Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Lord Will Give You A Song (Part 4)

The Lord Will Give You A Song (Part 4)
“How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?” Psalm 137:4
Israel knew they sinned against God; yet intending to rub salt in the wound of captivity, their oppressors mocked and condemned them. “For there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion’” (Psalm 137:3 NIV)! Like the old stocks of medieval times, Israel’s enemies used their yoke of oppression to bring shame and humiliation upon them.
If you’ve ever dealt with such shame, there’s Good News in the Word of God! Jesus came to “proclaim liberty to the captives” and “set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). While shame and condemnation may come from Satan, other people, life circumstances, or our own hearts, Jesus never condemns us. Jesus came that we might be blessed, free, and prosperous! “Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing… Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14 NLT).
A memory recalls the past, a malady may describe your present, but the melody speaks to your future! The Lord has given us a new song. He doesn’t want us to sing a song of condemnation and guilt, of calamity and malady; “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3 ESV).
Job 35:10 says that it is God, our Maker, who gives songs in the night. Anyone can sing when it’s day. A sunny day has inspiration all its own. But it’s not in man’s power to sing in the dark. When all hope seems to be gone, that’s when the Lord has to give you a song. He’ll give you a song based on His promise. He’ll give you a song of deliverance and salvation. So change your spiritual clothes, and put on the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3)! “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power” (Psalm 98:1 NLT)!

No comments:

Post a Comment