
Psalm 137: 1-6.
1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
2 There on the poplars we hung our harps,
3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill .
6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
If you’ll remember the story of Jacob and Esau, Jacob came out of the womb hanging on Esau’s heel. He also cheated Esau out of his birthright. Those two brothers reconciled, but hundreds of years later, they had evolved into two tribes, the Israelites and the Edomites. The Israelites were living in Jerusalem, and the Edomites were their neighbor to the South. They were both nations evolved from Abraham, and they both believed in God, but the Edomites didn’t like the Israelites.
Now another nation comes into the story – Babylon.
Where is Babylon today? – try Iraq
Anyway, the Babylonians were pagans. They didn’t know God and I think they worshipped rocks and pieces of wood. They were advanced scientifically, but they were barbarians spiritually. The Babylonians invaded Jerusalem and captured the Israelites and the Edomites just
let `em to it. Alas, betrayed by their kinfolks and fellow believers, the Israelites were taken into captivity in Babylon.
Now, after a little while, the Babylonians wanted to party. They wanted to have a little fun. And they had noticed that the Israelites had these neat musical instruments with them - lyres (little harps) made from willow or poplar. The Babylonians prodded them and demanded that they play the songs of Zion – not for worship or to bring glory to God - but for mere pagan pleasure.
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion” they demanded.
The Israelites were heartbroken – they had been betrayed by their cousins – the other children of God.
They had lost their God-given city – Jerusalem
And now, their homes destroyed and in captivity to a pagan people, they were being asked to pervert their one connection with God. The songs of Zion.
Well, instead of bowing and playing for them, they hung up their harps on the same trees from which they were made – the willows or poplar trees. They gave the music back to Yahweh. They remained true to their faith.
Sad story - great ending.
Generations later, a freckle-faced kid with a mean slingshot became King David and when he wrote these wonderful songs called Psalms, he remembered this brave act of honor and obedience to God and he memorialized it in Psalm 137. As you know the Psalms were sung in worship by Jews for centuries. The same as those old hymns of our youth like
Amazing Grace,
How Great Thou Art,
Sanctuary, or
All in All. The tune and the words mean much more than just lyrics and music. It is the connection and the background that really give them meaning.
Even more generations later one of King David’s descendants, a man named Jesus, together with his disciples, all being good Jews facing a sad time, reached back to this precious memory for strength and comfort before facing a scary, uncertain time.
They sang a song.
The setting for this song in the musical Godspell is Matthew 26:20-30
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
21 And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
28 This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives [emphasis added]
.
On that dark night, Jesus made it clear to the disciples that this life of fun, healing, and easy miracles was soon drawing to a close. When I read about the disciples and their travels with Jesus’ ministry, I get the sense that it was quite satisfying and fun. It put them in the spotlight – kind of like a rock and roll band on a world tour. They got attention. it was exciting!! I also think that the disciples might have felt great pride about being in the inner circle with the messiah.
But that night, Jesus tells them that things will soon get ugly. Basically he foretells his sacrifice. And he also tells them that they won’t be together again, at least until they’re all dead, at least dead physically. Then he introduces them to a very strange and graphic ritual. And so, in that dark and uncertain time, they sing a hymn together. A song of comfort and lament.
The Bible doesn't say it, but in the play they sing Psalm 137. I think its a very fitting Psalm to sing, too.
I also think they felt a little better after they sang - and remembered.
Throughout the years, when people are sad, or when they miss their friends or family, or when they don’t know what tomorrow will bring, they have sought comfort in song. Songs of the faith. Often the old Christian hymns and songs from their youth. Have you ever done that when you were sad – played or sang a favorite song? It made you feel better, didn’t it? And if it wasn’t a song, then maybe you looked at a photo or thought about pleasant memories of good times, your bonds with friends, and those times when you felt the strong and very real presence of God – right there with you. Exactly like we’ve experienced together these last ten or so days.
In my mind, that’s what Jesus and his friends did when they sang On the Willows.
We all have dark times. Now this isn’t scriptural nor it is the official position of the Methodist church, but I believe that everyone goes through dark times in their life. The fire – a personal hell - horrible lonely times.
But I know, and it is scriptural that:
1. God has a purpose for everything that happens to us (the 3rd chapter of Ecclesiastes),
2. All things work for good when you believe in God(Romans 8:28), and
3. God has a special plan for each of us and a desire to make us more Christ-like through that plan (Ephesians 2:10).
When you go through the darkness or the fire, I pray that you will find comfort in not only the words of the Bible and the songs of King David, but also in the songs that you have and will continue to sing from this wonderful work of art –this incredible ministry we call
Spirit.
You must never forget that adversity makes us stronger. Like a sword forged in the fire and hammered and filed to a fine point. You must never forget the many ways that God has spoken to you and touched you during this trip. I pray that you will never forget the awesome anointing of the Holy Spirit that we felt during this trip – especially in Raton and Casper.
Yes dear hijos, I pray that you will never forget the fond memories and the bonds that you have created through
Spirit. Memories and bonds that you will never lose. Memories and bonds that nothing and no one can ever take away from you.
And when you go through the fire, when the world tries to rob you of your connection with God (and it
will try – I guarantee you). When it seems there is no light and all is dark. When the pagan world tries to make this faith that we hold so dear seem trivial (and the world will try to do that too, I guarantee you again), then remember:
Remember the courage and resolve of the Israelites.
Remember the gift of eternal life given on a cross for you thousands of years ago.
Remember the love and joy that you have shared with this wonderful people.
And remember the face of Christ that you have seen, every day, on each other.
If you will do that, you will not only get through the hard times – you will flourish because of them. And if you really pray and listen for God’s word, and keep your eyes, mind and spirit open to His will, you will come to find that the hard times were part of a wonderful plan for God to do miracles through you.
Jesus sang another hymn in the story – do you know which one?
Psalm 22:
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
Even in His darkest hour, Jesus found comfort in the hymns of his youth.
So when you are in a foreign land – I pray that you will find strength in these songs of your youth – songs from a musical called
Godspell. I pray that you will be able to sing the Lord’s song – these songs of Zion – all of your days
no matter where you are..
no matter if you’re captive or free.
I pray that you will always remember the wonderful gift of a loving God who will never leave you.
I pray that you will feel His love and Spirit close to you always. But if you don’t:
Then remember the
Spirit tour of 2006.
Sing the Lord’s song.
These songs of Zion.
Shalom dear children of God.
Thank you for having me.
I love you.
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