Psalm 137:1-4 "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. (2) We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. (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. (4) How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?"
Today's devotion may not be considered as a "Top 5" among
devotions. Normally, the Psalms speak to us of a better time either in the past
or in time to come. Today's Psalm speaks of a rough time when the
children of Israel had been taken into bondage.
It seems the writer may have been faintly remembering a better time when
there was music and joy in the land. But now, they were in a strange land and
their hearts were not tuned to playing or singing music.
It seems their captors were mocking them and trying to get them to sing.
Their desire was not because they wanted to hear spiritual songs; rather, they
were making fun of the people. "Sing us one of those religious
songs." How can we sing when we are in a strange land under such
strained conditions?.
My thought for today would be this: We must never take our freedom for
granted. We must never become at ease concerning the worship of Almighty God.
It was taken from Israel and it can be taken from us. Let us be very serious in
our worship and praise unto the Lord. Let us give thanks to Him for the
blessings He has freely given us.