Examining The Foundation
The Songs Of Zion
Gtcotr/ss092103
Key Scripture: Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
There Is No One So Defeated As A People Without A Song
2 Kings 25:8-11 - 587BC
Approximately 587 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, sent his armies, destroyed Jerusalem and took the people of Judah captive bringing them to Babylon as slaves.
Those captives who had seen the temple destroyed, their houses burned, the city walls torn down and the King’s house demolished could not escape the haunting images. For years they served the Babylonian Empire at hard labor with tormented souls.
Perhaps 40 years later, some uncertain author penned a sad song about having no song to sing.
Psalms 137
1 ¶ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4 How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?
Isaiah 44:28 & 45:1 Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus, God’s anointed Shepherd, would give orders to rebuild Jerusalem and lay the foundation for the temple.
God said of Cyrus in Isaiah 45
“I have named you though you have not known Me.”
“I have girded you though you have not known Me.”
Isaiah 48:20 Isaiah prophesied Judah would go forth from Babylon.
Which they did in about 538
Interestingly, Isaiah lived from about 740BC to 681BC
Over 150 years before Cyrus was born and over 100 years before Judah ever went into captivity in the first place.
God knows the end from the beginning and He knows how to get us there. (Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.)
Isaiah gave an interesting account of their upcoming return to Zion.
Isaiah 48:20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
The ultimate confession - 200 years before
Isaiah later prophesied:
Isaiah 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
I. The Power Of A People With A Song
A. Power Over Circumstances
Acts 16
25 ¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
B. Power Over People In High Places
Psalms 149:
6 ¶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
C. Power Over The Devil
Psalms 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
D. Power Over My Own Flesh
Ephesians 5
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
II. Examining The Foundation
A. Prayer
B. Tithes & Offering
C. Worship
III. Psalms 137:4 How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?
How Shall We Worship The Lord?
A. Worship God With Your Vision
B. Worship God With Your Sacrifice
C. Worship God With Your Song
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
