Harps of Hope

Walking out the doors of church to the car yesterday, I heard someone singing and looked to see, Josh, the pastor's youngest son tossing things into his seat as he was getting into his car to leave.  Our church shares a common parking lot with local businesses that are open seven days a week so I'm not the only one who heard Josh, the songbird...and he seemed totally oblivious to any of us.  He's one of those Tigger personality types with a huge, bright smile and he bounces around with so much life and energy, the epitome of the joy of the Lord.  

"Why am I not singing?" I thought. I was definitely happy and blessed, two amazing women had prayed for me and the Pastor's teaching was one of the most memorable analogies I'd every heard: Lessons from the Vineyard.  Did I check my harp at the door before leaving and suddenly stop the wells of gratitude from gushing out like Josh's?

I want to carry the continual fragrance of that awesome fellowship time on into my week;  I know I'm going to need it and I know people around me would be encouraged; what better way to stir up that fragrance than by singing some of the worship songs? (At least humming them.)  

But it can be like digging for a well in the drought-parched desert land sometimes, can't it?  Once we're out in the business of the week and chasing ourselves in our schedules, who can remember what we even sang during a worship service (unless you can YouTube or Vimeo it up).  Do you feel like you can sing out loud despite the world spinning around you in all of it's craziness?

I imagine that's what the captives felt when Psalm 137 was written:

     1  Alongside Babylon's rivers we sat on the banks; we cried and cried, remembering the good old days in Zion. 2  Alongside the quaking aspens we stacked our unplayed harps; 3  That's where our captors demanded songs, sarcastic and mocking: "Sing us a happy Zion song!" 4  Oh, how could we ever sing God's song in this wasteland?  (Message)

Can you identify with that sentiment?  I can. 

Then, we have to remember what we talked about last week...how Jeremiah made himself "recall things in his mind" and stir up the residual hope that God could and would continue to "show up and show out" in his life.

It is in days like these present times that each of us have to purpose to ponder again personal victories and intentionally revisit days of past experiences with Jesus Christ - our Victory in tribulations. 

Paul and Silas stirred their hearts with hope by singing...Hannah sang out in her joy over her son, Samuel...Debra's song of victory over the fierce enemy rang out...

Jason Upton asks, in his song, "A Hammer And An Awkward Nail," did you ever get tired and want to change the rules, Jesus?  Now, if anyone felt the pressure that tries to squeeze all joy and hope out of him, it was Jesus.  But what did He do just before He was called to pour out all of His life and see His soul and body broken for all of our redemption?

He sang a song with those most precious to Him. (Matthew 26:30)  He helped them "pick up their harps" and reinforce their souls in the ways that God was unleashing the Kingdom of Heaven's power for all of mankind through His Son on that Passover.
 
 Thank You, Jesus for singing over us.  Zephaniah 3:17 "17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing"  (KJV)

Will you pass me my harp, please?