“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord‘s song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137:1-4 ~KJV)
This doleful psalm offers a glimpse into Israel’s humiliation in Babylonian captivity. When Assyrian ruler Nebuchadnezzar came to plunder God’s people, Israel had split into two political entities. Ten tribes revolted against Davidic reign to form a northern kingdom headquartered at Samaria. The remaining two stuck together under a Judah flag and retained Jerusalem Capitol. Besides political rivalry weakening Abraham’s offspring, rampant idolatry and other iniquitous practices alienated them from God, their source of strength. By the time Nebuchadnezzar carried them away from Palestine, few Jews sought the God of their fathers.
The Joy of the Lord is Strength
When seventy years of prophesied captivity were ended, God divinely led a contingent of exiles back to Jerusalem. Their first mission was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the temple of God. With everyone gathered, the leaders—Nehemiah, a governor and Ezra, a priest—read the scroll of Moses’ Law from morning till evening. This was news to majority of the people. Few in that generation knew anything about holy writ. As leaders taught God’s counsel, the people wept sore. Suddenly, they understood why they got into such trouble.
Here, we find a very enlightening verse of Scripture that’s often quoted in Christendom. “Nehemiah said, “… This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh 8:10 ~NIV)
Contrast the two scenarios presented above, and you’ll see a vivid picture. By the rivers of Babylon, we see despondent Jews hanging their guitars on tree branches and refusing to play music to God. But standing at the ruins of Jerusalem, returning exiles weep in remorse, sorry to have exposed themselves to such dire consequences by forsaking the God of their fathers.
Our lesson centers on Nehemiah’s counsel, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Obviously, reading the Law of Moses revealed God’s requirement for His people, and they all saw how far they’d departed from it. They wept because they’d sinned and because they expected God’s wrath. But captivity was over; it was a new beginning. It was time to hope, to prepare, to return to God and to make a fresh start. That should have spurred joy, not sorrow. Israel was returning to God, and God was returning to Israel. It was a time of restoration. Israel needed to put on fresh courage. God was bestowing His grace and favor to the remnants as He’d done for their ancient patriarchs. Would they see it?
Satan’s Evil Schemes
The older folks among us may remember Rastafarian artist Bob Marley’s song “By the Rivers of Babylon of the 1970’s. Of course it wasn’t a holy tune but some Christians chanted along because it sounded pious and contained corrupted Bible verses. When you think about it, you’ll see why satan finds certain Scriptures useful for his evil schemes. Here were God’s people telling their captors they couldn’t praise God because they were in defeat! Talk of a cerebration in the enemy camp—demons were ecstatic! Satan loves it when Christians hang their heads and accuse God of failing them. If you let him, the enemy will ably guide you down memory lane and show you many instances where ‘God let you down!’ God could have intervened to prevent that calamity, but He didn’t. God refused to sympathize with your tears or deliver your wayward relative. These many years you’ve tried and failed to procure your dream job, financial success, health, stable marriage, and so on and so forth! God doesn’t care about you, and you have all the evidence! How do you sing a happy song to God in the foreign land where He has abandoned you? Sound familiar?
I’ve seen many people in Bypath Meadow, and I’ve slid there too. That’s why I am writing to equip you for spiritual warfare. Yet, for this message to be helpful, you need to pay close attention. This is a ‘how-to-manual, not a ‘good-mood-snack’! As stated, Israel grieved inside Babylon, under political and religious tyranny. But their greatest problem was internal, not external—they had become spiritually disconnected from their source of strength!
Internal Strength
If the joy of the Lord is our strength, our grief in the Lord (if there’s such a thing) is our weakness! Real trust in God generates hope, and godly hope does not disappoint. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame…” (Rom 5: 1-5 ~NIV)
When Christian life becomes drudgery defeat sets in with ease. To handle difficulties correctly, we must settle it in our hearts to rejoice in the Lord. Jesus told us, “…I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Joh 16:33 ~KJV). When you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you signed for satan’s attacks! As a child of God, you are a prime target for enemy hordes. Thankfully, God has given you the means to overcome, and one of the weapons is called ‘The Joy of the Lord, or the joy of salvation.’
Songs of Praise Inside Prison
“The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” (Acts 16:22-26 ~NIV)
This account is deeply enriching. You see, Paul and Silas cast demons out of a girl in the city of Philippi. Folks who benefited from her oppression had them arrested. In prison, beaten, bruised, chained to a cold floor and hurting badly, Paul and Silas burst into prayer and song. They turned a dark dungeon into a revival meeting. Their joy of the Lord superseded external circumstances. Other inmates shut up to listen! As God came down to inhabit the praises of His people, all doors and chains flew open!
Are you caught in a midnight experience? Turn up the volume to your praise songs! Hallelujah—what a key to victory!