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Just Keep Singing
Jon Burgess“How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. 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.” Psalm 137:4-6
A song of praise in the land of pain will keep us close to He who sustains. The last thing the Exiles of Israel wanted to do was grab their harps and lyres and sing for their captors. They were worried about forgetting their faith, but the songs of praise would actually help them to remember what really mattered. Even though it felt like it would sully the songs to sing them so far from home for uncircumcised ears this is exactly what God would call them to do! God wanted them to sing their songs of faith to remind them of who they belonged to. Their songs weren't their own, they were gifted from God and given back to God therefore God would determine when they were sung. God not emotions. God not circumstances. God not others would call them to worship! When they felt distant from God, they were to proclaim the goodness of the One of who would never leave them. When their hearts ached for home they would find their home in Him through worship! When hardship threatened to silence their song they would sing all the louder. Not only would ceaseless praise keep their hearts close to their true King of Heaven, but it would also capture the attention of the pagan kingdom in which they were called to live. This is the point the prophet Jeremiah was driving home: "And work for the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare" (Jeremiah 29:7).
Just keep singing. It's easier said then done. All throughout history we see the power of the song seeing people through the oppression of their captors. Often the last thing I feel like doing is the first thing I need to do when life is coming down hard all around me. Even as recently as last week I felt fearful and stressed about the circumstances around me. I was reminded of the promise of Zephaniah 3 and how God sings over me. I opened up His Word and soaked in that promise. I pushed past the place of feeling overwhelmed and grabbed my guitar instead and began to write a simple song out of this chapter. As I declared the opposite of what I felt according to the truth of Gods Word the burden lifted and my vision for the future cleared. It really is that simple and that profound. Just keep singing! A song of praise in the land of pain will keep us close to He who sustains.
Thank You Jesus! You are the source of my song, the lyrics of my heart, the melody that moves me forward in spite of circumstances. I choose to praise You no matter what I may feel! Let new songs rise from Your people that will invade the market place, grab ahold of wayward hearts and remind people of who You are!
