Psalm Chapter 137

• Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

This shows their sorrow and mourning of not being in their own land that God gave them. The memory of it was heart-breaking. No doubt the warnings of the prophets that warned them years ahead of time, rang in their ears.

• Psalm 137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

Harps were used for playing music and worshipping God. Hanging them up on the trees could indicate that they didn't feel much like singing or rejoicing anymore while in captivity.

• Psalm 137:3 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.

Those that held them in captivity wanted to hear the music. This was a wonderful opportunity to share the word of God with them. Perhaps though they just wanted to mock them.

• Psalm 137:4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?

How could they sing any longer, what did they have to rejoice over?

• Psalm 137:5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
• 6 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.
• 7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.

Instead of fearing God, the children of Edom rejoiced over Jerusalem's destruction. We should never gloat over the calamity any, even enemies, the same thing could happen to us. Edom was punished for this.

• Psalm 137:8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
• 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Babylon was later judged by God for their treatment of Israel even though God had allowed all this because Israel would not repent and turn from wickedness.

We can learn from this events and not do the same things. Do we think that we shall escape the judgment of God if we do the same things Israel did to cause judgment to come upon them?

We have in the United States the whole word of God. We have had both the Old Testament and the New. Some of us grew up knowing the word of God. As a nation most adults have heard the gospel at one time or another. We know about the deliverer from sin, Jesus the Christ. We not only have the law that condemns sin but have the answer to that condemnation. We have the one that God sent to save us from sin. We have had it all.

Yet look at us. Our public schools ignore the existence of God and teach a ridiculous substitute for our existence upon the earth. Our laws allow the murder of unborn children at the convenience of the mother. Adultery is no longer considered a sin. Divorce is increasing along with living together without the benefit of marriage. God's word is ignored and considered outdated and obsolete. If we try to preach holy living we are mocked and ridiculed. Some even use the grace of God to say that we can still be saved and live how we choose ignoring everything God has to say about sin.

We in the free world are without excuse for our sin even more than Israel once was since we've had access to the freedom to share our faith, an abundance of online bible teaching, and the bible in every bookstore. We have been blessed abundantly with wealth, comfort, and good things. We have churches and preachers on almost every block in our cities. Yet spiritually we are starving. Right is considered wrong and wrong is considered right.

If judgment comes to us, how can we blame God? How can God protect us from judgment if we deny Him a right to correct our sins? How can God cover us with His blessings if we deny His name in our public schools and they also forbid our children to speak in His name. How can we expect God to bless us if we kill our unborn children and ignore everything His word says? We have the book, the word of God. We have the message of Jesus who came to save all who believe upon Him.

We've had more than any other country in the world but look at us now. We claim to believe in Him but ignore everything He has to say. The bible was brought to us through much tribulation, suffering and even death by those who translated it, printed it and gave it to the common people to read. 

They went to all the trouble to bring us the message of salvation for us to ignore it and think we have a better way. Our ways will never be better than God's ways. We are a great nation because of the mercy and blessing of God. Yet we have turned our back on Him just like Israel did before their Babylonian captivity. It's time to turn back to God and choose to serve Him rather than men. DC

Psalm 138

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