How shall we sing the Lord’s song upon an alien soil? — Psalm 137:4.
Sometimes, a familiar Bible verse suddenly hits us with new meaning. This happened to me with Psalm 137:4. Initially, living comfortably in Charlotte, the idea of “alien soil” didn’t seem relevant. But then I realized it’s more than just foreign lands.
“Alien soil” can be any situation, place, or relationship where we feel uncomfortable or out of sync. It could be a tense family gathering, a difficult job, or even a place that once felt familiar but has changed. It’s any space – physical, emotional, or relational – where we hesitate to express our faith, joy, or gratitude – to sing our “Lord’s song.” This verse speaks powerfully to those moments.
Psalm 137 describes exiled Israelites in Babylon, mocked for their songs of Zion in a foreign land. Their sorrow made singing seem impossible. For us, facing our own “alien soil,” the challenge is not to silence our song. We must find ways to express our faith, hope, and thankfulness even when things are tough.
This doesn’t always mean shouting our beliefs. It can be as quiet as inner peace in chaos, showing kindness in difficult situations, or simply living by our values even when it’s hard.
So, when we find ourselves on “alien soil,” the question isn’t how to recreate comfortable times. It’s about how to authentically live out our faith right now. It’s about finding our own way to sing – a testament to our strength and hope – even when our surroundings feel unfamiliar.
Leave a Reply +