How Shall We Sing the Lord's Song

Sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost by Pastor Robert Ferro of Bethany English Lutheran Church, Cleveland, Ohio

Psalm 126

When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion.

      We were like those who dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

      And our tongue with singing.

Then they said among the nations,

      “The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us,

      And we are glad.

Bring back our captives, O Lord.

      As the streams in the south.

Those who sow in tears

      Shall reap in joy.

He who continually goes forth weeping,

      Bearing seed for sowing,

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

      Bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 137:1-6

By the rivers of Babylon,

      There we sat down, yea, we wept

      When we remembered Zion.

We hung our harps

      Upon the willows in the midst of it.

For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song

      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?

If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

      Let my right hand forget its skill!

If I do not remember you,

      Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth –

If I do not exalt Jerusalem

      Above my chief joy.

Prayer

Teach us, good Lord God, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, except that of knowing that we do your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.