December 14, 2009
DO NOT give in to the PRESSURE FROM THE WORLD!
Psalm 137
Tom Weickgenant
Central Truth
We are aliens and exiles in this world. It can be very difficult to be joyful and sing to the Lord, especially when those around are mocking us. We need to be faithful in maintaining our devotion to God while leaving justice in His hands.
Key Verse | Psalm 137:4
How can we sing a song to the Lord
in a foreign land?
(Psalm 137:4)
Psalm 137
How Shall We Sing the LORD's Song?
1
By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
2
On the willows
1
137:2
Or poplars
there
we hung up our lyres.
3
For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4
How shall we sing the LORD's song
in a foreign land?
5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill!
6
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy!
7
Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites
the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,
down to its foundations!”
8
O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
blessed shall he be who repays you
with what you have done to us!
9
Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
and dashes them against the rock!
Dive Deeper | Psalm 137
Can you imagine what it would be like if a foreign oppressor were to take control of our nation, forcing us to work for him, mocking our memories of past freedoms and celebrations we once enjoyed? We wouldn't even want to celebrate meaningful holidays such as Independence Day and Thanksgiving! We would be like aliens and exiles in our own country.
Psalm 137 concerns such a lament for past memories of Judah before it was taken into captivity by Babylon. The psalm also recognizes that the Lord ultimately will vindicate His people.
As Christians, we all are aliens and exiles in this world because our real home is in heaven. God wants us to live in a way that glorifies Him (1 Peter 2:11-12). We can follow Christ with confidence no matter what is going on around us or what is happening to us (1 Peter 4:19). God will take care of all the injustice in His time (Romans 12:19).
It's easy for me to lose sight of the calling to live as an alien or exile. There are many distractions that can keep me from following hard after Christ, such as work projects, home projects, fear of the future, and other cares of this world. I need to be in community so that I can make myself accountable to others about how I'm pursuing Christ with my family, in my workplace, and with all others I meet in my daily life.
Being accountable helps keep me from rationalizing bad decisions and getting offtrack in my pursuit of Christ. It also helps me analyze the things going on around me and how I should respond to them. My life is not always going to be easy, but circumstances should not discourage me from following Christ. I know that God has a plan for my life, and the major part is to know Him and make Him known. All of my plans and activities need to line up with God's priorities. God's Word shows me what those priorities are, and community helps keep me on track in following them.
Discussion Questions
1. What keeps you from following hard after Christ?
2. What changes do you need to make in your life to eliminate those distractions?
3. Who do you have in your life with whom you can share your struggles and efforts?
4. How do you measure progress in your pursuit of Christ?