If There Is Something I Must Do for My Country

(Psalm 137:1-9)

Psalm 137:1-9 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung our harps. 3 For there our captors demanded of us songs, and our tormen- tors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” 4 How can we singthe Lord’s song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill. 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it, raze it to its very foundation.” 8 O daughter of Babylon, you devastated one, how blessed will be the one who repays you with the recompense with which you have repaid us. 9 How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones against the rock.

How do you think a parent would feel if their child is sick and does not get better despite trying all kinds of medicine, and the parents have visited various hospitals and consulted numerous doctors who all say there is no hope in saving their child? Any parent would rather bleed for their child and think, “If only I could give up my own life so that you would live!” Such feelings can only come from parents, no matter how many others are involved. We need to think about our country with this kind of parental heart. In your walk of faith, have you prayed even ten minutes for the country and her people? If not, you cannot call yourself a Christian. When it comes to who will take responsibility for history’s future, believers must take up the burden and pray for the nation.

The author of Psalm 137 is unknown. Neither theologians nor anyone else knows who wrote it, except for God. Typically, the Psalms have headings indicating their authors, such as “A Psalm of David”, or mentioning someone else’s name, but Psalm 137 does not have any such attribution. Scholars describe it as “the most bone- aching and heart-wrenching lamentation or curse among the Psalms.” Reflecting on the painful and distressing experience of Babylonian captivity, it resonates with such anguish and suffering that the Book of Lamentations records, “Tears stream from my eyes like a river.” It is a poem full of misery and despair.

The Babylonians mockingly taunted, “Isn’t your God supposed to be everything? Didn’t you think that believing in God would solve all your problems? Why are you here serving as our slaves? You used to sing well on Mount Zion in Jerusalem; let’s hear you sing now! Play your instruments!” They kicked and punched them. In the midst of this, the Israelites hung their cherished harps on willow trees and prayed in their hearts, “God! I wish my hands would become paralyzed at this moment. How can I, as a believer in God, fail to bring glory to You and instead let these gentiles dishonor Your holy name? How can I sing in a place where they drink and seek their entertainment? I wish my hands would become crippled. God, I wish my tongue would become mute so I cannot speak!” This is the essence of today’s scripture text.

Verse 7 says, “Raze it, raze it to its very foundation.” The term “raze it” means to completely demolish and destroy. The Babylonians mocked the Israelites, saying, “Try to destroy us. Didn’t you say that if you pray to the Lord of hosts and believe in God, you will be saved? Go ahead, destroy Babylon if you can.” Such mockery was truly outrageous. The defeated served the victors. The Israelites must have been so desperate to wish upon themselves, “I wish my tongue would turn to stone, and my hands become paralyzed so I cannot play the harp.” They prayed to God, shedding tears. Even while being beaten and humiliated by the rivers of Babylon, they did not forget their patriotic duty to uphold the conscience of their nation. This sentiment of loving their country, even in the midst of suffering, is captured in Psalm 137.

King Zedekiah reigned when Jerusalem faced her downfall. He did not believe Jeremiah’s prophecy, “If you surrender to Babylon, the officials and people of this nation will not be harmed and will live. Do not rely on Egypt; surrendering to Babylon is the only way to survive. Surrender to the king of Babylon. This is the path of life. If you do not, the nation will be destroyed. Your two sons will die before your eyes, and you will be blinded by Babylonian soldiers, led away in chains to Babylon, where you will die miserably. This is the only way to live.” What king would be pleased to hear such words? But this was the word of God. Jeremiah, who had direct communication with God and knew God’s secrets, was a patriot who loved his country and people.

The Bible records that Babylon besieged Jerusalem for a full year and six months. This was similar to when the Arameans besieged the city during King Jehoram’s reign. At that time, people were so starved and desperate that they would say to each other, “Today we will eat my child, and tomorrow we will eat yours.” They literally roasted and boiled their children to eat. The account in 2 Kings 6 is not an exaggeration. This tragic situation fulfilled the prophecy given through Moses at Mount Sinai in Deuteronomy 28, where God warned, “If you do not obey the words of the Lord and worship idols, the day will come when you will eat your own children.”

After being besieged for a year and six months, the king was terrified. The high officials were unable to speak the truth to the king because they were too busy flattering him. One of the officials told the king, “The people have been besieged for a year and six months, and now they are at the point of eating their own children. What should we do?” The king’s trusted officials, Pashhur and Zephaniah, who had insulted the prophet Jeremiah, were particularly wicked. They had insisted that Jeremiah should be killed. However, as the situation became desperate, they came to Jeremiah on behalf of the king, asking him for a way to survive. Jeremiah’s answer remained the same: they must surrender to Babylon. Jeremiah had received this message from God three times (Jer 21:1-14, 37:1-10, 38:1-3, 17-23).

The treacherous officials accused Jeremiah of being a spy and sought to kill him, beating him and throwing him into a deep pit. According to the scriptures, he was presumed dead. As fear grew in the king, he had Jeremiah pulled out and questioned him again. Despite Jeremiah delivering the same message, Zedekiah did not convey it to the people. The night before the full-scale attack, King Zedekiah escaped by breaking through the wall. He fled about 25 kilometers (about 15 miles) before being captured by the Babylonian army. At that time, the field headquarters for the Babylonian army were in a place called Riblah. Second Kings 25 records that Zedekiah and his officials, who had attempted to escape secretly through the wall, were captured and brought before King Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah’s sons were executed right in front of him. His eyes were then gouged out, he was bound in chains and dragged to Babylon. There were no painkillers or medicine for him. All who did not surrender were killed, but those who surrendered were spared. Jeremiah was treated well, for King Nebuchadnezzar commanded, “Take him and look after him, and do nothing harmful to him, but rather deal with him just as he tells you” (Jer 39:12). Those who trust in God receive blessings no matter the circumstances.

As Jeremiah prophesied, the temple was burned. All the gold and treasures of the temple were taken away, and the high officials were all killed. Only the poor, the weak, the elderly, and the sick were left behind; everyone else was taken captive. Those who refused to surrender and stayed in the city died by plague, sword, and famine. This is recorded in the Bible. Those who escaped were killed by the sword, and the rest were taken captive and suffered miserably. This is accurately recorded in Jeremiah 21:6-9 and 38:17-23. Nothing was left unfulfilled. As prophesied, the Babylonian army completely destroyed the temple with iron hammers.

The Bible asks, “Where is the individual, family, or nation that has perished without sin?” Failure surely follows where sin is present. Therefore, when we believe in Jesus, our souls must first be saved from the pit of darkness by God’s mercy and compassion. Once our souls are saved, we will be blessed in all things, as stated in 3 John 2: “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” There are many people who do not understand this.

une is the month to honor the patriots and veterans of South Korea. It is a month dedicated to patriotism and love for the nation. During this month, we have Memorial Day, a day to honor and comfort the souls of the patriotic martyrs and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the sacred defense of our homeland, and to pay tribute to their loyalty and pray for their eternal peace. Additionally, it is the month that marks the tragic Korean War, a calamity that inflicted indelible wounds on our nation.

Dear saints, we must cherish our country. Only when we have a nation can we have our homes, jobs, and identities. Even if you flee abroad, without a country, you won’t be treated as a human being. Without a passport, you can’t leave or enter any country. Despite everything, we should be very grateful to God for having a country. Isn’t it so easy to travel anywhere with a South Korean passport?

This country did not come into being by itself. Even for individuals, wealth is not achieved overnight. There are often untold, tearful stories behind every success. When a nation prospers, are there not loyal patriots behind the scenes?

During the American Civil War, a Northern soldier was captured by the Southern army. Before facing execution, the executioner asked, “Do you have any last words?” The soldier replied, “I regret that I have only one life to give for my country.” It is because of the dedication and service of unknown citizens, who rose from obscurity to become ministers, generals, and presidents, that the United States became a superpower today. It didn’t just happen automatically. The leaders who founded the United States all believed in God. This is evident in the creation of the Constitution and in presidential inaugurations, where prayers are offered and hands are placed on the Bible, pledging their oath before God. Many presidents of the United States have been prayerful individuals. The U.S. currency bears the inscription “In God We Trust,” and alongside it is the word “Liberty.” Freedom within the faith in God is unique to the United States. There is no other country like it. It is so rare. Didn’t God instruct Moses to write His words on the doorframes of houses and on gates? Reflecting on this, one understands why the United States has become a superpower.

Israel observes the “Day of Atonement,” ,)רופיכ םוי( known in Hebrew as Yom Kippur every year from July 10th for a week. It’s a day for repentance of sins committed throughout the year, as recorded in Leviticus 23:26-32 in the Old Testament. On this day, people gather for a holy convocation, treating it as solemn and self-afflicting. The literal meaning is “afflict your souls,” where God commanded, “You shall do no work.” Those who do not afflict themselves and repent of their sins are to be cut off from the people. It is emphasized, “You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.” We should be thinking, “Why did I sin then?” It should be more painful than the departure of our parents, beloved wives, husbands, and children. Yet even after sinning, we say, “Well, it was inevitable… Everyone makes mistakes.” We try to avoid disgrace for our sins by keeping them hidden from others.

Memorial Day is a day to pay respects to the patriots and soldiers who fought and died for our country and nation. It’s a day to refrain from laughter, singing, and worldly chatter, spending the day quietly at home. But what is the reality? Did we pray for the brave young men in their teens and twenties who answered their country’s call, having never seen old age, tragically falling in the enemy’s onslaught? Did we pray to God? Instead, we become distracted by our own pleasures and entertainment. Golf courses, theaters, department stores, and large parks are bustling, and motels, inns, and hotels are packed. I recall a Christmas Eve in Myeongdong when a hotel caught fire, and sadly, more Christians perished. It is indeed a shameful affair.

Christianity has no national boundaries, but there is a homeland for Christians. If faith in the afterlife is steadfast, and one believes in God and Heaven, then one’s sense of responsibility and mission in this life should be stronger. The righteous in the Bible consistently exemplify patriotism. Look at Moses, the spiritual leader of the Israelites. He shed tears and prayed to God on behalf of them, saying, “Blot me out from the book of life.” It’s an expression of profound faith, recorded in Exodus 32:33.

Dear saints, you must have a sense of national consciousness. I read an article in a magazine that posed this question: “Have you ever considered that your homeland may cease to exist?” It went on to recount cases where nations fell in an instant, enslaved and destroyed by foreign invasion. Babylon, once a mighty and wealthy empire, fell overnight to the Medes and Persians due to internal decadence, extravagance, corruption of politicians, and greed. This is recorded in Daniel 5:1-31. Rome, too, a nation that grew strong through military power, fell into indulgence and debauchery. The Inca Empire in South America, from Ecuador to central Chile, and eastward to Brazil, formed a grand empire that flourished with a brilliant culture. They fell when Spain, underestimated, overtook their country. What about our internal situation? Even in times of peace, there are those who ask why we need military forces and weapons. It is precisely in times of peace that we must strengthen our defense capabilities. This is biblical. When thinking of Sodom and Gomorrah, shouldn’t we reconsider our social atmosphere?

When it comes to the faithfulness of Israeli mothers, they are incredibly diligent. From a young age, they strictly educate their children according to God’s Word. This is God’s command. It is stated, “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deut 6:7). Jewish mothers teach their children about the 430 years of slavery in Egypt and the suffering under Babylon, Persia, and Assyria. They explain how those kings of the time had abandoned God, worshiped idols, and fell due to their love of materialism, pleasure, and luxury. They also teach even very young children, around four or five years old, “Do not forget your ancestor Abraham. Remember the immense amount of blood and sweat your ancestors shed to inherit this land.”

A while back, I visited the National Cemetery and examined the inscriptions. On the tombstone of a patriot who died for the country, I found this inscription: “Dear, you said you would love me even if the heavens and the earth changed and that you would return alive after fighting the enemy. How is it that you have returned as a handful of ashes? Husband! When we meet again before our Lord, there will forever be no sorrow of separation. I am still praying for you.” Another tombstone bore the poignant words of a mother who lost her child: “No matter how loudly I call out, there is no answer. You gave your young life for the country on a path from which there is no return. Your name is holy. Your name shines brightly. My son, you are admirable. Please live happily in the other world.”

Those who haven’t seen these tombstones often speak about what to eat or where to go for fun on Memorial Day. As believers, we should not speak in such a manner. Visit the National Cemetery and read them all. You will find the poignant words of wives who lost their husbands, the cries of mothers who lost their children, and the nameless warriors and humble citizens who, despite not having even attended elementary school, sacrificed their lives for the country. South Korea is our land to be passed down through generations. It is a nation safeguarded by the righteous and loyal blood of countless young soldiers and many civilians. Our homeland, South Korea, is stained with the priceless blood that can never be valued in monetary terms.

We must love our country. There is a story from the ancient Peloponnesian War (431 BC – 404 BC). A Spartan mother had to send her five sons to war, as the country required them. One day, a soldier came to her, and she asked him, “What is the current state of the war? Tell me in detail.” The soldier informed her that all five of her sons had died in battle, explaining in which battles each had fallen. After hearing this, the mother said, “I didn’t ask about my sons. I asked about my country. How is it faring?” The soldier replied, “Do not worry. We are winning.” Only then did the mother say, “Then I must mourn my sons. If the country prospers, I will be happy…” and then she wept.

Gandhi left the famous saying, “I have married India. This is an eternal wedding, and I will never divorce.” President John F. Kennedy of the United States said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” What did Kim Gu say? “A nation that seeks what it can do prospers, while a nation that seeks what to complain about perishes sitting down.” Dosan Ahn Changho, upon seeing the decline of the nation, beat his chest and wept, praying, “I am a sinner of our people. God! You love this nation, but I have done nothing for it. I am a sinner of this nation.” He was distressed by people blaming their ancestors, juniors blaming their seniors, and everyone attributing the nation’s responsibilities to others. Dosan Ahn Changho continued, “Why can’t we think, ‘Our country’s failure to gain independence is because of me!’ and repent instead of blaming others?… A nation that blames others will never prosper.”

In 1967, during the Six-Day War between Israel and the Arab nations, Israel’s Defense Minister offered a tearful prayer. All broadcasts were halted, and the Bible, specifically the Psalms, was read. Over those six days, they repeatedly played to the entire Israeli nation Genesis 15:1, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great,”. From the lowest-ranking private to the Defense Minister and the Prime Minister, everyone bowed down in prayer and fasted for three days. The war ended in just six days. This is Jehovah Nissi, “The Lord is my Banner.”

In the Book of Esther in the Old Testament, the entire nation of Israel was on the brink of annihilation due to Haman’s treacherous scheme. Esther, with the resolute spirit of a martyr, declared, “If I perish, I perish.” She prayed fervently for her country and people and courageously approached the king. As a result, her people were saved, and Haman, along with his ten sons, met a tragic end.

Dear saints, God is our Father. He is mighty in battle (Ps 24:8). Believe and pray that God will protect and safeguard our nation and people. Imagine how much this country will thrive if you educate your sons and daughters in faith from a young age. I truly believe it will be as such. God is the God of those who believe. As we commemorate June, the month of remembrance, please take at least ten minutes, even just once in your lifetime, to pray for the souls of those who heroically fought and died for our country. Pray for the patriotic martyrs and also for your sons and daughters. Trust that God will protect our nation and people. As we observe Memorial Day and the anniversary of the Korean War, let us, with reverent hearts, give thanks for the grace of the fallen soldiers. Let us carry forward their noble spirit and teachings, and resolve to cherish our country more than our lives. May you become such patriots that make the resolution to pray and give thanks to God.. I bless you in the Lord’s name.

Let us pray.

The prophet Samuel said in 1 Samuel 12:23, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for the nation and people.” We too, Lord, do not want to commit the sin of neglecting to pray for our nation, our people, our families, our workplaces, our businesses, our church, and our children. We ask that You bestow upon us Your mercy and compassion so that our souls may prosper through our prayers before You. In this month of June, awaken us once again to learn the spirit of patriotism, to cultivate fervent faith in loving our country and nation. We lift all these words I pray, in the holy name of Jesus Christ, with thanksgiving. Amen.

Rev. Abraham Park June 11, 2006 (Sun) Lord’s Day Second Service

*This post can also be read in 'Champyungan'. (http://champyungan.com)