By The Rivers of Babylon

Some of the darkest days of the Jews were those spent in exile in Babylon. Listen to the opening verses of Psalm 137 which was written during these bleak days:

By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down 

and there we wept when we remembered Zion.

On the willows there we hung up our harps.

For there our captors asked us for songs, 

and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, 

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?

In 538 BCE, Cyrus the Persian, conquered Babylon and set the Jews free--free to return to their homeland. What exactly they found when they arrived isn’t well known. Almost two generations had passed since Jerusalem was destroyed and they were taken captive. Were they remembered by those who were allow to stay in Israel? Were they welcomed back? And how were they changed by their years of captivity?

The Old Testament lesson this coming Sunday is a part of the story of ancient Israel’s rebuilding after this return. The Temple had been destroyed and Ezra, a priest and scribe, and Nehemiah the governor, set about rebuilding it along with the city walls. Nehemiah, and perhaps Ezra, believed all the evil that had befallen the people of God could be traced to their infidelity to the Law. When the work was complete, the time had come to educate the people and reestablish the worship practices of their ancestors. Ezra called together all the people who could understand what was about to happen. Then he opened the scroll of the Law and began to read. Exactly what was read is unclear. Perhaps all of the Torah, or some scholars think it was only Deuteronomy. Whatever it was, it was powerful.

The impact on the people hearing it was astonishing. The people fell to the ground and began to worship God. They began to weep, perhaps because they understood how far from keeping the Law they had drifted. Apparently, it had been a long while since they had heard these words read and their eyes were opened to how far they had drifted from faithfulness and they were contrite.  Ezra and the Levites who were with him responded to this display by saying: This day is holy to your Lord. Do not mourn or weep. The people were encouraged to indulge in fine food and wine, and very importantly, were commanded to share with those who had no food or wine to enjoy.

So, why is story included in the season of Epiphany? I bet you’ve figured it out. Hearing the Law was equivalent to the light of Epiphany for us. Once that light has shone on us (and them) we cannot be the same as we were before--if we understand the significance of the light. Perhaps in the run up to Lent, it is a fitting piece of Scripture on which to reflect.

Peace, Jerry