The Israelites struggled with homesickness while in exile. They longed to sing songs of praise to their God, but this intimate act was used as mockery by their captors…
“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:1-4)
Praise is our love song to God. It unites our hearts as one as we worship Him. Psalm 22:3 tells us that God inhabits (comes to dwell within) the praises of His people. He meets us in our worship of Him and the soul is refreshed! Our burdens are lightened, the darkness dispels, and joy returns.
It is no wonder that the Lord asks us to sing to Him a new song, as we go through various challenges, our songs change. When our days grow darker, our songs grow sweeter. As we long for Home, as exiles in this foreign land, our songs are more and more of Heaven. As mockery against our faith grows, our unity as Believers is strengthened, and our songs reflect this oneness of family in God.
May our hearts always find praise to be our greatest therapy. We need more of the songs of God to fill our hearts and drown out the constant flow of negativity. Let us sing new songs that stir our hearts and lift our spirits. Someday, we will all be joined together around the Throne of God singing in unison, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8-11). Until that great day, praise Him in the storm. It will change everything.
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