wants you. You have lost your song. You are in shackles. You may even be addicted to your sin and sinning; so much so that you cannot even break away. Unless you throw yourself on the altar of God’s mercy, you will not ever be free again.
B. Sin Brings About Shame
The Jews were in bondage and were not the proud possessors of their homeland as they once were. They were now subjects of shame. Any backslidden sinner has every reason to be ashamed. This is enough to rob one of his song.
C. Sin Brings About Suffering
The Word of God tells us that the way of the transgressor is hard. This certainly is very true. As a minister of the Gospel, I have observed this to be so over and over again. Nothing brings about the wrong kind of suffering as does sin. All will suffer, but what makes the suffering of the sinner so excruciating is in knowing that the suffering could very well be attributed to sinning. There could be financial loss, family problems, and problems involving the flesh in association to ones sinning. When one is suffering in this manner, it certainly robs one of his song.
III. THE SONG THAT THEY COULD NOT SING: Psalms 137:4
“How shall we sing the LORD”S song in a strange land?” The Jews asked this question out of despair knowing that the place that they were to sing the LORD’S song was in the temple. They had been removed of that right just as we are disqualified to serve God while sinning. John 8:34 tell us: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” Again Romans 6:1-4 tells us, “ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
A. Only those who are free can sing the Lord’s Songs
As Romans 6:4 tells us that “we also should walk in newness of life”. This will definitely put the song back into our hearts. What greater joy than being able to sing the LORD”S song. Romans 6:12-14 tells us how to really be free: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
B. Only one thing can make us lose our song for Christ
Knowing that it is sin that causes us to lose our song, as we begin a new year, let us come back to where we really belong. Let us get back to where we can play our Spiritual harps and sing our Spiritual songs, again. I hope that this simple lesson from the Psalms can ignite a fire of desire in your hearts to return to the Lord. Just as the Lord spoke to Israel through the prophet Malachi (Malachi 3:6b.) may He also speak to us as well? He said, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”
