Psalm 137:3
A truth we ought never to forget is that Satan will change his tactics, and even reverse them, if it serves his devilish purpose of seeking to destroy the church of Christ.
When God gave the Israelites over to suffer the Babylonian captivity, Satan sought to ridicule the believers. We read in Psalm 137:3: "For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saving, Sing us one of the songs of Zion." Our versification presents it thus (PRC Psalter):
There our rude captors, flushed with pride,
A song required to mock our wrongs;
Our spoilers called for mirth, and cried,
Come, sing us one of Zion's songs.
Today Satan still tries to turn God's people away from Him by ridicule and sarcasm. But today he also gets men in the church to produce songs that corrupt the truth and are not Zion's songs. This he does cleverly so that some words and phrases in the songs are the truth: but there are also words and phrases that destroy faith in Christ. And he appeals to the flesh by means of melodies, harmonies, and rhythms that also the unbelievers enjoy.
The question is whether we today respond as the believers did in Babylon and say, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" (verse 4). How shall we sing with words that are strange to the faith in Christ, and that do not praise God? Does it hurt you and do you keep silent when others sing the songs of Satan as though they were the songs of Zion and of God?
Does it grieve you to hear those in churches sing of a Christ Who is frustrated by those whom He wants to save, because they will not fulfill the conditions upon which their salvation depends?
We do well to examine our songs carefully to he sure that they are songs of God, songs that praise Him. Satan wants us to believe that God depends upon us. As far as such songs are concerned: Be silent!
Read: Romans 9
Psalter versification: #379:2
Daily Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #72
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Daniel 11:2-35
1 John 3:7-24
Psalm 122:1-9
Proverbs 29:1
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Quote for Reflection:
"Suppose, Christian, the furnace be seven times hotter; it is but to make you seven times better. Fiery trial makes golden Christians." ~ J.Dyer
Additional Info
- Date: 3-December
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.