Today we read Psalm 137. This psalm is a hymn expressing the lamentations of Jewish people in exile.
This psalm reminds me of a reggae music Rivers of Babylon that was popularized by Boney M in the late 70’s. It is one of a few pop songs whose lyrics come directly from the Bible.
“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea we wept, when we remembered you, O Zion . . .”
Babylon is located in present-day Iraq. The phrase, “By the rivers of Babylon,” refers to living in a repressive society and the longing for freedom.
In fact, some parts of the world today can be juxtaposed with the rivers of Babylon.
We all long for freedom, don’t we?
By the rivers of Babylon, as it was customary for the Jewish people to hold their religious meetings on the banks of rivers, the psalmist sat by the transient waters in sorrow, musing on the restless and unstable nature of earthly pleasures.
We are all locked in time and space, living a temporal life on this planet. This song is our song in the silence, heard of Yahweh alone. It is the song of the repentant heart, remembering Jerusalem, city of peace, counting the blessings and joys of life that they had before.
If we fail to remember, we lose ability to sing this hymn. The faithful remember covenant, presence and sovereignty of God, his saving grace, atonement, forgiveness and reconciliation. Faith is about remembering.
“Increase our faith” (Lk 17:5), the disciples ask Jesus. But, how can we have our faith increased?
The size of the coffee cup at Tim Hortons has been increased – the small size used to be the medium, the medium used to be the large, and so on, didn’t it?
Faith, however, is not measured out like the coffee cup. Faith is a relationship of trust and love, opening ourselves to receive the life Jesus gives and giving our life to another as our Lord did for us.
Faith may not change the circumstances of our lives, but it changes us as we get up every and each day. While joys and sorrows, opportunities and possibilities, successes and challenges prevail, we see things differently through the lens of faith, the mustard seed.
A question is how much faith we have.
The word of the Lord abides for ever. That word is the good news which was preached to you ~ 1 Peter 1.25
Image: By the rivers of Babylon, painting by Eduard Bendemann, c. 1832