Ps 137:1‑4
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required (enquired about) of us a song; and they that wasted (oppressed) us required of us mirth (joy), saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
· There are people around you that would love nothing more but to see you fail in your walk with the Lord. Note here in the text that such people were now in principle asking God’s people, “Where’s your song now?” “Where’s this joy you have been talking about now?” “Sing a victory song now!”
· How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? This strange land was by the rivers of Babylon. Babylon in Hebrew means confusion.
· There are many that come to church every week to worship but can’t enter in because their heart is far from God, dwelling and wondering on other things.
· These are in a strange land, a land of confusion.
Such a person will ask the following questions in a service (in their mind):
· What is wrong with me?
· Why can’t I feel what my brothers and sisters are feeling?
· Why can’t I walk in the peace, joy and victory that I see others walk in?
· Why did I waste my time to come to church today?
· Why doesn’t God bless me like he blesses my brothers and sisters?
· Am I really saved?
· Do my brothers and sisters even care that I am struggling spiritually?
· Why am I depressed?
· Why can’t I control my emotions (temper, anger etc)?
· Why am I up one day and down the next? And the list goes on and on.
Four characteristics of an individual who is confused in light of this text:
1) They sat
2) They wept
3) They remembered
4) They hung their harps
1) They sat:
II Ki 7:3-6
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
· There are two words in this text that are used commonly by believers. One is WHY and the other is IF. How many of you would like to be in a much better place and position with the Lord by next year at this time?
· Ask yourself 2 questions (if they apply), One, “Why am I in the same posture or frame of mind today that I was in a year ago?” Two, “If I choose to stay in this same posture or frame of mind, what will my life be like a year from now?”
· These men came to a place where they knew they had nothing to lose. Upon reaching this place in their life, they ROSE UP! The word rose in Hebrew is rendered: to come on the scene, to be fulfilled, to stand and to become powerful.
· When these men made up their mind to STAND, then God comes on the scene. The reason many are not seeing God move in their homes, churches and businesses today is simply because they refuse to do their part which is to GET UP and start taking steps.
2) They wept:
Num 11:4-6
And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
· The word wept in Hebrew is also translated COMPLAIN (express dissatisfaction, bellyache, fuss and gripe).
· I think it imperative to point out that it was the mixed multitude that was responsible for Israel complaining. The principle being, some of you do well in church around your spiritual brothers and sisters. It is when you get out in the world and associate with mixed up people and start listening to their complaints that you get in trouble.
· Note that the mixed multitude begin to lust for things of the past (things they had been delivered from). When Israel heard their conversation, they allowed their minds to wonder back into their past and therefore they too begin to lust for things of their past.
· Note the spiritual barrenness of Israel at this time. Their soul was dried away. They were reduced to nothing but manna, which is a type of Christ. God fed them this manna daily.
· Another translation of verse six reads, “But now our strength is gone, and day after day we have to face this manna!" (TLB)
· How sad that many believers today are fed up with the Word of God. They say things such as, “I’m tired of hearing it.” “It may work for you but it doesn’t work for me.” To these I would point to Heb 4:2 which reads, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”
· Another translation reads, “For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).” (Amplified Bible)
· Know that every time you hear the Word of God, the enemy is going to make an attempt as soon as possible to mix something with what you heard in hopes of diluting its power from working within you to save and deliver you. We can see a picture of this in Luke 8:12 where it reads, “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”
· Have you ever shared a message with someone that helped you drastically and afterwards they expressed doubt at this, which you shared, and as result caused you to doubt the very thing that brought peace and joy to you?
· They mixed doubt with your truth and took the truth.
3) They remembered:
Ps 77:1-15
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble (tightness, female rival – soulish battle) I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted (see note below). I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
· Note that the Psalmist soul refused to be comforted. The principle being, he resisted all thoughts that came to him that may have comforted him. He was in such a low state of mind that he chose to dwell on negative things rather than choose to dwell on the truths of God’s word wherein his soul would have been at peace.
· In our text in Psalms 137, Israel begins to weep when they remembered Zion. The principle being, how many of you can look back and remember a time when you were mightily used by a God in a certain area? How many of you would like to get back to that place? Doesn’t it sadden your heart to see what you have walked away from in exchange for a state of CONFUSION?
4) They hung their harps:
1 Sam 10:5-6
After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
· I want to point out in principle that the harp is in relationship with the prophetic anointing. The harp plays a role in this text of a heart being changed.
· Principle: It is important that you understand the talents and gifts that have been bestowed upon you by God have within them the ability to touch someone’s life and change them forevermore.
1 Sam 16:16-23
Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
· I want to point out that a man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men (Pr 18:16). We that in this text where David’s gift brought him before the king.
· This gift that David had was used by God to bring deliverance and refreshing. What is it that God has blessed you with that could be vital in the role of someone being delivered or refreshed?
2 Chr 5:13-14
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
· It’s time to pick up your harps and begin to use what the Lord has given you!
In closing, I want to point out the simple digression of a confused person:
1) You sat down
2) You begin to complain
3) You begin dwelling on your past instead of your future
4) You hang yourself spiritually (Your ministry, your gifting, your talents etc)
Ps 139:14‑18
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Take your spiritual inventory today:
What talents and gifts has the Lord blessed you with?
How many of them are you using?
