Subject: Don’t Stop: The Challenge Amid a Pandemic
Text: Psalm 137:1-6
“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 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. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? 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”
Introduction: The words of our text are the words of a nation of people who have been vanquished by the armies of the Babylonian empire. Their beloved and holy city Jerusalem has been sacked and set aflame. The beautiful temple that was built by King Solomon has been desecrated and left in ruins. And the once proud nation of Israel has been placed in chains and marched away as slaves into a strange and foreign land. The very people who were known throughout the world for their beautiful songs of worship to the God of their salvation, have been reduced to listening to the taunts and ridicules of their captors. The Babylonians had listened carefully to Israel’s songs of praise as they studied their enemy. They heard them as they sang one of the psalms of David. They listened as the Israelites sang: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” They listened and they remembered.
And in celebration of their great victory over Israel these captors, the Babylonians mocked the people of God with a cruel request. “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” And the people of God replied with a question; a question that I believe was directed more to themselves than to their captors: “How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?“
This sad account of the people of God finds them at one of the lowest points in their rich history. I would like to suggest to you that there is a message of hope hidden in the text and a challenge to keep on keeping on. The psalmist said: “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song.” The psalmist records the question: “How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? Babylon was a strange land. The word Babel, which the root of Babylon means confusion. These Jews find themselves in unfamiliar territory. They were depressed, dismay and dysfunctional. Life has a way of carrying us to Babylon. Even in Babylon, there are something that we must not do. First, don’t serving! Serve even when it's hard!
1. DON’T STOP SERVING
First of all, I need you to hear me when I say DON’T STOP SERVING. In verse 2 we read, “We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.” The words of the psalmist create for us a very visual image of weeping saints standing at the edge of the river in the midst of weeping willow trees. Their heads were hung in shame and defeat, and he says “there they hanged their harps.” It was there at the river’s edge among the willows, in a mood of spiritual dejection and defiance that they decided to hang up their instruments of music and worship. Those who made this decision to were the temple musicians. They had once provided a valuable service to people of God and the work of the Lord. Two things caught my attention in the text and they both speak of a future hope: (1) these prisoners brought their harps with them on their march into captivity. So somewhere in the back of their minds, even though their city and their homes had been destroyed, even though they were now in chains being led away into a strange land, they remained hopeful that the time would come when they would be able to play the Lord’s songs once more. Even in times of sorrow and mourning God will give you a ray of hope. (2) even though their enemy verbally assaulted and insulted them daily, they did not destroy their harps or throw them away, they hung them up. Again, somewhere in the back of their minds was a flicker of hope that there would come a time that they would be able to pick up their harps and play the Lord’s songs once again.
As we grow older, sometimes we feel tired and less useful. Our voice may not be as clear as it once was, our may be declining, and the devil has a way of saying, Well, you have done your part or no one appreciates you, just quit! Sometimes the church goes through changes and your initial reaction is to pack it in and quit – but don’t do it. These servants may have hung up their harps, but they never intended to stop serving. Their harps may have been silent for a season, but they left the door open for the time when they would be able to make music in the service of the Lord. God will always leave the door of opportunity open for service, so “Don’t Stop Serving.” This maybe a different season in your life, but God is right here in the place where you are! Don't stop serving. Secondly don’t stop singing!
2. DON’T STOP SINGING.
Then in verse 4 we hear the words of the singers. They asked a question both of their captors and themselves. “How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?” The request of their captors was as unreasonable as it was insulting. How could they who had reduced us to slavery, and dragged us in chains from our own beautiful land and privileges, expect us to sing one of our sacred songs to please them, who were enemies both to us and to our God? And how could they now expect laughter and entertainment from people in a state of poverty and oppression? The songs required of the singers were songs that were appointed by God, and were to be sung only to His honor and in His service. They were not even Israel’s songs; they were the Lord’s songs. How then could they be sung in a strange land, for the benefit of a strange people who were enemies of God? Like the temple musicians, these singers had no choice in the matter and responded with their silence
But while they refused to sing in a strange land and for the benefit of an unworthy audience they did not declare that would never sing again. So often troubles and trials have a way of stealing your song. And for the child of God, your song is the source of your praise. Your song is the verbal expression of your joy and connectedness to God. When you sing the Lord’s songs those around you are offered a glimpse into the relationship – the love affair if you will, between the you and your Lord. Our song is an expression of our praise………………………………………
Even in the midst of our attack, we have a choice. Trouble may knock at our door, but we still have choice in the matter. We cannot choose our circumstances, but we can choose our response. We can sing the Lord’s Song. AS soon as trouble comes we can expect our enemy to 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 musicians 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.” Job 35:10 "But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;"
3. DON’T FORGET WHY YOU SERVE AND SING: (It's for the Savior)
So I encourage you don’t stop serving and 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.” These praisers declared that even though his harp was hanging and their voice silent, he had not forgotten how to play, sing 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. Regardless of your circumstances, “Don’t Forget why you sing: For the 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 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. Singing for the Church is a good thing; doing the work of the church is a good thing, but “Don’t Forget Why You Sing.” I hope that you celebrate many more anniversaries, dress in beautiful uniforms, but “Don’t Forget Why your Sing.” Don’t forget that Jesus has promised that he is coming again. I hope you are not serving and singing, just to be serving and singing. I hope that it's your calling. You cannot help it, you have to! We do it for a Savior. 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.”
I believe there wil be golden streets, pearly gates and angelic choirs, but I want to see the Savior! “Don’t Forget Your Savior” and what He accomplished on the cross at Calvary. Through it all, remember that He died a sacrificial and substitutionary death to cleanse us from our sins and purchase us back our freedom. We must not forget that we must be about our Father’s business. The Father’s business is kingdom building. Because of their sin and disobedience Israel, Babylon was allowed to defeat and enslave them. But I need you to remember that your Savior has already conquered and defeated your enemy. We have victory in Jesus!
CONCLUSION
The challenge of this moment is to keep on keeping on! Don’t hang up your harps in the willow trees, or hang your head is sorrow, because there is yet work to do. DON’T STOP SERVING; DON’T STOP SINGING and DON"T FORGET THE SAVIOR! We serve a risen savior, he is the reason we serve, sing, and witness. We remember the Savior! We are a part of the Lord’s Army. He has called us into His service wherever we find ourselves. We are called to sing for him. In Psalms 100, David reminds us by saying; "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
Don’t hang up your harps or silence your voice because there is yet work to do. DON’T STOP SERVING; DON’T STOP SINGING and DO IT FOR THE SAVIOR! WE are a part of the Lord’s Army. We are called to sing for him. We can’t help but sing! Amen.
