This Psalm was written by one of the children of Israel who were taken captive to Babylon. It is an historical and Biblical fact that the majority of Israel had became idolaters and rebels against God. So the Lord permitted the mighty Babylonian Empire to stretch to the Mediterranean Sea through Israel. This Psalmist had probably heard the preaching of Jeremiah and his call for Israel’s repentance. Whether or not he was in love with the Lord before the fall of the city, I can’t say. He certainly was by this time, and I would guess that he had been before.
Now in Babylon, he was thoroughly homesick for Zion – despite all the good things there might have been there. For example, flowing through the city of Babylon was the mighty Euphrates River. But if our penman was thinking of the country of Babylon rather than the city, then there were also the Tigris, Chebar and Ulai. But no lush park along a heathen river was enough to quiet the heart of someone longing Zion. Zion was not just a suburb of Jerusalem – with little white bungalows, paved driveways, underground telephone lines and cable TV – the place of his birth. It was the pinnacle of the city, and the nation of Israel. It was the place where Solomon built God’s Temple. This Psalmist was longing for the rule of the Lord and the worship of God as it had once been.
In year 605 BC, Jehoiakim, King of Israel, had became a servant to the Chaldeans. But in 602 he rebelled, was put down and replaced. At that time, Daniel and 3,000 of the chosen young men of Israel were taken away to Babylon. Five years later, in 597, Jehoiachin, the new king, was again put down by the Babylonians. At that time Ezekiel and 10,000 more Jews were taken away captive. Our Psalmist was probably one of this group of captives, but we can’t be sure of that. Then in 586 AD under the new king Zedekiah, after nearly three years of siege, Jerusalem fell once again. Zedekiah was forced to watch the slaughter of his sons, and then he was immediately blinded. The city of Jerusalem became a pile of rubble. The rest of population of Jerusalem were either taken away to Babylon with a few eventually fleeing to Egypt.
So Israel had been completely humiliated. Sin had eaten out her rebellious heart, leaving a nice big hollow place for a potential new heart. Some of Israel were filling that void with the things of the Babylonian world. But others were living in repentance of their personal and national sins – seeking the face of the Lord. And there were prophets of God with them in the captivity, encouraging that repentance. It is true in every age: “Except we repent we shall all likewise perish.” It is also true that the Lord never leaves Himself without some sort of witness in the world. And the Holy Spirit was granting to some in Israel repentance – some were turning to the Lord.
But they were in a strange land with different languages and laws. There was no temple; by law there were no sacrifices; there was certainly no God-ordained altar. Israel was forced to live in a world which hated her – because it hated her God. Thankfully, the Lord accepts the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart. This man’s worship – and service – was accepted by the Lord. “His faith was counted for righteousness.”
Like those displaced Jews in verse 4, Christians today are also living in a strange land.
The words “strange land” obviously speak about a foreign country. Few of US have ever actually lived in a foreign country, but some have traveled to such places. It is unsettling not to fit into a culture, not to be able to communicate well, not to understand the local do’s and don’t’s. But as visitors we try our best to fit in, even if it is only superficially or temporarily. But I ask you, are we supposed to fit in to the world of Pharaoh, Nebuchadezzar, Obama and Trump? Do we have a Biblical mandate to love the world – I mean the United States of America?
Don’t the people of this land speak a different language than we do? I am not referring to Zulu or Tagalog, Jive or Rap. I am talking about cursing and swearing, and speaking about things of which decent people refuse to speak. Verbal filth and garbage is a huge part of the vocabulary of our degenerate society. Our neighbors also talk endlessly about subjects which have no importance in the light of eternity. Making money, winning games and winning pennants, winning the lottery, winning elections. But nothing about winning souls. And then there is the general atheistic prattle. I refer to the “down-with-God” and “up-with-human-devices” talk – the insidious philosophy of evolution. Everywhere we look there is a Tower of Babel mentality. Jude 14-17 – “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words (the language) which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Isn’t it true that the people of the land don’t really understand our speech? “The natural man received not the things of the Spirit of God.” They look at us as lunatics when we pray over lunch in the public restaurant. They wonder about our sanity in wanting to listen to Bible lessons and sermons four times a week. Aren’t we living in a land that is not really our own? We are captives in a strange land.
And the people around us have different laws and standards than we have. The worldling thinks that reaching some earthly goal should be the objective of life. So some, like runners in the Boston Marathan, cheat. Whatever gets them to the mark is acceptable practice. Is money the goal, then sue the socks off your neighbor to get his money. Learn how to play “Fantasy Football” and make sure you get your lottery ticket every week. Don’t be afraid to get your boss into trouble, you might end up with his job. And squeeze the government for every penny that you can. On I could go, with you adding details to each of my points.
Our neighbors in this strange land have only horizontal goals. They want to rid the world of pollution, not realizing that the worst is heart pollution. They say that they want peace in the world, but they aren’t interested in peace with God. The want sexual love, but know nothing of agape love. They care about external security, but care nothing for eternal security.
As we know, the Christian has been called to something better. “Our citizenship is in Heaven (isn’t it?) from whence we look for the Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ.” As Paul told the Thessalonians: “God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” John said, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world….” Why John? Because the world passeth away and every single one of the lusts thereof. James said, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of world is enmity with God? Whosoever would be the friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
That raises the question, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in this very strange land?”
Christian, we have a song to sing before our neighbors.
Do you remember Belshazzar from the Book of Daniel? That drunken reprobate wanted to show off and have some fun at the expense of Jehovah. So he ordered some of the golden goblets and other implements of the Lord’s Temple brought into his banquet hall that he might defile them with his wine and pork. That night the Lord’s patience ran out and Belshazzar was slain.
The Psalmist refers to the same sort of thing here, but on a lesser scale. I don’t know if the Babylonians and others liked the Psalms and temple music of Israel. They might have been sarcastically ordering the temple singers to sing the Lord’s songs so that they might laugh at the impotence of the omnipotent God. It appears that they were mocking the poor Jews. But not necessarily.
Isn’t there another parallel here three centuries later? If there isn’t a parallel, there is at least an application. Do our unchristian captors, the Philistines around us, request us to sing of Christ? Rarely, but they do once in a while. How many times have we listened to a concert of Irish or Scottish music and been forced to listen an ungodly arrangement of “Amazing Grace”? There are dozens of movies playing hymns or gospel music in the background. And then in a different vein, once in a while there is an unsaved woman like Lydia or her neighbor the jailer who says, “Sing for me of Zion.” There are some seeking Ethiopians who ask, “What does ‘Amazing Grace’ mean?”
The world may not ask us to sing of Zion, but as I pointed out last Wednesday, the Lord certainly does. “Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.” “Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.” “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” Whether the world asks us to sing or not, the Lord certainly does. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The man whose head and heart lie upon the breast of Saviour enjoy singing of His grace. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” David said, “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings and will not be ashamed.” “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” Paul “ceased not to warn and praise, day and night with tears.” And how often in the loneliness of the night or in the midst of his pain did he sing of the true Zion?
Of what are we to sing? Of Zion our heavenly home. Isn’t your conversation in heaven from whence you should be looking for Saviour? “Beulah land, I am longing for you.” Shouldn’t we be singing of the King of our glorious future home? “We should sing of the beauties of the Lord for ever, we SHOULD sing, we MUST sing.” And shouldn’t we be singing of the way home? “What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” “The way of the cross leads home, the way of the cross leads home.” “Grace, grace, marvelous grace.” It is good to sing such songs and themes – here in our worship services. But brethren, we are also to be whistling while we work. Out in the highways and hedges there are people dying to hear the songs of Zion. “How shall they hear without a preacher?” That is, how shall they hear if there is no one to tell them – to sing to them? That means you and me – who know the Lord.
Oh, but HOW can we sing the songs of Zion in this strange land?
Is it really that hard to open our mouths and to speak or sing? Does it bother you to bow your head in a public place, where unbelieving eyes may fall on you? Maybe it should bother us when there is no one to see or hear.
“How can we sing the songs of Zion in a strange land?” We should be able to sing with joy, because we have been greatly blessed. We should be able to sing with earnestness because there is a need. We should sing with thanksgiving. Our situation is similar to that of our Psalmist and at the same time somewhat different. At any moment the Lord could turn and see us warming our hands at the fires of the world. At any moment the Lord could return – in what condition will He then find us?
Is it that hard to open your mouth and sing? Tell someone this week about how the Lord rescued the chiefest of sinners. Tell someone about the love of the Lord. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” It is not necessary to be able to explain the details of the doctrines of election and justification. Just tell someone about how the Lord saved you. Sing it in the voice which the Lord has given you.
Submit yourself to the Lord and live in the light of the sanctifying altar. This results in the filling of the Spirit. “Ye shall be witnesses (and singers) unto the Lord, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” Let the Lord be the power and the direction of your conversation. Just take down your harp, tune up the strings and be ready to sing. “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord, for ever, I will sing. With my mouth will I make known, thy faithfulness, thy faithfulness. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever, I will sing of the mercies…” Christian remember, “Whosoever will be ashamed of Christ and of His (songs), of Him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he returns with His father’s angels.”