Soul Snack 8/145 ... Harp Hanging?
Activities of blessings and burdens are universal. There is a ubiquitous stamp to all emotional responses. No place too remote, nor any place too populous.
Tears in beautiful places can flow as readily as tears in barren places.
Sadness, even depression, knows no geographical boundaries.
Pain is as possible in paradise as distress is in a desert.
A nation in captivity had lost heart, they 'had hung up their harps'. (v2)
In PS 137 the Israelites' lament over what they have lost. Beautiful Babylon is no salve for a now lost Jersualem. (I wonder if they even knew what they had until they lost it?) This 'mountain' of captivity was just too lofty and daunting for them.
There is no obscuring of pain in their tormented cry to their captors.
They are literally in a place they do not want to be. They give up!
Music is no longer in their souls, nor cheer on their lips. Vengeance is even on their mind.(vs 8-9)
Their faith is active and understanding, but not righteous.
When I too am in ‘a place I do not want to be', surely for the righteous this is the time to ‘move mountains by faith' rather than permit ‘the mountains move me.'
I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him ... Mk 11:23
'Harp hanging' is me being moved by the mountains, 'harp playing' is me moving the mountains.