Psalm 137

OVERVIEW

• Psalm 137 expresses the intense feelings of the Jewish captives taken from their homes by Babylonians

** The Israelites wept as they either remembered the enjoyments in Zion, which greatly aggravated their current misery, or they wept over Zion’s present desolation  <C34>

The rivers mentioned are the Tigris and Euphrates, whereas Zion is the dwelling place of God on earth which was destroyed by the Babylonians  <M130>

Psalm 137:1,4 NIV

[1] By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. [4] How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?

Psalm 9:11 NIV

[11] Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

Psalm 76:2 NIV

[2] His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.

2 Chronicles 36:18-21 NIV

[18] He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord's temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. [19] They set fire to God's temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. [20] He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. [21] The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.

** Jerusalem is to be our ultimate hope, our highest joy!

Psalm 137:6 NIV

[6] May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

** The Israelites took console that Babylon would suffer for its destruction on them

Psalm 137:8 NIV

[8] Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us.