Hangs the Lyre - Resilient Faith

Psalm 137:2

We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.~

Author's note: The following meditations are drawn from the heart of David's prayers in the Psalms. They have been gently paraphrased to help you reflect more deeply on God's Word and His unchanging character.

We sat together on the banks of strange waters. The river Euphrates served as a heartbreaking reminder that we were no longer in Zion, our home. Jerusalem was destroyed. Our tears swelled the mighty river as we mourned the loss of lives and possessions, our homes, and all hope. We needed to anchor ourselves on that shore with our resilient faith.

·         The musicians hung their harps from the willows that grew beside the river. They did not break them apart, but the harps had no music left in them for the time being. Someday, our joy will be replayed.

To add insult to injury, our captors asked us to play a joyful song from our native land. “Entertain us. Sing us a song and make us happy.” Their lighthearted words salted our open wounds. Their insolent requests pierced deeper into our hearts.

How could we do such a thing? We would never betray our God, Jehovah, for the entertainment of a heathen audience. Our songs were meant for the praise and worship of our Creator, not the amusement of our pagan captors.

I call down a self-imposed censure: If I ever forget you, O Jerusalem, let my voice forget how to sing, and my mind lose all reason.

Let my feet forget how to dance and my heart not recall how to love if I’m ever unable to call you to mind, O Zion.

Father God, judge the future generations of Edom, the sister city of Jerusalem. They were our neighbors and should have come to our aid when we were under siege. Instead, they watched on the sidelines and cheered as our enemies destroyed our beloved Zion. Lord, deny them the prospect of all prosperity and success.

And to the future generations of Babylon, we pray blessings on those who fulfill the prophecy outlined in Isaiah 13:16, “Their children will also be dashed to pieces before their eyes.” Today, Edom is desolate, and Babylon is in ruins. The God of the Hebrews will not be mocked.