Psalm 137
Psalm 137 is a lament expressing the grief of the Israelites in exile, particularly in Babylon, as they remember Jerusalem. The psalm reflects their deep sorrow over the destruction of their homeland and their longing for justice against their captors. It is a passionate plea to God for remembrance and retribution, filled with both sorrow and anger. The psalm captures the emotions of a displaced people yearning for their lost city and their hope for future restoration.
Psalm 137:1-4 (NKJV)
1 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
3 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!”
4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?
The Israelites, exiled in Babylon, sit by the rivers and weep as they remember their beloved Zion (Jerusalem). The rivers of Babylon symbolize their captivity, and the mention of harps hung on the willows reflects their inability to find joy in music while in exile. Their captors mockingly ask them to sing songs of Zion, which were joyful songs of worship, but the Israelites question how they can sing the Lord’s songs in a foreign land, highlighting their deep grief and loss of identity in captivity.
Psalm 137:5-6 (NKJV)
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget its skill!
6 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.
The psalmist makes a solemn vow never to forget Jerusalem, their spiritual and national home. The right hand is a symbol of strength and skill, and the psalmist calls for it to lose its ability if they forget Jerusalem. Likewise, they ask for their tongue to be silenced if they fail to remember and honor Jerusalem. This shows the intense emotional and spiritual connection the exiled Israelites have with their homeland, pledging to keep it above all their joys, even in the midst of their sorrow.
Psalm 137:7 (NKJV)
7 Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Who said, “Raze it, raze it,
To its very foundation!”
The psalmist recalls the day when Jerusalem was destroyed and calls on God to remember the actions of the Edomites, who encouraged the Babylonians to completely destroy the city. The Edomites, distant relatives of Israel, betrayed them by cheering for Jerusalem’s downfall. This plea for God to remember their betrayal is a call for justice, seeking divine retribution for their part in the destruction of the holy city.
Psalm 137:8-9 (NKJV)
8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed,
Happy the one who repays you as you have served us!
9 Happy the one who takes and dashes
Your little ones against the rock!
The psalm concludes with a strong cry for justice against Babylon, the nation responsible for the Israelites' exile and suffering. The psalmist foresees Babylon's eventual destruction and expresses a desire for Babylon to experience the same kind of brutality it inflicted on Jerusalem. These verses reflect the deep pain and desire for justice felt by the Israelites, calling for retribution against their oppressors. While shocking in its violence, this is an expression of the deep grief and anger of an exiled people, longing for divine justice.