Psalm 137

1 Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem.
2 We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.
3 For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn:
“Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!”
4 But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp.
6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you,
if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.

7 O Lord, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. “Destroy it!” they yelled. “Level it to the ground!”
8 O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.
9 Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!

Make no mistake, this is a difficult Psalm...

We are witnessing a psalmist who is ruminating over the history of his nation and it is not a happy history. Quite a contrast with yesterday's Psalm. But then...emotional highs and lows are common to man...even those who pen sacred scripture.

The memory of sitting beside the rivers of Babylon were not pleasant. Jerusalem was destroyed and the Children of Israel were carted off to be slaves. Memories of their beloved land and city reduced them to tears.

Furthermore, we see an unseemly fit of rage when we read "O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us. Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!" Shouldn't we be just a bit uncomfortable with this?

All the while the citizens of Babylon are chortling "Come on...life is not so bad here. Enjoy yourselves. Sing a happy song!"

In many ways America has become a "foreign land" for Christians. The liberties we grew up with...to profess our faith freely and confidently are gone. We now have to ensure that the professions of joy at the birth of our Savior do not offend those around us. Many innocent acts of faith can result in spending a day in front of a judge. And, I read in the Wall Street Journal yesterday how our Christian Cross is not unlike the Nazi swastika. We are on the threshold of becoming a vanquished people...like Israel.

Isn't this outrageous?

And yet, we are supposed feel privileged that we live in this country. I believe that if our Psalmist were here today he would weep at the memories of an America that truly had been a safe haven for people of faith...but is no more.

The day may soon come when Christ has been completely removed from the celebrations we hold on His birthday...at least from a national perspective. Curious. It's like tomato soup...with no tomatoes.

As for me, "may my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember my Savior!"

Live boldly out there today...