Bethany Baptist Church participated in Ava’s Christmas Parade, Saturday afternoon. They handed out copies of John and Romans along the parade route. They were pleased to be awarded the Grand Prize for the float. Darlene Sorensen designed the float and Jim Corder built the framework for the giant “peppermint candy mint” and the cross that were featured on the float.
Our guest speaker, Sunday, was Jonathan Williams, who is planning to be a missionary in Central America. He was born in Monterrey, Mexico to missionary parents. His grandparents had started the mission work in the Monterrey area back in the 60’s and his parents had continued the work after them.
Jonathan took his message from Psalm 137 where the psalmist was describing the captivity in Babylon. They wept when they remembered their home and the utter destruction that the Babylonian had brought on their beloved Zion. When they were asked to sing the songs of Zion, they had hanged their harps on the willows.
When we read about harps in the scriptures they always symbolize joy and praise. David had used a harp to praise God and to please King Saul. But with the beloved city destroyed, the people of Judah were too discouraged to rejoice and sing praises. Circumstances may cause us to be so discouraged that we hang up our “harps” and fail to praise God. Perhaps we have only been making a show of praise when our hearts were not in it. The world looks at the Christian. They will have to see the joy of God springing forth in our lives or they will not believe our claims of salvation and grace.
Before our harps can make a “joyful sound” we may need to be “tuned.” A stringed instrument that has been sitting for a while gets out of tune. We have to allow the Lord to do his work of “tuning” in our lives.
Why should we pick up our harps again? We have a great God. The heavens and earth themselves declare the glory of God. He created and now sustains the universe and every thing in it. God’s hand has been at work throughout the ages to bring his work to fulfillment. God also guards us in his refuge.
It is wise to remain in his refuge. If we like Peter venture out of our “boat of refuge” and attempt to “walk on the waters of pride,” we will fall. But when our “temporary refuge” fails, we may still lift up our eyes to Christ who will pull us out of the tempest that we have brought upon our selves.
God is an unfailing refuge. Our homes will eventually deteriorate. Concrete and brick structures will fall, but God will always be a refuge for the sinner and the discouraged Christian. Pick up your harps or better still, don’t hang them up. Let the master musician tune your life, and then make the joyful sound in praise for his wonderful name.
