God’s Truth for Trying Times - 4/10/21

We need God’s truth in trying times. Read the Scripture passage, think about what it is saying, then pray; by yourself or with your household. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16).

READ: Psalm 137

"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!" [Psa 137:1-9 ESV] 

CONSIDER: This is a painful psalm to read but there is also a note of hope and praise. They were once again praise God because he is faithful. God's dwelling place is their highest joy. And they also remember the pain of captivity due to their unfaithfulness and sin. God is faithful and he always keeps covenant even if we are unfaithful. There are some imprecatory words in this Psalm and they are in line with asking for the will of God. God is good and he provides for his own, even in hardship.

THINK: What does this declare about God? What are God’s people being called to do? What assurance is given? How does the Word of God transform our hearts and lives and relationships?