Can you imagine a King walking down the litter strewn side of a dusty old road, clothed in all of his majestic robes, kicking about in the rubbish as he goes, hoping to find some cast away treasure? Seems unlikely that this scene has potential for reality. Wouldn't the King just walk into the royal treasury, and glory in the supply that he has as king. What has happened to his focus that he would desire to sift through objects discarded by careless travelers, who have no vested interest in the highways of the kingdom? Those passing by and seeing a king acting in this manner would be hard pressed to believe he was actually the king. Possibly, they would believe that he was a commoner dressed as king on his way to a mascaraed. Possibly, they would believe he was a thief, who not only had stolen the kings clothes but was doing what most thieves do at the end of their plunder (back to poverty). Dare not ask him though, what could be his issue or estrangement that would cause this disconnected behavior. When royalty has lost its vision and purpose, but still maintains its superficial image, it becomes unbelievable and almost unapproachable.
Now the scene becomes even stranger as we walk further down the road. It is not just the king that is partaking of this strange beggarly activity, but there is a long string of what appears to be his children (also dressed in their royal robes) kicking their way through the rubble also. The disconcerting nature of this event can cause great distress in the kingdom. Have the royals lost their mind? Has the royal family been banished from the kingdom? What will become of us who have depended on their leadership of the kingdom ... for security, peace of mind and protection?
Psalm 137:4 – "How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" If the truth be told, there is a whisperer in the kingdom of this present world that will always place God's kids at the scene of a crime or a scandal. This malicious whisperer will do his best to sway public opinion in favor of expressing dissatisfaction with the character of the royals. If the enemy's vestments of deceit were stripped aside, we would see that the greatest weapon of the adversary is humanity's reflex to assume the worst. Rumors of love and forgiveness do not seem to sell well as front page news. Nice, juicy, horrifyingly disappointing events, that are discovered, uncovered or manufactured, and that can be connected to the life of a Kingdom Hero, will be the top seller. Guarranteed!
These scandals that come into the Kingdom may be real and very disappointing but the reaction or response of a Child of the King should always be seasoned with the Song of the King's unfailing grace, mercy, and love.
Psalm 137:4 – "How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" Here are some devotional thoughts collected from Psalm 137 that might help us if we find that we are the target of a rumor or scandal.
1. The enemy always wants us miserable in captivity; not the King.
2. The enemy mockingly wants us to sing though we are in sorrow's captivity.
3. The reflex will always be to “hang it up” in the “midst” of the sorrow.
4. The question “How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?” urges us to sing anyhow.
5. Remember the truth of the unchanging and unfailing destination of God's kids... Home.
6. Remember that those who threaten you will answer to the King... and He will handle them in
His way and His time.
We are the treasure of the King. We are the pearl of great price. We were the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son … and The King sought us with all the desire of Heaven. He has kicked through the rubbish on the side of the highways for us, and in so doing He bore that beggar-like reproach for us in love. We are the rescued, the redeemed, and the beloved. Nothing can separate us from His love. We are the royals. We are the singers of the LORD'S song. Sing loud! Sing long! For there is no captivity that can steal our liberty. There is no enemy that can rumor us out of our promised home.
Our Castaway Song is Jesus, and our voice carries His love. Sing the LORD'S Song in a strange land!
HLFA,
Jeff
Note: Read Psalm 137 -- then read Psalm 138 ... what happened between those two Psalms?