SINGING THE LORD’S SONGS IN FOREIGN LAND! Introduction “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps; for there our captors asked us for songs; our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion”! (Ps. 137:1-3). When you refuse to live for the praise of God while you are enjoying His freedom, favour and mercy, the enemy will seek to snatch that opportunity from you. That was the situation with Children of Israel as they wept as captives. Why did their captors demanded from them to sing songs of Zion; and why was it that the Israelites could not sing songs of Zion in Babylon? These are the focus of this edition. It is someone who is happy that sings. God’s intention is for you to be happy and sing songs of Zion wherever you find yourself. Redeemed to Sing God redeemed and set the children of Israel free from bondage in Egypt to worship and praise Him. “Then the LORD said to Moses, Go to Pharaoh and say to him, this is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me” (Exo. 8:1, NIV). Upon their freedom, God entered law-covenant relationship with them at Sinai (Exo.19:5). Israel became a nation redeemed to worship and sing praises to the LORD. This is clear in how God directed them to build tabernacle (Exo.25:8) and gave them instructions on how to worship Him (Lev. 1:1ff). When you dedicate your life to God in worship, you will have access to songs of Zion (Jn. 4:23). Motivated to Sing God did not only redeem the children of Israel to praise Him and sing His songs, (Exo. 15:1), God also motivated them with various testimonies to sing to Him (Ps. 118:14). God provided for all their needs; He defeated their enemies on many occasions but gave them total victory during the reign of David (2 Sam.8:11). He healed them from sickness (Isa. 53:3); He raised prophets among them who taught them his ways; and blessed the work of their hands (Lev.26:9; Ps. 85:12). God is still doing the same today, but do you recognize His work in your life. As God motivates you, he looks forward for the fruit of praises from your life. Mandated to Sing God’s motivation was a mandate for Israel to praise Him through their daily lives (Deut. 30:16), but the Israelites failed and made a wrong choice (Deut. 30:19-20). They served the gods of the pagan nations and thus provoked the LORD (Judg.3:7). Rather than singing songs of Zion, they were singing song of Baals. Still God warned them on many occasions and threatened to send them to exile, but they felt that as long as the temple was standing they would not go to exile (1Kgs. 8:29). God warned them to reform their way as a condition to escape being go exile (Jer. 7:3), but they did not listen. God has given you a mandate to sing His songs through your life in that land you live. Weeping Replaced Singing How easy it is to sing while in pain? The people who had enjoyed the goodness of God but took it for granted were now sitting by the rivers of Babylon weeping instead of singing (Ps. 137:1a). There wouldn’t have been any course for them to go to exile talkless of weeping if they had lived to glorify God in Jerusalem. It was in exile that the Israelites remember Zion (v.1b). What a pity; they had lost opportunity of joy before they valued it. God’s people, who were redeemed to sing the LORD’s songs, were weeping in a foreign land. You need to value your freedom; live to glorify God; and exile will not be your portion. Vowing Replaced Singing The people of God were mocked by their captors who asked them to sing one of the songs of Zion (Ps. 137:3), the songs they failed to sing while they were in freedom. God’s people could not believe what was happening to them. They asked “How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land” (v.4). They chose not to sing probably for their idols which may be a good option. They even sworn not to sing but vowed not to forget Jerusalem (v.5). While God cherishes our commitments to Him in difficult times, self-inflicted trouble is always painful. There are still many today who vow to serve God because they are in trouble. Praying Replaced Singing Having resolved not to sing, God’s people chose to pray to God. This is one of the lessons we should learn from children of Israel; they chose to pray to God in their trouble (v.7). It is one thing to be in trouble, it is another thing to depend on God for solution. The Israelites got credit for that. They returned back to God while still in exile and refused to neither sing nor serve the gods of that land. There are believers today who abandon God in troubles to shrines and diabolic powers that cannot truly save. Are you in a difficult situation? You need to resolve to seek the LORD who alone is able to deliver you. Singing Replaced Exile God restored the children of Israel back to Zion, and their mouths were filled with songs of joy (Ps. 126:1-2). If you are singing the Lord’s songs, you will not even go to exile. Are you singing the Lord’s songs; is God’s testimony visible in your life? The will of God for you is to be among those who sing His songs here on earth and in heaven (Rev.5:13). If the Lord’s songs are absent in your life, you are not far from exile. Cry to God to change your story; to open your Heaven of songs, but your lifestyle counts. If you decide to live and sing the Lord’s songs in that land you live, you will not go to exile where enemy will mock you. Conclusion While God saved and redeemed you to sing His songs, Satan does not want you to sing. You need to realize this truth. This is what the Israelites failed to realize until they found themselves in exile. Don’t allow enemy to rob you the purpose of God for your life, join the generation of those who sing the Lord’s songs in freedom. Till I meet you in the next edition. ‘Yode Ogunmola (Revd.) Church Pastor. 08029524967; 08183985096; 07031121220 pastorolayode@gmail
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:51:03 +0000
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