|
|
|
"How Can We Sing Songs of Peace?"
(Lamentations 1:1-6; Ps 137; Lam. 3:19-26)
I recently joined a Lectionary Study Group made up of several of the Presbyterian ministers in this area.
When we discussed the scriptures this week, there was only one question on everyone's mind
On this Peacemaking Sunday,
how can we preach peace to a land scarred by terrorism?
It seemed to most of us that the Old Testament scriptures were asking the same question.
The book of Lamentations is really part two of the book of Jeremiah
The first book mostly collects Jeremiah's writings and describes his actions
as he tried to warn the people and kings of Judah
that their continued reliance on the power of nations would lead to their destruction at the hands of the Babylonians
The second book collects the Lamentations or poems of mourning
Which Jeremiah wrote after his prophecies had come true
After his people were under seige by the Babylonians and after the seige, when Jerusalem had been devastated
It's that second book that came up in the lectionary for this Peacemaking Sunday
Add to that the Psalm that ends with such an awful and vivid picture of revenge
And once again I am convinced that God plans the Lectionary readings
Psalm 137 specifically asks
"How can we sing the songs of Zion,"
(the songs of Jerusalem
the songs of the home that has been destroyed)
"while we are captive in a strange land."
We Americans are in some sense being held captive in a strange land
Since September 11, there are things about our land that are very strange
Armed soldiers patrol our airports, dams, power plants
Flags fly from more houses and cars than I have ever seen on the 4th of July or Memorial Day
The skyline of our largest city, the most familiar skyline, has been drastically altered.
And every television show that used to pan that skyline has re-shot or re-edited it's opening sequences to avoid that angle
And every movie that still contains a glimpse of what is no longer there makes us think again of what has happened
Policemen and firemen are held in higher esteem than they have enjoyed in my memory
And the sound of sirens or just a low flying plane can set nerves on edge
We are "going on with our lives" and "returning to normal" but . . .
The news reminds us every night
The headlines remind us every morning
Public service announcements dot radio, TV and bill boards and remind us constantly that
the city that once was full of people!
Is like a widow, weeping bitterly in the night
And the thought of that affliction and homelessness is wormwood and gall!
Our souls continually think of it
And the grief and shock threaten to undo us
But, like the prophet Jeremiah, we must call this to mind and have hope
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
The unknown author of the Psalm asks
How can we sing the songs about the good times when we are grieving?
How can we sing of peace when the devastation of war is still so much in our minds?
How can we hope for peace when we still long for revenge?
The psalmist almost answers his own question
We must remember the joy that was
We must never forget what it felt like to live in peace and security
The psalmist however is still in such pain
that remembering the joy of what was
he can think no further than to pray
for rough justice against those who destroyed
that their loved ones should suffer as his have suffered
The prophet's answer is better
Jeremiah does not give up the hope that justice will be done
Jeremiah does not say surrender to the tyrant
But he says, trust in the Lord,
The LORD is good to those who wait for him
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD
After all, it is the Lord who gives peace,
Peace that passes all understanding
Peace that cannot be taken away from you
Peace that triumphs over evil
Peace that,
no matter what,
allows you to keep on singing the songs of the Lord
even in a strange land.
Copyright © 2001
Return to Highland Index Page
Return to Sermon Archive Page
Return to Sermon Archive Page (plain background)
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page
