How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? (Psalm 137:4)

I want you to try and picture the ancient Israelites in this 137th Psalm. They have been captured and taken against their will to exile in Babylon. They are cut off from the familiar places and familiar faces of home. Worse than that, they are surrounded by false gods and pagan values. Somehow, they must try to keep the faith and pass it on the midst of a hostile culture.

The Israelites in exile are broken-hearted. We're told in the Psalm that they sat down by the rivers of Babylon and wept. Bitter tears streamed down their faces as they cried out, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?"

Picture also an early Christian named John, writing a letter to the church. He's talking about love and light and things…