Psalm 137 is an odd little psalm written by an obscure Jewish musician, prisoner of war. We don’t even know his name, but his condition is one familiar to all of us. You see, he’s facing a dilemma where he must, “put on a happy face” when he really, really, really doesn’t feel like it—really.
Here’s a brief synopsis:
The Babylonians—after laying siege to Jerusalem—finally overcome the Jews defenses and wipe out their pitiful army. Those who are left are rounded up as prisoners of war and taken hundreds and hundreds of miles away from their home to be resettled in Babylon. And let me stress that this wasn’t a vacation walk through the 5 wonderlands of Disney—it was bad! The more than 500 mile journey would have made the “Trail of Tears” (click on the link if you have no idea what I’m talking about) look like a walk in the park. Many would have died, some of hunger, some from abuse, and even some for ‘entertainment purposes’ as their Babylonian captors often liked to torture their detainees just for amusement.
In the midst of this horrible Bataan Death March like event, apparently the Babylonians got bored a lot. So it wasn’t uncommon for them to look to their captives for a little ‘entertainment.’ In the case of the Jewish prisoners, the Babylonians had heard the Jews were great entertainers, known for their singing and playing of musical instruments. So, they figured they’d call a brief halt in the march one day by the river and kick back to enjoy the show. That’s the scenario the psalmist writes about in the 137th Psalm. And understandably, he doesn’t eel much like singing that’s why he and some of his buddies hung their harps up un the branches of nearby willow trees in protest. Their reasoning for not singing was that they could not sing the Lord’s songs in a foreign land—period.
Sound familiar? So many believers today have run after the false teaching that says God’s blessing is the only way we can see His love and favor in our lives—in other words, if you’re not perfectly healthy, obscenely wealthy and the veritable poster child for living the “American Dream,” then you’re either living in sin, or showing a pitiful lack of faith. However, this stands in stark contrast to passages like James 1, or Matthew 10:38, or Luke 24:26… Actually, lets try something. I will list several biblical statements on the topic of trials or suffering, etc. and you tell me if they seem to line up with the drivel being taught in so many ‘me-centered’ churches today.
- “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Acts 5:41
- “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” Acts 9:16
- “From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law.” Matthew 16:20-22
- “For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:5
- “When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching.” 2 Cor. 1:6-7 (The Message)
- “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10
- “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,” Philippians 1:29
- “I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.” Colossians 1:2
- “23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command. 24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.” Hebrews 11:23-26
- “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” I Peter 3:17
I really do have a ton more examples, however, to ensure I don’t lose my “Cliff notes” type readers I will get to the point.
No suffering = no growth, period. It is through trials and difficulty that we are refined into the image of Christ. The Bible couldn’t be any more clear on this. One does not grow without being stretched and there simply is no motivation to change for the one who has lived their entire life in comfort and ease.
Am I saying that God does not bless us at times with good health, wealth and even overall prosperity?
No. I’m not saying that at all. In my own life I have had seasons of both hardship and blessing. What I am saying is that it was almost always during the trials that my faith grew the most–trails will happen in this life and not always as a result of sin. Sometimes God allows them or even brings them into our lives in order to grow our faith. Consider the words of the great apostle Paul on this 2 edged sword.
“11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13
This was a lesson the Psalmist (Psalm 137) had yet to learn. Maybe he was an early adapter of the heretical prosperity theology of today—who knows. But one thing we do know—it would take a full 70 years in captivity before God’s people learned to value Him above all else.
I’m praying it doesn’t take us that long.