Day 151 of 2009

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly(wicked), nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither(fade); and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

question

Psalm 137:1-4

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 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. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

Acts 16:22-25

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Question

Why did Israel, captive in Babylon, say "How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" and Paul and Silas, captive in prison, "prayed and sang praises"? What's the difference?

It seems to me that Israel was laid low because of their sin. It was their sin that led to their captivity. Their sin had separated them from God, their sin had broken their fellowship with Him.

Paul and Silas were in prison because they were persecuted for proclaiming God and His gospel. Perhaps they remembered the Lord's words that said "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "

We believers are sometimes laid low, like Israel. We are captives, we are captive to our sin. We lose our joy, we lose our fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Perhaps, we should, at those times, remember the words of the apostle John "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

It is this same John who said; "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not." He then goes on to tell us; "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous".