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.
1 Cor 10:6
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
One of the most tragic events in Scripture is the fall of Jerusalem when the great temple and the entire city was destroyed. All the buildings and the walls were torn down and then it was all burned. What once was considered as mighty and grand, was now a pile of rubble. In addition to this, most of the people were ruthlessly slaughtered, including women and children. The ones who were left and who were not crippled or too old were taken to Babylon as captives.
These things were written for us so we can learn from history. God had warned both Israel and Judah more times than could be counted to not serve other gods but to follow his law. They began serving other gods along with the God of heaven but it was not long until they left him out completely to worship the gods of stone or wood or gold or silver. He sent his prophets but they would not listen.
We have to make the same choice that Judah had to make. We can either serve God with the respect and reverence he deserves or we can serve the gods of our own making. The gods of materialism, pleasure, hedonism, greed, or any others cannot do anything for us but bring destruction and death. Jesus is Lord of lords!
Heavenly Father keep me from all the gods of this world so I will put you first in my life and worship you alone. You have saved me from so many trials and you have carried me through so many hardships and I owe you my all. Most of all, you have washed me clean in the blood of Jesus from all the stain of sin. Help me learn from my own mistakes but also from those of others, even in history. Use me to help others in every way I can. Be with our nation and give wisdom to our leaders so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
