By the rivers of Babylon,
there we sat down,
yea, we wept,
when we remembered Zion.

How shall we sing
the Lord’s song
in a strange land?

Psalm 137

I think I have a good notion of that kind of struggle.

Last evening I came home from church, having seen a certain non-church event announced on the bulletin board, feeling rather…ah…dismal.

I should have remembered a passage twice-read in the day’s services.

I didn’t.

Until this morning. While reading Psalm 137.

In the morning message yesterday, our pastor included part of Isaiah 55 in his reading.

In the evening devotional, the visiting speaker included all of Isaiah 55 in his reading!

For ye shall go out with joy,
and be led forth with peace….

Instead of the thorn
shall come up the fir tree….

Isaiah 55

Reading:
Isaiah 5:18-30

The following tragic verse fragment provokes the question:

“Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people…” (25).

Isn’t that tragic?

Doesn’t that give you a sense of dismay?

Might it make you wonder what the therefore is there for?

I am so grateful not to serve an irrational, fickle God who gets mad for reasons unknown to me. He has clearly revealed His will. I want to know it!

[The Scriptures say in Isaiah 5:21 -- Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes!]
from Isaiah 5:21