May the Reader be blessed: Psalms 137 with commentary The following is adapted from my original manuscript notes “Meditations on the Psalms” Written between 2003-2010 Psalm 137:1 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 LORDS song In a foreign land? 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. 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, 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! (Psa 137:1 NKJ) Psalm 136:1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 137:8-9 Man’s Inhumanity to Man ● These two verses regarding the prophesied destruction of Babylon, should not be interpreted as God’s approving of the murder of children (v. 9). He does not. ● How then should this be understood? I believe it should be understood in the context of someone who had been oppressed expressing his views, feelings, about “getting even”. The psalmist is expressing his own humanity and the violence to which most of us are capable of engaging and delighting in, given the right circumstances. If you doubt this is true; consider the last time you saw a good action movie and how you may have enjoyed the scenes of the “bad guy(s)” getting beat down and/or savagely killed by the “good guy(s)” ● As stated elsewhere, I repeat here. Just because the LORD saw fit to record true human emotions, feelings, actions, statements, etc.; is not the same as Him saying He approves of what was recorded.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 11:52:38 +0000
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