By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows there we hung up our lyres.
For there our captors required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill!
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!
Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!”
O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!
Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
Gracious God and Heavenly Father,
What a terrible thing it is to be an exile or a captive in a godless place. Your people in Babylon could not sing happy songs of Zion, away from the temple of Jerusalem, away from your presence. We must always remember who we are singing to. We must not forget our spiritual Jerusalem. I am reminded of two Christmas concerts I attended last year. One was a secular choir singing Handel’s “Messiah”, and the other a choir of Christians singing a repertoire of Christian songs. The first was technically very good, but not inspiring. The second was amazing, because they were singing for Jesus and not the audience. They were offering songs of praise and worship. What a difference! Father, I pray that we remain loyal to you when we are under attack by the world to conform to its ways and not bow under its pressure. We pray for those who are suffering for Christ. We pray for an end to the persecution of God’s people and the destruction of God’s enemies. And the disturbing image of the enemies’ children being dashed against the rocks is a reminder of the harsh reality of the coming judgement for those who seek to destroy your people and rebel against you. Even so, come Lord Jesus.
In Christ’s name. AMEN