PSALM 137
Prayer regarding captivity verse 1- 6
By the rivers of Babylon – there we sat down – yea – we wept
when we remembered Zion
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof
for there they that carried us away captive required of us a song
and they that wasted us required of us mirth
saying
Sing us one of the songs of Zion
How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?
if I forget you – O Jerusalem
let my right hand forget her cunning
If I do not remember you
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy
Prayer against Edom verse 7
Remember – O LORD – the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem
who said – Rase it – rase it – even to the foundation thereof
Prayer against Babylon verse 8, 9
O daughter of Babylon – who are to be destroyed
happy shall he be – that rewards you as you have served us
happy shall he be
that takes and dashes your little ones
against the stones
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we
remembered Zion. (2142 “remembered” [zaker] means to mark, to mention, be mindful, recount, record, or make mention of. In the Babylonian captivity of the children of Israel they were mindful of all the blessings they had in Jerusalem or Zion.
DEVOTION: Throughout history the children of Israel have been taken captive by different nations because of their straying from the LORD. HE has used the nations to get the attention of them, so that, they might return to HIM. They went through many loses during the time period of the judges. They would sin and then go into captivity and then cry out to the LORD and HE would send a deliverer.
Now they are in captivity in Babylon. The Assyrians took the ten tribes into captivity before Judah. With both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel in captivity they were crying out to the LORD.
It is not surprising when times of trouble come that people call out to the LORD for help. The problem is that after they are delivered they return to their old habits within a generation.
This Psalm is concerned with a group that are in Babylon being asked to sing to songs of Jerusalem in Babylon. The people have a problem with singing that is going to be used to mock the LORD.
They remembered the songs they sang in worship. They called them the “LORD’S songs.” They wished they were back in Jerusalem. They didn’t want to even sing in their captivity.
However, their captors wanted to hear one of their songs of praise. They asked a good question: How can we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? It would be like trying to sing a worship song in a nation that hated the LORD.
There are nations that want to have nothing to do with our LORD Jesus Christ who is God. There are nations where they don’t want to hear the name of Christ who is the Son of God. There are nations today that want to kill all those who honor the name of the LORD. There may come a day when those who think it would be better to completely forget the LORD will want to remember HIM again.
Our schools are trying to forget HIM. Our courts are trying to forget HIM. Our government is trying to forget HIM. Some of our churches are trying to forget HIM. One day HE will allow it to happen as it did to Israel. Captivity!!! THEN some will want to remember. Are we telling others about the greatness of our SALVATION now?
CHALLENGE: Share the songs of the LORD with other believers to encourage them. Sing while there is TIME!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. (8437 “wasted” [towlal] means tormentor, plunderer, meaning doubtful, oppressor, a vexer, mocker, or someone who torments another person or group of people.)
DEVOTION: The enemies of Israel were good at mocking the children of Israel that they had just conquered. They wanted them to sing their songs of praise to the LORD while they were leading them away from Jerusalem.
We know that those who don’t love the LORD make fun of us at times. But here we find the people of God in the Old Testament going into captivity and they didn’t want to sing to the LORD to please the people who just defeated them.
Our singing should be done because we know that we have victory in the end even when it seems that those who are against the LORD seem to be winning the battle in our country and think it is cute to watch us sing songs of praise to the LORD while they take advantage of us.
We will have victory in the end if we genuinely know the LORD and we will sing in the end but it will be on our way to heaven. The children of Israel will sing again even in the time period of this Psalm when the LORD returns them to their land.
Our promises from the LORD are guaranteed at the time of victory. HE keep HIS promises to HIS people but sometimes we feel that we have nothing to sing about because of our circumstances but we also must remember that we are never to be under our circumstances.
CHALLENGE: When we sing it is to the LORD and not to those around us. Our songs come from a heart that knows Christ and because of that we always have victory over our circumstances. HE promises to not give us more than we can take!
: 5 “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ps 137. (Forget – 7911 כָּשַׁח, שָׁכַח [shakach, shakeach /shaw·kakh/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 2383; GK 4171 and 8894; 102 occurrences; AV translates as “forget” 61 times, “forgotten” 40 times, and “at all” once. 1 to forget, ignore, wither. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to forget. 1A2 to cease to care. 1B (Niphal) to be forgotten. 1C (Piel) to cause to forget. 1D (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget. 1E (Hithpael) to be forgotten.
James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: When we moved from New York to Chicago our children thought we were moving a thousand miles away. We were leaving friends and relatives as well as everything they knew and loved. It was a time of questions and longing for the return to the known and loved. The Israelites to a much larger degree than anything we have experienced in our lives. The psalmist cries out for vengeance and a worse fate to occur to the Babylonians because of their treatment to the Israelites. He also made a vow to remember Jerusalem all his days!
For many who have never faced forced relocation and servitude we cannot fathom the pain and misery of this psalm. In spite of that we have a command from the Lord to forgive and to show the love of Christ. We also are to have a hunger and desire to be present with the Lord and to serve Him in whatever circumstance we are placed in. The tension between the two realities is so difficult to maintain yet Christ calls us to navigate those diverse situations.
CHALLENGE: When faced with adverse and life threatening changes remember how Christ handled the situations and like him pray, call upon the Father and submit to His will! Never forget whom we trust! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who
Said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. (6168 “rase” [arah] means to be bare, empty, demolish, destitute, make naked, shave, or make naked.)
DEVOTION: The children of Edom were descendants of Esau. He was the brother of
Jacob. Jacob stole the birthright and blessing from Esau. Jacob ran from Esau and married his cousins.
Jacob while on his way back from serving his uncle, Laban, asked the LORD to protect him. The LORD answered his request. The LORD changed his name from Jacob, which means, usurper, to Israel which means “a prince of God.”
Esau’s descendants lived on Mount Seir outside of Israel. They were not friendly with the children of Israel. They would always side with those that were warring against Israel. When the Babylonians came to Israel the children of Esau captured the Israelites who were running away from the city of Jerusalem and gave them to the Babylonians to do with as they please.
The children of Israel wanted the LORD to deal with the nation of Edomites the way they dealt with them as they were fleeing from Jerusalem. This is called an imprecatory prayer. It is really a curse. They were not going to do it themselves but asked the LORD to do it. They were turning them over to the LORD.
Can we pray imprecatory prayers today? The LORD Jesus Christ told us to love our enemies. The New Testament informs us that God is going to take individuals from every nation to become HIS followers. So there is no longer an chosen nation but a chosen people. A people made up of individuals from every nation. So our prayers can be for leaders of nations to be dealt with by the LORD, but also in the same prayers we are to pray for the salvation of those who are leaders of every nation.
Giving those leaders and individuals who mistreat fellow believers over to the LORD is not easy. It is our responsibility to allow the LORD to deal in HIS time and in HIS way with these individuals.
CHALLENGE: Waiting on the LORD is very difficult when we see injustice in our world. However, we are to wait on HIM!!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer regarding captivity verse 1- 6
Prayer against Edom verse 7
Prayer against Babylon verse 8, 9
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Harps verse 2
Sing verse 3, 4
LORD’S song verse 3, 4
Songs of Zion verse 3
Chief joy to worship the LORD verse 6
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 4, 7
LORD’S song verse 4
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Rivers of Babylon verse 1
Captors required a song and mirth verse 3
Strange land verse 4
Children of Edom verse 7
who said: rase Jerusalem
Daughter of Babylon verse 8
happy to dash little ones against
the stones
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Wasted believers verse 3
Sin of Edom verse 7
Sin of Babylon verse 8, 9
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Sing verse 4
Remember the LORD verse 5- 7
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Zion verse 1, 3
Hanged our harps verse 2
Carried away captive verse 3
Jerusalem verse 5- 7
If forget
let my right hand forget
her cunning
let my tongue cleave to
the roof of my mouth
if I prefer NOT Jerusalem
above my chief joy
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
9 The psalmist repeats the beatitude in “blessed is he who seizes” (MT) as he brings the psalm to a climactic and shocking end. He prays that the Lord will bring on Babylon’s head the atrocities they themselves had committed in Judah and elsewhere. Since Babylon had no “rocks,” it is most likely that the psalmist expressed hereby the importance of divine retribution and the terrible wrong the Babylonians had done and had to be punished for. Wars were very cruel in the OT (cf. 2 Kings 8:12; Isa 13:16; Hos 1:4; 13:16; Amos 1:3, 13; Nah 3:10), and the Babylonians were famed for their cruelties (see Ogden, “Prophetic Oracles,” pp. 89–97). The psalmist relishes the thought that some day the proud Babylonian captors will taste the defeat they have dished out and that they will be rendered to such a state of desolation and defenselessness that they are unable to defend even their infants. (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 830). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
137:8–9. The psalmist addressed his curse to Babylon directly. The Babylonians should note that the Lord would destroy them measure for measure, that is, their little ones would be dashed against the rocks (cf. Isa. 13:16) for the Babylonians apparently had done this to the Jerusalemites. This is perhaps the most painful imprecation in the Book of Psalms. To the exiled psalmist, those who had ravaged the Holy Land deserved no better. Great sadness and bitterness filled the hearts of the Israelites who were in captivity (cf. Lam. 1–2). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 890). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
These three verses have been a serious problem for the unlearned and a target for the unbelieving who are at war with God and the Bible. However, once this passage is understood, it should encourage the faith of God’s people in times of upheaval when the Lord seems to be shaking everything (Heb. 12:25–29). The Babylonian guards were taunting the Jewish exiles, wanting them to sing about their God who had not rescued them and their city, which was now a heap of ruins. This was not a matter of politics but theology, nor was it a personal vendetta but an issue between two nations. As individuals, we have the right to forgive an offender, but if the judge forgives every criminal who appears in his court, the foundations of society would be undermined and chaos would result.
The law God gave to Israel is based on the lex talionis—the law of retaliation—and retaliation is not revenge. It simply means “to pay back in kind.” In short, the punishment must fit the crime, and our courts still follow that principle. In eighteenth century England, there were over 200 capital crimes for which the culprit could be hanged, but no nation follows that pattern today. “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Deut. 19:16–21) is not brutality; it is justice. A point that is often ignored is that, though Babylon was God’s chosen instrument to discipline the Jews, the Babylonians went too far and treated the Jews with brutality. (See Isa. 47:1–7 and 51:22–23.) They abused the elderly, they murdered the babies and children, they violated the women, and they killed promiscuously. Though these practices may have been a normal part of ancient warfare (2 Kings 8:12; 15:16; Isa. 13:16; Nah. 3:10), Babylon went to the extreme in their inhumanity. But, let us be honest and admit that when nations today have done atrocious things—the Holocaust, for example—other nations have risen up in horror and demanded justice. If that response is correct for us, why is it wrong for the psalmist?
The psalmist knew from the prophets that God would judge Edom and Babylon, so he prayed for the Lord to keep His promises. Esau, father of the Edomites, was Jacob’s brother (Gen. 25:30), and Esau’s descendants should have shown mercy to their blood relatives. (On the future of Edom, see Isa. 63:1–6; Jer. 49:7–22; Ezek. 25:12–14 and 35:1ff; the book of Obadiah. As for Babylon’s future, see Isa. 13, noting especially v. 16; and Jer. 50–51.) The psalmist knew these Scriptures and asked the Lord to fulfill them in His own time. “For the Lord is a God of recompense, He will surely repay” (Jer. 51:56, NKJV). Finally, the word “blessed” as used in verses 8–9 does not mean “happy” in the sense of Psalm 32:1, or even “favored by God” as in Psalm 1:1. It carries the meaning of “morally justified,” as in Psalm 106:3—“Blessed are those who keep justice” (NKJV). It was not the Jewish people individually who punished Babylon but the God of Israel who answered their prayers and vindicated His people (Rom. 12:17–21). One day, He will vindicate His church and punish those who have persecuted and slain His servants (Rev. 6:9–17). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., pp. 192–193). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
Ver. 9. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.] That takes the infants from their mothers’ breasts, or out of their arms, and dashes out their brains against a rock, as the word signifies; which, though it may seem a piece of cruelty, was but a just retaliation; the Babylonians having done the same to the Jewish children, and is foretold elsewhere should be done to theirs, Isa. 13:16. Nor is this desired from a spirit of revenge, but for the glory of divine justice, and that such a generation of cruel creatures might be rooted out of the earth; see Rev. 2:23. Some allegorically understand this of crushing and mortifying the first motions of sin in the heart; but such a sense seems to have no place here. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 282). London: Mathews and Leigh)
9. “Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.” Fierce was the heart of the Jew who had seen his beloved city the scene of such terrific butchery. His heart pronounced like sentence upon Babylon. She should be scourged with her own whip of wire. The desire for righteous retribution is rather the spirit of the law than of the gospel; and yet in moments of righteous wrath the old fire will burn; and while justice survives in the human breast it will not lack for fuel among the various tyrannies which still survive. We shall be wise to view this passage as a prophecy. History informs us that it was literally fulfilled: the Babylonian people in their terror agreed to destroy their own offspring, and men thought themselves happy when they had put their own wives and children to the sword. Horrible as was the whole transaction, it is a thing to be glad of if we take a broad view of the world’s welfare; for Babylon, the gigantic robber, had for many a year slaughtered nations without mercy, and her fall was the rising of many people to a freer and safer state. The murder of innocent infants can never be sufficiently deplored, but it was an incident of ancient warfare which the Babylonians had not omitted in their massacres, and, therefore, they were not spared it themselves. The revenges of providence may be slow, but they are ever sure; neither can they be received with regret by those who see God’s righteous hand in them. It is a wretched thing that a nation should need an executioner; but yet if men will commit murder tears are more fitly shed over their victims than over the assassins themselves. A feeling of universal love is admirable, but it must not be divorced from a keen sense of justice.
The captives in Babylon did not make music, but they poured forth their righteous maledictions, and these were far more in harmony with their surroundings than songs and laughter could have been. Those who mock the Lord’s people will receive more than they desire, to their own confusion: they shall have little enough to make mirth for them, and more than enough to fill them with misery. The execrations of good men are terrible things, for they are not lightly uttered, and they are heard in heaven. “The curse causeless shall not come;” but is there not a cause? Shall despots crush virtue beneath their iron heel and never be punished? Time will show.
Explanatory Notes And Quaint Sayings
Whole Psalm.—Observe that this very Psalm in which the question is asked, “How can we sing?” is itself a song, one of the Lord’s songs, still. Nothing can be more sad, more desponding. It speaks of weeping in the remembrance of Zion; it speaks of harps hung upon the willows by exiles who have no heart to use them; and yet the very telling of these sorrows, of this incapacity for song, is a song still. We chant it in our congregations now, hundreds and thousands of years after its composition, as one of the Church’s melodies, as one of the Lord’s songs. It gives us a striking example of the variety, of the versatility of worship, even in that department which might seem to be all joyous, all praise. The very refusal to sing may be itself a song. Any real utterance of good thoughts, whether they be thoughts of gladness or thoughts of sorrow, may be a true hymn, a true melody for the congregation, even though it may not breathe at every moment the very thought of all the worshippers. “How shall we sing?” is itself a permanent hymn, an inspired song, for all the churches.—C. J. Vaugha ( Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, pp. 229–230). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
In the historical dockyards at Chatham in England is the largest collection of Royal National lifeboats in the U.K. On many of the lifeboats, printed numbers show how many times the boat has launched, and how many lives it saved. It’s a haunting presentation of how life can sometimes hang on a precipice, and what it takes to rescue souls lost at sea.
The dockyard is also an interesting analogy for the Church in this cultural moment. Sometimes churches seem more like a museum of saints, a place where salvation is remembered. Here, redemption is often described in the past tense, focused on what God has saved us from. Or, like the dockyard at Chatham, we mark our success by souls saved, with little reference to what happens next for those whose life is in Christ, much less their families, communities, or societies.
This presentation of the Church isn’t inaccurate, but it is inadequate. Our salvation isn’t only about being saved from sin and hell, but also about being saved to eternal and abundant life and for a redemptive purpose. Once Christians experience the life-changing impact of the Gospel, God’s restorative work alters every aspect of their lives. This is more than being saved from Hell, and it’s even more than being saved to eternal life.
The famous pastor John Newton embodied this. When he famously wrote, “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see,” he revealed that he was not only redeemed from the incredible evil he perpetuated as a slave trader but that he was now given new vision, new direction, and new life. Newton inspired William Wilberforce, the great abolitionist, in the same way.
For over four decades, Wilberforce fought against the horrible and inhumane practice of slavery, and also for what he called the “reformation of manners.” He didn’t see success immediately, especially on slavery. In fact, he was three days from dying when he heard that the Slavery Abolition Act was passed. But, in embracing the scope of God’s redemptive work in Christ for the world, his personal redemption didn’t stay private, he became a public force for good.
Each year, the Colson Center gathers with Christians from across the country for an event named in Wilberforce’s honor. The Wilberforce Weekend will be held in Orlando, Florida, May 13-15. This year’s conference will explore, from a variety of angles, the scale and scope of God’s redemptive work in Jesus Christ. Our goal will be to see all of life as redeemed by Christ. Together, we’ll explore how Christ is best understood, not just as our personal Savior (though He is), but also as the center of reality. This means recognizing the essential links between who Christ is and creation, redemption, the kingdom of God, and all of history.
We’ll also dive deeply into the fullness of the redemptive vision Christ gives His people, as individuals, families, churches, and nations. We’ll look closely at what we’re saved from, not just Hell but death and fear of death, from bitterness and anger, and from confusion about who we are, all of which are incredibly relevant for the challenges of this cultural moment. (Break Point)
Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Numbers 14-15
America’s John Paul Jones’ statement, “I have not yet begun to fight”, and a recent statement by Ukraine’s current president, “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride”, are two statements that have galvanized supporters and countries to attempt what appeared to be impossible. In the darkness of uncertainty, a person or nation’s destiny can be determined by those who confidently speak and lead.
Twelve spies went to Canaan to spy out the land and to bring back a report to Moses and the nation. Ten of the spies brought back negative reports and the people are crushed and disheartened by their words. Joshua and Caleb sought to restore the people’s belief that God was more powerful and capable than giants but were not heard. If not for God’s intervention Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb would have been stoned by the congregation (14:10).
Decisions determine destiny! Just a few years earlier, the people of Israel had determined to follow Moses to freedom and out of Egypt they walked. In this passage, they resolved to no longer follow Moses and as a result, they would return to another type of slavery. In a hasty moment, as the people chose to listen to the wrong voices, the die was cast and God determined to send them away from the promised land.
Despite the people’s rejection and attempt to stone him, Moses intercedes for mercy upon the people of Israel. Moses implores the Lord to consider His chosen people and their position before Him, declaring they must possess the land so God’s glory and power would be revealed. “Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now,” (14:19).
The Lord relents, (14:20-25) but with ramifications to the adults of the nation. Those who were unbelieving would wander in the wilderness until they died and their children would inherit the promised land. In 15:1 the Lord assures them of their possession of the land and provides laws they are to enforce while living safely there.
God’s promises are real and will come to pass! When crises occur, hearts melt and listening to wrong voices can be tempting. Like Joshua and Caleb, remember God’s words spoken through Caleb, “If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us…” (14:8). No matter how tough the future may appear, trust God and move ahead. (With an Expectant Hope by Pastor Miller)
Jesus describes the circumstances surrounding His second coming.
INSIGHT
Gratitude is beautiful to witness. When a person’s eyes light up as they open a gift, the giver enjoys the experience as much as the receiver.
We appreciate gratitude, and so does the Lord. He loves to see His children rejoicing at His many good gifts.
Gratitude to the Lord can be cultivated. Imagine what your life would be like without the Lord’s grace. Show the Lord that you appreciate Him by nurturing an attitude of gratitude. (Quiet Walk)
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase,
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance.
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again. – Annie Johnson Flint
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The Lord NOT ASHAMED (From Walking with God, p. 140, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones) |
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