Remembering Zion - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?
Psalm 137:1, 3-4

Remembering Zion
Reading Psalm 137 we hear the lament of some of God's people as they were taken as captives away from Israel to Babylon. Their heart goes back to their place of worship, and they promise not to forget Jerusalem. They express their longing for that place. But we must ask, why had they been taken into captivity in the first place? It was because they had forsaken their true God and had chased after idols. They had forgotten the ordinances of God and now God was claiming His rights. Now they were clamoring for that which was lost even though they had not truly appreciated what they had when they had it. Now, if God responded to their desires, they would never forget Jerusalem! At least that is what they said. But sadly we know what happened. After God brought them back into the land, after they rebuilt the temple and what happened? They soon forgot and despised God. They very quickly forgot their lament and promises they had made while in captivity.

Several years ago, when we went through a pandemic, many of us "met" together through electronic means. At that time we commented that we were thankful that we could still worship, pray, and study God's Word together even though it was in such a different way. However, we rapidly acknowledged that it was not the same as being physically together as before. But had we really appreciated what we had before? Had we taken full advantage of the liberty and blessing of being together?

And what about now that it is all over? Have we fallen back to our ways of before, with less thankfulness at being together around the Lord? May the Lord fill our hearts and eyes, and may we remember what we had lost but have now regained.

Albert Blok