From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.
“…yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. … How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?” (Ps. 137:1-2, 4)
These are the words of the saddened Israelites after having been carried away from the Promised Land as victims of their own spiritual whoredom. As revealed in Jeremiah: “And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.” (3:9) It was their own rebellion that brought the defilement of God’s precious promise of rest. In their great lost and sorrow they found no melody in their hearts. Their lips were heavy with weeping guilt, no words of joy. How could they sing the LORD’s song that belongs to the redeemed?
In stark contrast we read: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:25) The rebellious Israelites were out amongst the willow trees, but Paul and Silas were beaten with stripes, thrust into the inner prison, and chained. Their predicament of captivity was by far a greater distress upon the body. Yet, the circumstance of their imprisonment was not due to rebellion but of their faithfulness, for “…the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” (Acts 13:2) Their bodies did suffer, but their hearts leaped with great joys of obedience. There was no agonizing sorrow for guilt of sin, thus, no weight upon the lips to entrap the music of the heart. Redeemed, Redeemed, O how I love to proclaim it! Their voices rang out sure praises unto God.
The ability to sing the LORD’s song of the redeemed with heavenly joy is not controlled by outward circumstance but by the spiritual condition of the heart. Rebellious hearts are too laden with weeping sorrows of sin; while, obedient hearts have wells of living waters springing up from within full of the Holy Spirit. Faithful obedience stirs up the heart with rejoicing tunes of the LORD’s song.
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