The text for today's hymn cannot be published due to copyright limitations. We apologize for any inconvenience. You may find the text here: Hymnary.org
"By the Babylonian Rivers" by Brent Dowe, Frank Farian, George Reyam, and Trevor McNaughton
By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered zion
By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered zion
When the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
Now how shall we sing the lord's song in a strange land
When the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Requiering of us a song
Now how shall we sing the lord's song in a strange land
Let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight
Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight
By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered zion
By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down
Ye-eah we wept, when we remembered zion
By the rivers of babylon (dark tears of babylon)
There we sat down (you got to sing a song)
Ye-eah we wept, (sing a song of love)
When we remember zion (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
By the rivers of babylon (rough bits of babylon)
There we sat down (you hear the people cry)
Ye-eah we wept, (they need their god)
When we remember zion (ooh, have the power)
***
This week we have focused on communication. One very faithful way we communicate with God is through prayers of lament. There are more psalms of lament than of praise in the psalter, yet we rarely read them. One of them, Psalm 137, is the basis for today's hymn.
What do you do when your world is crumbling, when the light is dim, when all you thought you were promised is gone? Be angry! Yell at God! Tell God everything without holding back! That's what our ancestors of faith did. They gave all that was on their hearts and minds to God. A seminary professor once put it this way: "Lament is holding onto God with one hand, while shaking your fist at God with the other." The beauty of lament is that through all the raw emotions we express, underneath it all is our faith. We know that God listens. God responds. We know that God will prevail.
Lord of our peaks and valleys, you hear the cries of your children. Your ears are open always. May we openly and honestly speak to you, and then listen for your response. Amen.
René L. Mehlberg, '18
Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Laporte, Minn.
The Luther Seminary 2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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