Hung Harps on Willows - Psalms 137:2

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”, and in chapter one hundred thirty seven and verse two of Psalms the Psalmist said, “we hanged our harps upon the willows” where we read,

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

The verse begins, “We hanged our harps upon the willows ...” The Psalmist began with the words, “we hanged our harps” or “we, the Psalmist and his fellow countrymen, suspended and hung their stringed instruments known as lyres or harps” “upon the willows” which means “on the trees characterized by dark wood such as the poplar or willow tree”. The Psalmist shared how he and his fellow countrymen hung up their stringed musical instruments upon the willow trees.

The verse goes on to say, “... in the midst thereof.” The Psalmist continued with the words, “in the midst” or “within the center or middle” “thereof” which means “of the area beside the rivers of Babylon where the Psalmist and his fellow countrymen were seated”. The Psalmist said he and the exiled people with him hung their harps or lyres upon the willow trees that were in the center of the place where they were sitting.

When we think through the Psalmist's words in this verse, we see how he mentioned that he and his fellow countrymen hung up their stringed instruments of music on the trees which were in the middle of the area they were seated. It was as though they had no song in their hearts and minds. They were sad at their losses, and we can relate to them because sometimes we lose too. God sees us and cares for our troubles, (See 1 Peter 5:7) and because He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins, we can receive His eternal forgiveness and salvation when we yield our lives to Him. Though we shall endure troubles from time to time and do not feel like making music, God loves us, cares for us and will provide salvation and rescue to us according to His Divine purpose and plan. (See John 16:33)

Next time the Psalmist says, “there they that carried us away captive required of us a 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".