Today’s psalm is attributed to the prophet, Jeremiah, and believed to be one of the most charming, poetic odes of all the psalms. It tells of the Jewish captivity in Babylon. Slavery and being in captivity are still alive today.

On the six month trip from Africa to America’s south, during the Atlantic Slave Trade many of the slaves died from malnourishment, disease, beatings, and rape. After landing, these slaves were treated as property. And like in Jerusalem, they wept when they remembered Zion. In time, many escaped to Canada by way of the underground railroad.

Our ancestors got over by singing spiritual songs, dancing, and shouting. We got over by worshipping and praising God. We got over by keeping the faith, crying, and praying together; realizing we would one day be free.