Sing With Joy

June 1, 2010
Read Psalms 135 - 139

Ps 137:4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD
while in a foreign land?

Ps 139:5 You hem me in — behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

PSALM 137 was written and sung when Israel was in captivity in Babylon. The writer mourns the people’s separation from their home and from their temple. Babylon threatens their family structure, their culture and their worship. How can there be any joy? How can they sing the songs of the LORD and to the LORD when they are in a foreign land?

The answer is in Psalm 139:5. Here the Psalmist—David—writes and sings of God’s great protection. God is before him and behind him. God’s hand is on him, and he feels secure in God’s care even though he is often challenged and threatened by his enemies.

It’s easy, isn’t it, to feel separated from God? We live in a culture that actually encourages us to “leave God” and go out on our own strength and wisdom—into a “foreign land”.

We search for peace and joy. We find none. Living in a foreign place separate from God’s ways, we lose our way. And we wonder, “How can we sing the songs of the LORD?” because we feel so far from our home with God.

But know this: God is near. He is ready to surround you with his love. When you turn from the foreign land that denies him and turn to Him, His firm, strong and gentle hand is ready to welcome you back home and into his living Temple, Jesus Christ.

Trust in God and go to the life he has for you. And you will sing for joy.