In Psalms one hundred thirty seven the Psalmist said, “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion, We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof”, and in chapter one hundred thirty seven and verse three of Psalms the Psalmist said, “there they that carried us away captive required of us a song” where we read,
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.
The verse begins, “For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song;” The Psalmist began with the words, “for there they” or “because, since and on account that in the place by the rivers of Babylon, they, the captors of Babylon” “that carried us away captive” which means “who led, drove and brought us, the Psalmist and his fellow countrymen, separate and apart from Jerusalem” “required of us a song” or “asked, begged and made a request from us, the Psalmist and his fellow countrymen, a lyrical or religious ode or melody”. The Psalmist shared how the captors of the him and the people of Israel wanted them to play or sing a melody for them.
The verse continues, “and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” The Psalmist added the words, “and they that wasted us” or “and they, the captors of the Psalmist and his fellow countrymen, who tormented, plundered and oppressed him and his people” “required of us mirth” which means “asked, begged and made a request from us, the Psalmist and his fellow countrymen, to be glad and joyful with gaiety and pleasure”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Sing us one of the songs” which means “make music with your voices with a selection of a musical or lyrical ode” “of Zion” or “belonging to Zion whose name means parched place and is another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books”. The Psalmist repeated the idea of those who brought him and his people into captivity desiring that that they be happy and joyful and sing a “song” about “Jerusalem” for them.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how the Psalmist shared why he and his fellow countrymen hung their harps upon the willow trees which were near where they were seated. Whether for pleasure or taunting, these captors wanted him and his people to be joyful and make music for them. We can imagine how they did not want to sing or be happy because of their sadness. God knows when we are sad, and sometimes the last thing we want to do is “sing” or play music when these times come. However, when this happens, we should remember that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. This was a sad time, but this mournful experience in Jesus' life made a way for us to receive God's forgiveness and eternal life when we surrender ourselves to Him. Sad times will come, and when they do, let us rise up and sing praises and glory to Jehovah God and His Son Jesus for providing eternal salvation for us where we shall rejoice forevermore.
Next time he Psalmist asks, “How shall we sing the LORD'S song?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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