Psalm 137:2

Psalm 137:2

The sound of silence.

What a strange verse! I live in a village that is renowned for its poplars! Apparently, a wealthy landowner from the past decided to line the roads with these trees and they have been tended and planted ever since. Poplars are fast growing and can reach up to 40 meters in height (that’s 130 feet). These trees can also live for up to 400 years, presumably they were “popular” in Babylon. (Excuse the pun.)

The Psalm now adds a strange fact; it was on the poplar trees that the exiled Jews hung their harps! Isaiah writes of the Tribulation of the last days, and he uses these words, “The joyful timbrels are stilled, the noise of the revellers has stopped, the joyful harp is silent.” Isaiah 24:8. Job writes as follows, “My lyre is tuned to mourning, and my pipe to the sound of wailing.” Job 30:31. I am a very amateur musician, but I do know that minor keys, especially D minor, are associated with sadness and melancholy. It seems that the Babylonian Jewish exiles had not only sung sad songs, but they had stopped playing all together and had hung their harps on the local poplar trees.

There are times in life when music expresses our emotions and offers solace when we are in despair. However, some of us may have been in such deep and dark valleys that there is no music that can soothe or accurately express how we feel. The only bearable sound is – silence! If that is where you are right now, can I offer a word of advice? Open your Bible, turn to the Psalms, fine a positive statement of praise about our God and say those words out loud. Repeat the words, if necessary, throughout the day and then do the same tomorrow using another verse of praise. Praise is the enemy of sorrow and despair. I know, I’ve been there. 

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