Singing The Lord's Song In A Strange Land

 

Psalms 137:4 NKJV says, "How shall we sing the Lord’s song In a foreign land?"

The people of Babylon, the mighty nation that laid siege to Jerusalem, overtook the city, and led tens of thousands captive. One of those captives was a musician who wrote the 137th Psalm.

The Israelites did not only weep, they reached out to hang up their lyre on the branch of a willow tree somewhere along the Tigris or Euphrates River. The Babylonians, their captors, wanted to hear them sing a song of Zion. But the Israelites could not bring themselves to comply.

Symbolically, the strange land could be a place, a situation, mourning a loved one, grieving, a challenge, a strange place, an unfamiliar territory or position, etc. Many of us don't pray, sing and praise God when we are in a strange land. We give up so easily in that strange land or situation. We also ask, "How can I sing the lord's song in a/this strange land or situation?"

Did you know that Daniel and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego), Esther, Nehemiah and Ezra all sang the lord's song in a foreign Land? Daniel was told not to worship a man and any "god" but the king for thirty days. But he chose to worship the lord for that period as he did always. His friends, the three Hebrew boys refused to bow down to the gold statue of the king in that foreign or strange Land.

When they sang the lord's song in that strange land or situation (They chose to worship and believe in the one and only true God), God showed up. They were rescued from the claws and teeth of the lions and burning fiery furnace. God was exalted and recognized by the King because of them. 

Esther said, "If I perish, I perish" in a strange land. So, when you are in a strange land, situation, circumstances, it is another good time to sing the lord's song. It was the loss of those Israelites who decided not to sing the lord's song in a strange land. As for you, you should not throw in the towel like the Israelites did.

However, it is difficult to sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land. But singing the Lord's song at all times and in every situation should be our calling and disposition. 

HALLELUJAH