Psalm 137 – Singing the Song of the Lord in a Strange Land

Easter 2020 has looked a bit different.  Unfortunately, Easter in North Louisiana is frequently fraught with tornadoes and the potential damage that can come with them.  On top of that, in the global news over the past few years, Easter has been particularly deadly for followers of Christ.  In 2015, many Christian students at a Kenyan college were killed, and in 2017, a Coptic Christian Church was bombed in Egypt.  This time of resurrection has taken an unfortunate turn in recent years.

However, this year was different.  What started off slowly from an unknown place called Wuhan, China, has now spread all the way around the world, dubbed by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic.  People are losing their lives, politicians are scrambling, working people are struggling, and the scientific community is working at break-neck speed trying to offer some solutions to this virus wreaking havoc on our planet.

Before this happened, I, along with the rest of the leadership of the church where I serve, was planning for Easter and beyond.  We were getting ready to welcome visitors, putting the final touches on summer camping trips, international missions, and Vacation Bible School.  Things were going smoothly and as planned.  On top of this, a young man whom I have been working on for a year and half finally accepted Christ at one of our young adult retreats.  He has left a life of crystal meth, fear, anger, violence, and everything horrendous and is attempting to follow the Lord.  I could not be happier.  He is apprehensive but curious and is even asking when he, his fiancée, and their young son can begin to attend church.  Unfortunately, I have had to tell him we are not worshipping in person for the foreseeable future.  On top of this, my alcoholic neighbor also finally approached me about joining my wife and me for worship on a Sunday morning.  I had to tell him the same thing and was beginning to get frustrated.  Why do y’all only want to come to church during a global pandemic?!

The air had been let out of my evangelistic efforts, and now I am having to actually trust what Paul wrote in the book of Philippians:

He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.                         – Philippians 1:6b NIV

Never is this truer than when you have to let go of your own ego in the work God has set before you.  As much as I’d like to think the recent successes, conversions, and ministerial fruit are from rock-solid effort, they really have less to do with me and more to do with God’s perfect plan.  If God has finally broken through to these people and they have let Him in, there will be plenty of room for Nick Wagner to pick up on when this virus has hit the road.  Right now, it is my job to make contact as I can, pray, and trust that the seed God has planted will take root.

We are having to worship differently.  We’ve not stopped worshipping, just worship differently.  We are having to do outreach differently.  We are having to realize that church is bigger than a Sunday service.  Some of this is good.  God said He would be with us; He did not always say we would be able to enjoy corporate worship.  John exiled on the island of Patmos didn’t.  Paul in jail didn’t.  Daniel in the lion’s den didn’t.  Physical community is not promised.  Christ is promised.  Is He enough?           

Why is this happening?  If it were just Las Vegas or New Orleans, the answer would be easy.  God’s judgement on sinners, just like Sodom and Gomorrah.  However, that answer usually doesn’t fly when it hits your state, city, or neighborhood.  No way God is judging us.  Much less the entire world.  Or is He?

I have been reading Psalm 137 on and off for several months. 

“How can we sing the Song of the Lord in a strange land?” 

In this particular period in Israel’s history, the Jews had been handed over into slavery in Babylon because of their idolatry.  They are lamenting their condition and longing for their homeland and the freedom they used to enjoy.  That being said, like us, I think they get selective amnesia.  I can almost hear the conversation now. 

Us/Israel:  We want to be free. Rescue us!

God: You want to be free?

Us/Israel:  Yes! We hate this shelter-in-pl . . . I mean . . . slavery in Babylon.

God: . . . Y’all . . . want . . . freedom? . . .

Us/Israel:  Yes!

God:  Right . . . because you do so well with it!

                Like in the Garden?

                Or at the foot of Sinai with the golden calf?

                Or when you weren’t satisfied with Me and demanded a king?

                Or after that, when you left Me and went after strange gods?

                You want freedom?

Us/Israel:  Uh . . . yeah?

God:  Just a few questions.

                Have you been worshipping Me only?

                Have you been repenting of your sins?

                Have you been making disciples?

                Have you cared for the poor, the orphan, and the widow?

                Have you been faithful stewards of your finances?

                Have you taken care of the land?

                Have you done any of this?

In the midst of the consequences of their actions, the Israelites become bitter about their situation.  They hung their harps on the tree and said, “How can we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land?”  They stopped worshipping.  If there is one thing you cannot stop doing in exile, it is worshipping.  That is the only thing that will get you through!  The Jews in Babylon did not have the Temple.  Paul in jail did not have Timothy.  John on Patmos did not have the rest of the early church.  But they did have God! During this time, we have to set our eyes on Him.  Isn’t it crazy that when we do that, everything begins to look better?  My wife and I are both outgoing, let’s go kill something, I can’t stay in the house type of people that enjoy work and being around people; we are limited in that arena right now.  We are expecting a child in July and are taking the health precautions as seriously as we can.  However, we have been able to spend time together during her pregnancy that we wouldn’t otherwise, and we have been the better for it.  I have been sending out correspondence to the people I minister to and having to trust that the Holy Spirit is still moving and active in their lives.  We have had to do Sunday worship digitally and trust that God can work through the internet.  We have cancelled summer trips and had to realize that God is already working in the places where we planned on being.

He knows the end from the beginning and has the whole world in His Hands.  He’s got this thing locked down.  The One Who made the sea, parted it, and later walked on it can wrap up the coronavirus whenever He chooses.  In the meantime, I will continue to choose to see Him work in the midst of it.

Nick Wagner

Nick is an La Tech Wesley Alumni and the husband of Associate Director, Alana Wagner. He works as the Young Adult Pastor for Grace UMC here in Ruston, LA.