Psalms 137:1

Psalms 137:1 says, By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.  When in captivity in Babylon, the people of Israel wept when remembering Zion.  If we as followers of Christ allow sin to take us away from God's will, then we should weep as we remember what it was like to be in His kingdom.  Even though we, like Isreal, will not be separated forever, like them our refusal to follow God's will at all times can lead to a temporary separation.  Verse two adds, We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.  They hung their harps in the trees because they had no heart to use them.  If we are out of God's will, we should have no heart for the things that brought us joy when we were following Him.  Verse three continues, 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.  Though the people of Israel had no desire to play their harps and sing, their captors required them to do so.  I believe they did this to mock the faith that the people of Israel had in God.  If we were to be taken captivity by some government today that does not believe in God, we should not be surprised if they attempt to make a mockery of our faith.  Verse four asks, How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?  The people of Israel asked God how they could sing the LORD’s song in a strange land.  We as Christians will never be separated from God's kingdom forever, and if we were to find ourselves captive in an unGodly land, we simply need to keep our faith.  Verse five adds, If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.  Verse six continues, If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.  The people of Israel said if they would never forget Jerusalem, and they would rather have their arm cut off and their tongues become useless than to sing praises to God in mockery.  We might be forced to sing to God by some power of the world, but if so, we should do so to truly worship God, and never allow our worship to become a mockery.  Verse seven says, Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.  The people of Israel asked God to remember when the people of Edom had destroyed the city of Jerusalem.  Verse eight adds, O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.  The people of Israel then said that one day Babylon would be punished for their treatment of them.  We may see times when it seems that the world is being victorious over the people of God, but it will always be temporary.  Their punishment is assured.  Verse nine continues, Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.  None were to escape God's judgment, and they will not today.