Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 137:1-9
Ps 137:1-9
1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2 There on the poplars we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" 4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy. 7 Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. "Tear it down," they cried, "tear it down to its foundations!" 8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us--9 he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
Heb 11:13-15
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
There is an old hymn that begins with the words “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” The people of Israel had been taken by force as captives to a land that was not theirs. The pride of the nation, the city of Jerusalem had been torn down and burned. The beautiful temple built by Solomon had been destroyed. All of their glory was gone and they left, walking in shame.
Their problems had come upon them because of their sin and refusal to listen to God and his prophets. They had been given time to repent but did not believe that God would actually bring judgment upon them. But even in this God was merciful and promised that when they repented and turned their hearts back to him, he would restore them to their city and it would be rebuilt.
When we long for our heavenly home we will listen to God and his word. We will seek to be transformed into his likeness and live for him. Our thinking, our wishes and our desires will all submit to his will. While we still sin, we will seek to walk in his light with our hearts set on him and on things above. In mercy, he continues to forgive and cleanse us by the blood of Jesus. We are going home with him.
Heavenly Father, the more I know your will, the more I realize just how majestic you are in every way and how very small I am. In the overall scheme of this world and from your holy perspective, I know that I am nothing and deserve to be lost from you forever. I seek to live up to your glory but I know I fail in so many ways so I continue to ask for your mercy and forgiveness. Give me greater faith and a pure heart so I will love you more each day. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
