Don't Hang Up Your Harp
Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem. We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees. For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: “Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!” But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp. May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy. O Lord, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. “Destroy it!” they yelled. “Level it to the ground!” O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us. Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks! Psalm 137:1-9 (New Living Translation, NLT)
This Psalm says that the children of Israel wept in Babylon. Babylon is a picture of being held captive in the world’s system. They hung their harps on the willow, or poplar trees. Don’t hang up your instruments. Don’t stop singing unto the Lord. Remember, God sings over us, giving us songs of deliverance to overcome, bring us out of captivity, and return us to our promised land.
Even when it is hard and it’s been a long time, don’t let the enemy steal your songs. Lift up your voice. Play your instruments. No matter your circumstances, you can still sing and play unto the Lord, for He is with you. Open up your mouth and God will fill it again.
What we see now in this world will be gone. God is removing the old Babylonian systems. In finance, commerce, health, education, and so on, there are new systems soon to come. Even in the church, God is removing old ways, systems, structures, and those who won’t get right with Him. He is raising up His righteous remnant to rule and reign in this world until the church is raptured.
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 (KJV)
God remembers what the enemies of Almighty God have done and are doing. He is working even now! We will be better than ever before, and our lives will be better. So, keep singing and playing until you see the manifestation of the new things God is doing. God is bringing us out of captivity, releasing us from our captors. He is bringing us into the new things He is doing- now at this moment. The old has passed, and the new is coming to pass. Keep singing because it is a new day. Don’t hang up your harp!
