+DEV+ A Sad Song in Captivity

Date: July 30, 2009 7:51 PM
Topic: +DEV+ A Sad Song in Captivity

A Sad Song in Captivity

“Our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:3-4)
Scripture Focus: Psalm 137

God’s disobedient people had been taken captive to live in Babylon. Far from the land they loved, the Jews sat and wept. Their captors wanted to be entertained by lively Jewish music, but the captives just didn’t have the heart for it.

The Jews were a musical people, singing, dancing, playing instruments at weddings, feasts, holy days, and every kind of celebration. But when their enemies carried them away as captives, they took away their music. How could they sing when they were feeling so lost and alone?

Being out of fellowship with God is like being held a captive in a strange land. When we’re far from Him because of our sin, there’s no urge to sing. But when we confess our sins, God forgives us and cleanses us from all that has hurt our relationship with Him (see 1 John 1:9). He restores us to fellowship, bringing us close to Him, back where we belong.

A sad song in the captivity of sin or a joyful song in fellowship with Him—it’s up to each of us.

Insight: If we don’t feel like singing His praise, maybe we’re not close enough to the source of music.